River And Ruins: Rafting And… (trip)

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River And Ruins: Rafting And Backpacking The San Juan, Utah

  • Bluff, UT, United States
  • Boats, Barges & Small Ship Cruises
Utah, United States

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Period offered: May. The provider (view their profile) can provide you with specific departure dates, final prices, and other information.


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from $1,325* per person7 DaysMay
Comfort accommodations Exertion level: 3
Operator: Sierra Club Outings 20 people max
Enjoy the best of both river running and backpacking on this exploration of the canyons of the San Juan River in southeastern Utah. We will float for four days (44 miles) through the spectacular twists and turns of the "goosenecks" wrapped in the awesome wilderness beauty of the river corridor. We can trace the history of pioneers and prospectors wherever their -- often mistaken -- hopes and dreams drew them to the river corridor. There's a good chance of encountering bighorn sheep grazing the rocky ledges, and eagles, herons, peregrine falcons, and other birds coursing the deep blue skies.

Then "jump ship" to backpack for three days amidst the archaeological and ecological wonders of Grand Gulch or Slickhorn Canyon (if our group exceeds 10 participants). Travel about 18 miles up Grand Gulch or 15 miles up Slickhorn Canyon, exploring for the rock art panels, ruins and artifacts left behind by the Ancestral Puebloan people. You'll wind your way through a wonderland carved in sandstone, past arches and alcoves, cliffs painted with a streaked tapestry of minerals, and intriguing side canyons leading to the wilderness beyond.

These curving canyon walls harbor evidence of the Ancestral Puebloan people, who lived here hundreds of years ago. They departed suddenly, and mysteriously left behind traces of their lives in murals of painted symbols, and their carefully constructed stone dwellings.

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Locations visited/nearby

Utah, United States

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Itinerary

Day 1: We'll meet in Bluff, UT at 9:00 am at the Recapture Lodge. Those driving can safely leave their vehicles in the lodge's parking lot. We'll shuttle by van to the launch point near Mexican Hat and gather for an orientation and organize our gear. We'll launch on the river by noon and travel six miles to our camp. We will travel through the sheer limestone-walled canyon of the Goosenecks, stopping for a short hike over the Mendenhall loop of the Goosenecks and a visit to the prospector's cabin.

Day 2: We'll continue downriver through rugged and beautiful desert. At mile 44 we'll pause to hike part of the Honaker Trail. The Honaker is a trail that winds up switchbacks, scaling the wall of the canyon. It’s about two-miles long and was built by an intrepid prospector. We'll descend back to the boats, where we'll camp. (Total water miles ~ 14 miles)

Day 3: Traveling farther downriver, we'll pass through Ross Rapid to Johns Canyon. There, we'll hike to a pool up the canyon. We'll camp there for the night. (Total water miles ~ 14 miles)

Day 4: Our last day together on the river will take us through Government Rapid, toward Slickhorn Gulch (~10 miles). Once at our campsite, we can enjoy the scenic side-hike to some clear pools carved out of solid limestone. We will stop at the mouth of Slickhorn to re-organize gear for backpacking and to split into two groups: one to hike out Slickhorn, the other to hike out Grand Gulch starting tomorrow. The split is mandated by BLM limits on the size of backpacking groups.

Day 5: After breakfast, the Slickhorn backpackers will take off on foot and the Grand Gulch crew will float down to the mouth of Grand Gulch (4 miles).

Slickhorn: (~ 5 miles) We will hike up-canyon to camp near a boulder field chock-full of rock art.

Grand Gulch: (~ 6.7 miles) We will hike the first two miles through rugged boulder-filled terrain, then on to camp near The Natural Arch in the seldom-visited lower section of the Gulch.

Day 6: Slickhorn: (~ 5 miles) We will hike up Slickhorn to Trail Canyon to see a cliff dwelling and an archaeological surprise.

Grand Gulch: (~ 5.7 miles) We will hike up Grand Gulch to Water Canyon and find the "Bye Bye Blackbird" rock art panel, a natural arch, and ruins.

Day 7: Slickhorn: (~ 4 miles) We will hike out Trail Canyon to the waiting vans, visiting several small ruins along the way. We should get to our vans around 2 p.m.

Grand Gulch: (~ 5 miles) We will hike up and out Collin Springs Canyon to the trailhead. We can expect to arrive at the vans around 2 p.m.

We will return to our cars at Bluff. You are on your own for dinner and accommodations. If you flew into Cortez, the leaders can take you back to the town tonight.

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