Yampa River Rafting in Dinosaur… (trip)
Yampa River Rafting in Dinosaur National Monument
- United States
- Active & Adventure
| from $1,405* per person | 5 Days | May, June |
| Comfort accommodations | Exertion level: 5 | |
| Operator: Holiday River Expeditions | 20 people max | |
The Yampa is WILD: the last un-regulated river in the Colorado River system. Despite attempts by the Bureau of Reclamation and Congress, the only dam ever constructed on the Yampa River was built by Mother Nature and even that was temporary. On June 9th, 1965, a massive flash flood and debris flow carried thousands of tons of rock down Warm Springs Draw, completely blocking the river channel. The river slowed upstream of the obstruction, and the current snarled and boiled and pushed against the debris. It took only 24 hours for the river to breach the natural dam, leaving in its wake Warm Springs Rapid, rated as one of the 10 biggest drops in the country. Dee Holladay himself was one of the first to run the newly formed rapid.
Every May and June this whitewater river rises to the occasion and CRANKS with consistent rapids, fast-moving current, and plenty of full-bodied waves from the first day to the last. Like many wild things, the Yampa River also has a serene side: sheer, tiger-striped walls that rise over 1,000 feet to the canyon rim; the liquid darkness of the night sky strewn with stars; sandy campsites among junipers and ponderosa pines; side-canyon waterfalls; and Fremont Indian rock art. If you feel the need for something rare, something wild and free, the Yampa is waiting.
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Locations visited/nearby
Dinosaur National Monument , Yampa River , Green River , Yampa Bench, United States
0 testimonials about this trip.
3 testimonials about the provider, Holiday River Expeditions:
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Reviewer: Geralyn DeFelice
located in
Pittsburgh,
PA
USA
"Just want to thank you for everything and to let you know that I TOTALLY LOVED THE TRIP--WILL REMEMBER IT ALL MY LIFE! I will never be the same after experiencing the river as we did! Personally, I felt the entire trip was perfect. What a great group of people Holiday has! Our guides were great and we so enjoyed them. The food was delicious, loved Clari, the yoga and massages, our hikes, the rapids, our campfire...perfect!"
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Reviewer: Ryan Higginson
located in
Salt Lake City,
UT
USA
I have done the white rim with holiday 5 times, and each trip is the highlight of the year for me. The scenery is spectacular. The bigger than life red rock spires and bluffs that are prevalent throughout the ride give an abundance of photo opportunities. Doing the ride in 3 or 4 days allows for enough time to take in the scenery, and still get plenty of biking in each day. The guides for each of my trips have created an atmosphere of lighthearted fun and excitement balanced with plenty of knowledge about the geography and native american indians who inhabited the area in the past. I'm always impressed with the great food they prepare and the organization around the kitchen. The white rim trip has always been an unforgettable experience.
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Reviewer: Kim England
located in
Scottsdale,
AZ
USA
We had a great time. We appreciated the informed guides and the educational experience they were able to provide. Our 7 year old thinks it was the BEST trip ever! The kids activity kit came in handy. Making friendship bracelets and sand castles. The ducky was his favorite! Also, We never expected the food to be one of the highlights of a camping/rafting trip!
Itinerary
We say the Yampa is WILD, and it is. Each trip will be different depending on weather, the interests of our passengers, assigned campsites, and the need to be considerate of other river users. This sample itinerary illustrates a four-day trip on the Yampa River. In June, due to lower water levels, we lengthen the Yampa trip by one day and follow this general itinerary.
Day 1: Please arrive at Holiday's headquarters in Vernal, Utah, at 8:00 a.m., Mountain Time. We will issue your waterproof bags, show you how to pack them, and give you time to buy any last minute items from our on-site store (see our packing checklist for items you can find at our store). From Vernal, it's a 90-minute van ride to the put-in at Deerlodge Park in Colorado. After preparing the rafts and getting you oriented, we'll push off and begin to move on river time. We'll enter Yampa Canyon almost immediately, and encounter several fun, splashy rapids. Lunch may be on a beach near a historic cabin. Make camp and fall asleep to the sound of rushing water.
Day 2: Hike to a wide cave where ancient indigenous people left signs of their presence. Follow the river's entrenched meanders past the 1,200-foot Grand Overhang. Listen for the screech of hunting peregrine falcons that nest on the canyon rim. Carefully kiss the Tiger Wall: it's sure to bring good luck for your run through Warm Springs Rapid, the biggest of the trip.
Day 3: This morning may include a silent float as we approach the confluence with the Green River at Echo Park. Dip your toes into the place where the rivers meet and watch the different colored-water flow side by side for a surprising distance. The geology changes dramatically as we float through the Mitten Park Fault and into Whirlpool Canyon. Spend the afternoon at Jones Hole Creek: fishing, hiking, petroglyphs, big horn sheep, and waterfalls are all possibilities.
Day 4: Choose to paddle an inflatable kayak through the last several miles of calm water in Island Park. We'll follow the river as it makes a sharp left turn and cuts its way into the aptly named Split Mountain. The river drops an average of almost 20 feet per mile for the last eight miles. Enjoy your last several rapids before we pause for lunch and finally arrive at the boat ramp. We'll load the boats and then transport you the final 35 minutes back to our warehouse in Vernal. We typically plan to arrive back at our headquarters by approximately 4:00 p.m.
Our five-day Yampa River trip follows the same general itinerary with minor changes depending on campsites and water flows. Your second day may not yet find you at an ancestral site but rather on a hike to a stunning overlook or historic cave. On the third day your route will begin to resemble the four-day itinerary more closely.
Please remember that this is a sample itinerary, not an exact description of your trip. Our goal is simply to give you an overview of what the trip may entail. We invite you to embrace the inherent changeability of a wilderness river trip and come prepared to have fun and go with the flow!
More information from Holiday River Expeditions:
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https://www.bikeraft.com/colorado-river-rafting/yampa-river/… - Company profile, experience, and history
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