Kayaking in Utah - trip ideas?

Advice
#13

Canyonlands…
is an incredible NP to check out. The section of the Green you mentioned is pretty mellow…just float and enjoy.



You might want to look into paddling part of the San Juan river.

#14

I give the Green River a thumbs up.
I did it last April from Green River (the city) to Spanish Bottom. This April I’m going to start a Ruby Ranch since I didn’t enjoy the first twenty miles as much as in the canyons. I spent ten days on the river last April and might stay a couple of weeks this time. Lots of great hikes. April is a great time - hot, but not too hot - and the trip is super. Start at Mineral Springs since you’re not going to spend enough time to do the whole trip unless you just want to paddle. You can easily do twenty plus miles a day since the current is moving. A yak can present a problem though since you must carry a porta-potty, a fire pan and water. People with yaks seemed to have a canoe along. Anyhow, it’s a fun paddle and highly recommended.

#15

Powell
Powerboats on Powell aren’t much or any problem that time of year. It’s when people start drinking and partying in the warmer months. I was there in mid May and didn’t see any problem boaters. I was told problems start after school gets out.



When I make recommendations I think what is best for those asking advise rather than what I enjoy. Someone travelling to a new area and doesn’t know about shuttles and other logistical necessities is better off cutting their teeth on a sure bet. Powell allows a person the ability to scout the area and decide what is best for them. The Green doesn’t give you choices. It’s a great paddle but you have to take what it offers. There’s no turning around and going back. Learn the area and your abilities first. Then seek greater adventures. That’s far better than taking on more than you can handle.

#16

Check water levels
Check the water levels on the Green River for that time of year it will be at flood stage. Bad snow year in the wasatch but I do not know about the eastern uinitahs that produce a lot of the water, when colorado gets pounded the green is usually highl I don’t follow since I don’t live there anymore.

#17

Paddle the great salt lake
Camp on Antelope Island if still permitted



It’s like being on another planet 15 miles from Salt Lake City.

#18

Bear Lake
If it’s a warm year there will be no ice, 21 mile paddle on east shore line. You can camp at two spots in Idaho along the Eastern Shoreline and one spot at the south end of the Lake in Utah.

#19

Flaming Gorge
April/May is a touch early for the Gorge, but I wish someone would come paddle that lake, it’s my favorite paddle, I go for a week at a time or more, and I have yet to see anyone else paddling who isn’t a scout in a canoe (and the scouts were massively overloaded, top-heavy, far from shore, no pfds, water temp in the 50s, naturally).



The fishing at the Gorge, if your so inclined, is simply epic. On my trips I’ve enjoyed the dinner fare, trout, bass, catfish, and the biggest crawfish this side of the Mississippi.



NOTHING like a beautiful campsite at the waters edge, dining on fire broiled fresh fish. I will be there for a month or more this summer, probably June/July.



I have no personal experience at Powell, but some Utah fellows I know clain to prefer the lake best at it’s current level (2/3s full), all the exposed shoreline has opened up many more camping spots.



I would focus on the northern end in a yak, particularly the Escelante arm. The ramps at Hite are still closed due to low water, I believe, but a yak launch must still be possible.


#20

Green River
Paddled the Green three times from Mineral Bottom to the confluence. Good paddling, great hiking. Not to be missed and Tex’s was perfect every time.

#21

Green and Colorado Rivers
I paddle Colorado River near Moab quite often in winter, so I don’t think that the weather in Utah can be really bad, exvept some storm events:

#22

Lake Powell and off-water advice
I paddled on Powell a few years ago with a group in mid-May. Strong winds kept us grounded one day and cut our trip short. Having said that, however, it was an awesome trip and I want to go back again some day.

There is a book called “Canoeing and Kayaking Utah” by Michael R. Fine (I think I got it in the paddling.net store.) that may give you more paddling ideas. It’s broken down by region, tells you the best time of year to paddle, etc.

Most of my experience in that area has been hiking and climbing.

Arches National Park and Canyonlands are incredible. Seeing Delicate Arch at sunset is a must-do. But one of my favorite hikes isn’t in either national park. It’s Corona Arch on BLM land. The road you take to get to it follows the Colorado River out of Moab. Many petroglyphs along the road, roadside information signs, even dinosaur tracks. Goblin Valley State Park will make you feel like you’ve landed on another planet … and the rocks are the people. Near Goblin Valley is a great canyoneering hike, also on BLM land, Little Wildhorse Canyon and Bell Canyon can be done as a loop hike. Nothing super technical, just a little scrambling and you might have to wade through some water.

#23

Port a Potty
Anyone know if there is a place to rent a port a potty near Lake Powell?

#24

Has little info about Lake Powell
I thumbed through that book and was disappointed in the lack of info about Lake Powell.

#25

Geez, I forgot Flaming Gorge
…and I paddled around it in 2005.



But it would not be a good destination for springtime. Cold.

#26

Were you paddle-camping?
It’s probably fine for day trips but paddle-camping ups the risk of being stranded in a storm.

#27

Make One
You can make one. http://www.blm.gov/or/resources/recreation/rogue/portable-toilets-kayak.php



Rentals are the kind you see at construction sites.

#28

Posted 3 of my trip reports with lots
of photos for the Green/Colorado river in the Moab area on my website. Also have a Lake Powell writeup with quite a few pics.



http://www.paddleon.net/


#29

Unless mistaken, the PETT is
now legal on the above discussed sections of rivers. Not sure of Lake Powell.



Also forgot to mention that although the paddling is good on the recommended areas that I’m familiar with, it’s the day-hikes and hanging around camp that makes them special. It’s hard to do that on blitz type paddles (as an example, four days to do Mineral Bottom to Spanish Bottom).

#30

April weather
I’ve done both the Green (in early April) and the San Juan (mid April) and, as an alumni of the University of Minnesota, I am sure no true Minnesotan would have the slightest problem with April weather in southern Utah.



The San Juan, though, has several Class II and one Class III rapids that might be a little difficult for some kayakers. That’s why I thought of the Green or Colorado.

#31

I’ve seen sea kayaks on the San
Juan several times and they indeed were struggling somewhat with the rapids even though I would rate the rapids as minor. Have hung around 8-Foot and Ledge rapids and watched a couple parties run them. What seem to happen both times is some members of the parties walked the rapids and let the more experienced paddlers run all the kayaks through.



Agree the weather should not deter anyone from an April trip although the spring winds sometimes…can simply be horrible.

#32

More of an overview
I agree about the lack of detail on Lake Powell. It’s pretty sparse on Green River, too. I see the book as more of an overview that gives you ideas of places to go.