Gates of Lodore Trip Map + River Log
Mile | Features and Highlights
| 0 | Lodore boat ramp and ranger station. Steep canyon walls open up to “The Gates of Lodore”. |
| 3 | Winnie’s Grotto and Rapid. Explored by Major John Wesley Powell during the second expedition in 1871. Supposedly named for Powell’s daughter Winnie. Sandy beach makes a great spot for riverside stops. The rapid holds a huge boulder, splitting the river in half. |
| 4.5 | Trailer Draw — river left. |
| 5.5 | Buster Basin Creek — river right. Debris flows in recent years have created an exciting rapid. |
| 6.5 – 7.5 | Upper Disaster Falls. This notorious rapid has given many river parties a run for their money. A long and tumultuous rapid with many obstacles. This rapid becomes even more challenging at certain water levels. During the Powell expedition, one of the main supply boats overturned and was lost. Rumor has it the Powell crew worked tirelessly to retrieve a keg of whiskey smuggled onto the trip unbeknownst to the Major. It has been told that the Major allowed the men to drink the whiskey after the disaster. |
| 8 | Zenobia Creek — river left. Geological note: rare Zenobia rock located here. |
| 8.5 | Pot Creek — river right. Two campsites are located here. The creek runs to the river during spring run off. Spectacular cliff walls opposite make the perfect playground for the many Desert Big Horn Sheep present in the canyon. |
| 9.5 | Inscription — river left. Left by Buzz Holstrom and his fellow travelers Berg and Lundstrom, dates 9-11-37. Buzz was the first river runner to run the Green River in a rubber boat. He also ran the entire river solo after being turned down for a boatman position on the second Powell Expedition. |
| 11 | Triplet Falls Beach — river left. |
| 11.5 | Triplet Falls Rapid. This rapid makes two large turns in the canyon, making passage through this section quite tricky. Three large boulders (hence the name Triplet Falls) towards the end make navigation quite challenging. |
| 12 | Hell’s Half Mile Rapid. One of the nation’s top-ten “Big Drops”. This rapid can be extremely challenging. Large boulders, including Lucifer Rock, create many hazards for river runners. This rapid spans a half-mile and has significant difficulty at all water levels. The rapid splits into three channels at the bottom. A large beach awaits river left as the rapid winds down. Many stop here to recount their run and regroup. |
| 14 | Wild Mountain Beach — river right. There have been sightings of a moose around this area. |
| 15.5 | Limestone beach — river left. Many shady trees make this spot extra special. Hike up the cliffs to the Hanging Garden. The overlook is spectacular. Cliff walls are made of limestone. The canyon’s geology continues to change as you reach this point. The Yampa formation is visible at the top of the canyons. Downstream catch a view of the back of the Yampa River canyon. |
| 18.5 | Confluence with the Green River. The muddy waters of the mighty Yampa flow into the Green river at this point. In spring, river speed picks up with the added water from the Yampa. |
| 18.5 – 20.5 | Echo Park and Steamboat Rock. The rock wall, spanning almost a mile, resembles a large steamboat. The river eventually makes a 180 degree turn to run along the other side of this magnificent formation. Echo Park boasts many attractions: Pool Creek rushing down to meet the Green, petroglyphs on cliffs visible from the many trails, inscriptions by the old hermit Pat Lynch, who wandered the area also called “Pat’s Hole”. Cool off in Whispering Cave — a deep cave that travels far back into the mountain. Several intricate petroglyphs are located further along from the cave. |
| 19.5-29.5 | Whirlpool Canyon |
| 20.5-21.5 | Mitten Park fault. This incredible display of geology is the result of sea stacks that formed when the Cambrian sea covered in the Uintah Mountains. |
| 21.5 | Harpers Corner Observation point. From the top of the canyon you can view both rivers at the overlook point |
| 22 | Proposed Echo Park dam site in 1955. Thanks to the tireless efforts of former Sierra Club Director, David Brower, the dam was never built. |
| 24.5 | Colorado-Utah state line. |
| 25 | Jones Hole area. Cold and clear, Jones Creek rushes down to meet the Green River. This is gold medal fishing water-a fisherman’s dream. Hike along the creek and fish, or travel the 2.5 miles to Ely Creek and the famous “Butt Plug Falls”. Along Jones Creek, view pictographs and petroglyphs left behind by the Fremont Culture. |
| 26 | Compromise Beach |
| 26.5 | Sage Creek — river right |
| 27 | Greasy Pliers Rapid |
| 29.5 | Red Wash Canyon — river right. Cove Beach — river left. |
| 29.5-35.5 | Island Park- The river opens up into a large valley, meandering around a large group of islands. View the Uintah Mountains, Split Mountain, Ruple Ranch and the occasional moose. This is Utah designated flat water. Life jackets are not required for those over 14. They are required if you are traveling in an inflatable kayak. |
| 35.5 | Rainbow Park boat ramp — life jackets are required from this point. |
| 36.5 | Enter Split Mountain Gorge. |
| 37.5 | Moonshine Rapid. |
| 38.5 | S.O.B. Rapid. |
| 39 | Schoolboy Rapid. |
| 41.5 | Natural warm spring flows into the river. A perfect stopping point to warm up from cool early season temperatures. |
| 42 | Inglesby Rapid. |
| 45 | Split Mountain boat ramp. Working dinosaur quarry, museum and gift shop located just minutes from the boat ramp. |
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