Green, Utah, US

4- Ouray to Green River Town (Desolation & Gray Canyons)

Desolation Morning

Desolation Morning
Photo by Paul Martzen taken 10/15/06 @ 2300 cfs

Gauge Information

River Description

The Green River through Desolation and Gray Canyons is a popular multiday float trip, known for its easy rapids, nice scenery,  varied wildlife sightings, moderate hiking and interesting historical locations.   Most of the run is flatwater floating.   Two rapids are in the class 3 range, while all others are class 2 or less. 

The canyon is called Desolation in comparison to the much greener sections upstream.   Compared to sections further downstream or the Grand Canyon of the Colorado, this canyon has lots of greenery.   Because of the dam controlled flows, the banks of the river are dense with brush.   It can be difficult to find easy routes through the brush to get past the rivers edge.   This also limits the locations that boaters can pull over and land.  During low flow periods, there are many nice sand bars and beaches on which to land and camp.    Sticky mud can be a problem at some locations. 

There are no rapids from Ouray to about 15 miles past Sand Wash, so most river trips start at Sand Wash rather than Ouray.   Still, if one has the time, enjoys slow floats with occasional views of oil derricks,  and likes to watch the landscape change, then it can be nice to launch near Ouray.  

Put-in: Sand Wash is the most used put-in and all boaters must check in with the BLM ranger stationed there. google map    Even if you launch up near Oaray, you must stop at Sand Wash to have the ranger check your permits.

------------------------------------------------ Electric-Mayhem posted on Boater Talk:

I can give a vague general idea of the trip. First off, BRING LOTS AND LOTS AND LOTS OF BUG SPRAY!!! I have never seen more mosquitos then I have on Deso. I would very highly recommend bringing at least a bug net for your head, if not a full bugnet suit. Sandwash, the put-in, is the worst spot for it, and all the rangers there wear the suits pretty much all the time. I'd also bring a tent for sure, just for protection from bugs. I tried sleeping outside one night and it was horrid.
Anyway, on to the trip itself. There is a bit of flatwater at the top, which takes most of the first day. It's fairly leasurely, though, don't have to paddle too much. The rest of the trip is mostly class II "run-it-down-the-tongue" kinda rapids. There are a couple of class-III rapids called Wire Fence and Three Fords that offer up a bit more challenge, but nothing too hard for even novices to do. The trip takes 5-ish days, and it's an awesome area. It's a good first trip for the timid, as it's plenty long, the camping is good, as are side activities such as hiking and the like. There is some good play on it and it's a great one to take kids on.
If you hit it during flood season, the bugs are much less of a problem, as the water needs to drop for the eggs to hatch. The shuttle is a bit fun or a bit long depending on how you look at it and how you do it. You can either drive your vehicles to this airstrip near the takeout, and they fly you back to the top and drop your cars off the day you take out, or you can just do it the old-fashioned way and do a real shuttle. It's a pretty long drive between the takeout and putin, so I think most opt for the plane.
Regardless, it's an awesome trip. Awesome canyons, great water, and if you do it right great friends. It's a great one to start off on, and I can nearly guarantee that it will get you hooked on Canyonlands-style trips. A lot of people that get Grand Canyon permits take their rigs on this trip to see how everything works. Definitely a fun trip and I would definitely check it out if you get the chance. -----------------------------------------------------------

A Fall trip in late September and October of 2006, had few problems with bugs, although meat bees and wasps were a problem during launch preparations at the wildlife refuge north of Ouray.

Other Interesting links:
Stratigraphy/Geology of Desolation and Gray Canyons
Ouray National Wildlife Reguge
Redrock Adventure has an interesting discourse on various aspects of river running in Desolation.

Photo galleries:
Protophoto
River Trip Deso-Stikine
Photographs from the Powell expeditions
River Guide to Desolation and Gray Canyons; by Thomas Rampton
 

Karen Hensley shared on 2004-06-16:
Here is a list of GPS waypoints for this stretch that I compiled from maps. If anyone else can add more, that would be appreciated. Accuracy/Correctness of data is not known, so use these in conjunction with other navigational techniques, and let us know if you have any corrections.
39.83913,-109.91542,Sand Wash (Put In)
39.79246,-109.91876, Little Horse Bottom
39.78579,-109.92653, Maverick Bottom
39.78469,-109.88126, Gold Hole
39.7444,-109.94848, Rock House Bottom
39.7369,-109.95209, Little Rock House Riffle
39.6994,-109.99459, Jack Creek
39.69857,-109.99292, Jack Creek Rapids
39.68997,-110.01042, Lunts Horse Pasture
39.6769,-109.98709, Big Canyon Rapids
39.66246,-109.98626, Firewater Rapids
39.66238565,-109.9867268, Firewater Rapids & Canyon
39.65329,-109.9907, Cedar Ridge Rapids
39.6525497,-109.9922555, Cedar Ridge Rapids
39.63544237,-110.0072333, Flat Canyon & Rapids
39.63358,-110.00681, Flat Canyon Rapids
39.5919,-110.02598, Wild Horse Rapids
39.57303,-110.03514, Steer Ridge Rapids
39.54136,-110.02959, Rock Creek Rapids
39.5208,-110.02542, Snap Canyon Rapids
39.50703025,-110.0233585, Three Canyon Rapids
39.47071689,-110.0220877, Chandler Falls
39.45497,-110.01542, Trail Canyon Rapids
39.43774811,-110.0221189, Bull Canyon Rapids
39.42191,-110.02098, Moonwater Rapids
39.42053,-110.01514, Red Point Rapids
39.40782792,-110.0129313, Joe Hutch Creek rapid
39.39386,-110.01903, Joe Hutch Canyon Rapids
39.3808,-110.0157, McPherson Ranch
39.37497,-110.02403, Florence Creek
39.35136,-110.02709, Three Fords Rapids topozone map, google map
39.31661273,-110.0584221, Last Chance Rapids
39.31608,-110.0582, Last Chance Rapids
39.30719,-110.05209, Range Creek Rapids
39.28441,-110.07264, Rabbit Valley Rapids
39.2708,-110.0732, Curry Rapids
39.2633,-110.0607, Saleratus Rapids
39.24083502,-110.0586828, Poverty Rapids
39.21847349,-110.0782339, Rattlesnake Rapid
39.19574859,-110.0782761, Nefertiti (road access)
39.17949984,-110.1057417, Price River
39.17941,-110.10626, Price River
39.15747,-110.11181, Butler Canyon
39.15209688,-110.1150693, Sand Knolls rapid
39.15053,-110.11598, Sand Knolls Canyon
39.14027767,-110.1013436, Stone Cabin Rapid
39.12823753,-110.1129037, Short Canyon rapid
39.11360184,-110.1091084, Log Cabin Rapid
39.11360184,-110.1091084, Swaseys Rapids google map
Boat Ramp below Swasey's Rapids, topozone map
Alternate access at Green River State Park, topozone map

Permit Information

Permits required. Launch reservations may be reserved up to five months in advance. Issued on a first come, first serve basis via telephone or in person.