The San Juan River in Southeastern Utah is an inspirational and classic river run! Enjoy a spectacular three-day float along the remote stretch between Bluff and Mexican Hat, Utah. You will travel through deep and colorful canyons, pass historic ruins and enjoy the flora and fauna of this legendary canyon. The use of oar rafts and paddle rafts will add variety to your float time. Floating the San Juan River in Southeastern Utah is an inspirational and classic setting for relaxing and engaging with your fellow travelers. Retire each night to your cozy tent or bed down under one of the most impressive nightscapes in the lower 48.
The San Juan River cuts a meandering course through hundreds of millions of years of exposed sandstone and limestone. Our passage will be shared by a wide variety of wildlife and plant species and habitats, which will be called to our attention by our experienced guides. This trip will include plenty of hiking - up to 3 miles round-trip - with options for longer jaunts, time permitting. Along the way we will view historic mining camps, hike steep canyons, and cool off in the peaceful San Juan.
PROGRAM FEATURES
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Float 27 incredibly scenic miles of the San Juan River.
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Experience restorative and flow yoga and meditation in the wilderness.
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Explore the healing nature of silence while in community daily.
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Enjoy easy Class I - III rapids, water play, and riverside overnight camping.
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Learn about ancestral pueblos who lived along the river and marked their campsites and homes with petroglyphs, rock paintings, and murals. See evidence of over two thousand years of human history.
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Learn about the geology of the river, river history, and early explorers.
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Plenty of hiking - up to 3 miles round-trip.
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Delicious and healthful meals.
DATES: TBD SUMMER 2019
COST: TBD + TAXES AND FEES
2 Nights/3 Days: Starting in Monticello, Utah
Activity Level: Level 3 - Requires fitness adequate for hikes of up to 3 miles round-trip, willingness to camp along the river, explore silence and readiness to participate in a group-oriented setting.
Ages: 12+ (all minors must be accompanied by a legal guardian)
INCLUDED: Includes food from lunch Day 1 through lunch Day 3, expert staff, river guides, group equipment, transportation from/to Bluff, UT, and supplies.
NOT INCLUDED: Personal items, motels, alcohol/sodas.
Tents, sleeping bags and pads are available for rent. Gear rental is $15/ per person for tent only or $30 for tent and sleeping bag/pad per person.
There are only 15 spots available, so book early!
DAILY ITINERARY
(Itinerary subject to change based on weather, wind conditions, etc.)
Pre-trip: We recommend Inn at the Canyons in Monticello on your own. There is also plenty of Forest Service camping just west of town (Buckboard and Dalton Springs Campgrounds). We will meet at the Canyon Country Discovery Center at 7:00 pm the night prior to launch day, to provide dry bags and a pre-trip orientation.
Day 1: At 8:00 am, our van will provide transportation from the Canyon Country Discovery Center to the put-in in Bluff. There we will meet the guides and boats and set off downstream. We’ll travel through the upper canyons of the San Juan making stops to view petroglyphs and Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings. We will stop for an evening yoga session and dinner before making camp. If time allows we can hike up Comb Ridge for one of the best views or the canyon below.
Day 2: The day begins with yoga and meditation, then float down the river through a rugged and beautiful desert. We’ll pass through a series of exciting rapids, explore any of the scenic side canyons, and enjoy a riverside lunch before finding camp between the towering canyon walls.
Day 3: Morning yoga and meditation starts the day, followed by a float downriver past Technicolor rock formations, fossil beds, and desert bighorn sheep. We will reach our take-out after noon where vans will return passengers to Monticello. Night and dinner on your own.
GETTING HERE
Airport
Durango - La Plata County Airport (DRO), Durango, CO is the nearest airport with a variety of flight options.
Boutique Air offers flights to Cortez, CO
By car
We are approximately 4 1/2 hours from Salt Lake City and 6 1/2 hours from Denver via I-70 and US191.
Accommodations
Inn at the Canyons in Monticello. Visit their website or call (435) 587-2458 for reservations.
If you prefer to camp there are two USFS campsites just outside Monticello in the Abajo Mountains, Dalton Springs and Buckboard.
Travel Insurance
We highly recommend purchasing travel insurance for the duration of your trip. A travel protection plan can help cover your non-refundable travel payments should you cancel a trip because of a covered illness or injury.