Hey folks, I’m new to the app and the forum. I’ve been paddling for a good 30 years. 15 in New England and 15 in AZ… Yeah, I know. Big difference. Anyway I just got back traveling in Montana and Wyoming where I did a stretch of the Yellowstone and a stretch of the Snake and I am hooked on rivers now. I’m 73 with neck issues and need to stay on class I rivers. The Colorado has a nice stretch that goes thru Blythe and I’ve tried 3 x to set up a shuttle that would pick me up but each time I was bailed on. There’s a good stretch of the Colorado in Fruita. Does anyone know about that part of the river? Anyway, glad to be here. Looking forward to hearing from some folks.
Hi Michael,
Moving water is mesmerizing. I have been at it for 64 years.
The Colorado River is good below Boulder Dam to the Mexican line. Some sections have riprap along the banks. Some are totally natural. I have done the section from Blythe to Yuma in Feb. Any interesting place to paddle.
There some sections near Grand Junction and Fruita, CO. For rivers it is important to learn to read the water. Carry rescue ropes, wear PFDs and practice rescues. Dress for immersion.
Sometimes a Class I river has a few harder rapids. Keep an eye out for straight horizon lines which can mean low head dams and irrigation diversions. Do your research. Best of luck.
Thankyou… great info.
One last question… how do you arrange for a reliable shuttle? I’ve been stood up twice at least.
Are there services out there that do this? Or is it just that most folks like to travel in a group. I love to be out there alone or maybe with my wife.
A lot of western rivers don’t have shuttles. I have run rivers and hitchhiked back to the put in lots of times. With a group you can do your own shuttles with two vehicles. For the Upper Missouri River trip of 151 miles in Montana, the shuttle took all day.