White Water Rafting on Yampa River

Dinosaur National Monument & the name alone conjures a host of images: dinosaur bones preserved in ancient rock walls, deep rivers that cut indecorously through dry desert canyons, ancient sea beds full of prehistoric fossils, frozen in time. But it takes the most active imagination to visualize the splendor and paradoxical beauty of rivers fringed by cottonwoods and box elders thriving in an otherwise arid land of mountains and canyons, once the roaming place of dinosaurs, prehistoric turtles and crocodiles, and creatures three times as old as the apatosaurus.

The Yampa River is the last undammed tributary of the Colorado River system, and its free-flowing waters surge through cauldrons of big, untamed Class III and IV rapids. In its natural state, the Yampa also displays sandy beaches, deep, colorful canyons, habitats for native plants and animals, and other splendid features of a river unfettered by man-made obstructions. Its location in Dinosaur National Monument adds an intriguing archeological element, and side hikes along the river reveal ancient fossils, prehistoric Native American ruins, and petroglyphs carved into cliff walls. All these treasures are encased in a strikingly beautiful river corridor whose tall, vertical walls are a canvas of yellow and red, sometimes dramatically streaked with jet-black coloration known as "desert varnish."

Why the Yampa?

A gorgeous springtime river, the Yampa comes alive in May, runs well through June and early July, and then tapers off in mid-summer. Here's why you should dedicate four or five days this spring or early summer to exploring this wondrous river canyon.

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Itinerary / Highlights

Sample Itinerary

We pride ourselves in running a relaxed and always flexible schedule. Every trip is different depending upon the group, other trips on the water and sometimes the weather. The following is a sample of what your trip might be like:

The Day Before Your Trip…

We meet for a pre-trip meeting at 7:00 pm the night before your trip at the Hatch/ O.A.R.S. warehouse in Vernal. This is an opportunity to meet your fellow travelers and guides and ask any last-minute questions. Your guides will give you a thorough trip orientation, and then pass out your waterproof river bags so you can pack your belongings that evening.

Day 1
We'll begin our adventure with a scenic two-hour drive from Vernal to our put-in at Deerlodge Park, where your boats and the rest of your O.A.R.S. crew meet you. After a thorough safety talk, our journey begins. Today, the Yampa meanders through wide-open desert scenery, quite distinctive from the deep canyons that adorn most of the river corridor. Blooming cactus is among the eye-catching desert flora that we'll enjoy today as we peacefully float down the river, soaking in the sights, sounds and sensations of our wilderness surroundings.

Our first day on the Yampa generally sets the pace for the remainder our river trip. Typically, we spend a few hours on the water in the morning, sometimes stopping for a great hike, a visit to a waterfall or Indian petroglyphs, or a refreshing swim. Come lunchtime, we pull over to a sandy beach and enjoy a delicious picnic. After feasting and relaxing on the beach (and perhaps a game of Frisbee or horseshoes), we get back into our boats and watch the desert panoramas slowly develop as we continue down the river. Today's whitewater is relatively mild, but over the course of the next few days, the rapids become bigger and more frequent & perfect for trying out the paddleboat and inflatable kayak! Mid- to late-afternoon, we stop and make camp; you grab your bags and set up your tent while we take care of the kitchen and “living room” & camp chairs and the site for tonight's campfire (if permitted). This is the perfect time for you to lounge on the beach with that book you want to finish forever.

Before long you will be savoring pleasing hors d'oeuvres and the beverage of your choice & delicious as these refreshments are, they always taste better after a day on the river! Nap, take an exploratory hike, or just sit back and laugh with friends and family as we prepare dinner. After another satisfying feast, the evening is yours to spend however you wish. Maybe music, stories or jokes will bring us together tonight; maybe the popping of the fire, the whisper of the river and the clarity of the big, star-filled sky will encourage silent reflection on the amazing wilderness that is, for now, our home.

Days 2 & 5 (depending on trip length)
Your days on the river will begin with the morning light reflecting the colors of sunrise in the river. Fresh coffee and tea are waiting for you when you get up; grab a cup, sit back and take in the glory of the awakening wilderness. Soon breakfast is served & omelets made to order, blueberry pancakes, sizzling bacon, fresh fruit, toast, and juice are among the treats you'll indulge in each morning. Once you've eaten your fill, you'll pack up your things as the guides break down camp, then our new day's adventure begins.

As we enter the Yampa River canyon, we leave the flatter desert behind, entering a stunning world where rock walls loom above us, rising to heights of 1000 feet. The whitewater also intensifies as the canyon begins; today we challenge three major rapids, not to mention some small but fun riffles.

Our guides might lead a hike to Stubs Cabin, an old cattle rustler homestead dating back to the early 1900s. One hundred years ago, this isolated canyon was used as a hideout by stealthy old-western outlaws, and several abandoned cabins along the river remind us of this shadier side of the Yampa's cowboy history. Other sites we may visit today or tomorrow include Fremont Indian granaries at Mantle Cave, side canyons bejeweled with tumbling streams and waterfalls, and yawning sandstone caves, some of which once housed Pat Lynch, an old hermit who lived out his days along the Yampa River.

For the first two days, we watched the magnificent canyon walls and striking sandstone formations rise up around us, becoming bigger and bolder around every river bend. On the third day, the fascinating geology of this canyon reaches its apex as we float past some of the most astounding rock marvels of all: Grand Overhang, Cleopatra's Couch, and Tiger Wall. The latter is perhaps the most renowned feature of the Yampa River & a sheer cliff wall of pale sandstone, dramatically streaked with jet-black stripes of manganese oxide, or “desert varnish.”

Not to be outdone by the scenery, the whitewater is also at its best in this area as we run the well known Warm Springs Rapid. A relatively new rapid, Warm Spring was formed in 1965 when heavy side canyon floods strew boulders across the river, creating the Yampa's biggest whitewater.

Much like the past evenings, we'll make camp on a big, sandy beach that likely allows access to a great hiking trial. If our guides don't arrange a hike, you may want to enjoy a self-guided walk, or perhaps you'd rather just relax and wait for dinner & always a trip highlight, as our day's adventures stir up a hearty appetite. Perhaps this evening you'll enjoy grilled salmon with orange zest, wild rice, and a fresh green salad. Or maybe a lean, juicy steak with mushrooms and mixed vegetables will be the main attraction as we watch the twilight turn to dusk above the canyon walls. A savory dessert usually follows dinner & maybe peach cobbler, strawberry shortcake, or something rich and chocolaty. After our meal is over, the group dynamic of our trip is at its best as we gather around the campfire for nighttime conversation and laughter.

Reaching the confluence with the Green River, we bid farewell to the Yampa, but not to the beauty and whitewater excitement it offered us & both flourish as we continue down the mighty Green. In fact, with the convergence of the two rivers, the whitewater intensifies and presents us with even more consistently exciting rapids than before.

Past the confluence, we round Steamboat Rock and continue into Echo Park. Here we may stop to visit the intriguing Fremont rock art near the side of the river. Or perhaps we'll hike to Whispering Cave, passing magnificent sandstone formations along the way. In Whirlpool Canyon, we might take the longest hike of our trip, following beautiful Jones Hole Creek to amazingly well preserved panels of pictographs and petroglyphs.

After a bit of flat water, we pick up speed as we enter Split Mountain Canyon, the river's gradient becoming considerably steeper. Four or five major rapids deliver plenty of whitewater excitement during our last day on the river. Reaching our take-out point at Split Mountain, we'll take a short ride back to Vernal, returning to the Hatch/ O.A.R.S. warehouse between 4 and 6 PM.

Other Details

Accommodation Details

Reservations & Deposit
A $250/person deposit is required at the time of reservation. The balance is due 60 days prior to departure.

Cancellations, Transfers & Refunds
If you find it necessary to cancel your trip, please notify us as soon as possible. The cancellation fee after you’ve made your deposit can range up to the entire trip cost, based upon the number of days prior to your trip that we receive your cancellation notice. We regret we cannot make exceptions for personal emergencies. For this reason, we strongly urge you to investigate trip insurance (see Insurance).

Cancellations 60 days or more prior to the trip earn a full refund less a $100/person fee. Cancellations 59 days or less prior to your trip are not refundable.

If you transfer from one trip to another, there is a $50/person charge up until 60 days before the trip. Transfers made after this time will be treated as cancellations.

Medical
Under most circumstances, if you are of an adventurous spirit and in reasonably good health, you should have no problem enjoying an O.A.R.S. trip. People with medical conditions, including pregnancy, should have a physician’s approval before taking an adventure travel trip.

Insurance
Although every effort is made to insure a safe trip for all, we strongly recommend that you protect yourself, your belongings, and your vacation through the purchase of a short-term traveler’s policy. A trip cancellation policy covers your non-refundable payments in most cases, should you have to cancel your trip at the last minute due to illness or injury. Trip participants should realize that in the event of illness or injury on a river trip, evacuation can be prolonged, difficult and expensive. Personal belongings and cameras are carried entirely at the owner’s risk, and O.A.R.S. accepts no responsibility for lost, damaged, delayed or stolen property.

Acknowledgment of Risk
Everyone is required to sign a standard Acknowledgment of Risk before the trip, acknowledging awareness that some risks are associated with the trip. Safety is of the utmost concern on our trips. However, due to the nature of the activities, a condition of your participation is that you will sign this form and return it to our office before the trip begins. Anyone who refuses to sign the form will not be allowed to participate, and consistent with O.A.R.S. cancellation policy, there will be no refund of the trip fees at that time.