#Horse thief campground canyonlands how to#

The concrete monument soon after signifies the point where the Rio Grande Railroad crosses into Utah. Please abide by the leave-no-trace principles if visiting the pictographs. This short walk will lead you to an alcove filled with rock art created by the Fremont Indians more than 1,000 years ago. Right past Island camp on river-right lies a well-hidden trailhead across the train bridge. Luckily for everyone, it doesn’t have to come to an end just yet. The great blue herons fly overhead you’ll wish the trip would never end. Knowles canyon signifies the final stretch of the float has begun. Sarah is getting time on the sticks near Salt Creek.

#Horse thief campground canyonlands how to#

The class I water through Horsethief Canyon is great for learning how to row. This makes it a great stretch to get beginners some experience in the rowing seat. Besides one rapid section in the middle of Black Rocks, the river is mostly flat water and forgiving at normal flows. The Black Rocks sites are just past Dog Island on the left, and will not disappoint. The Mee campsites are usually available for big groups but offer little or no shade. Overnight camping permits are available for the many campsites throughout the canyons at .įloating past the aptly named Cottonwood campsites, you will continue to see many more with and without shade near Salt Creek and Mee Corner.

The early spring weather makes it a prime time to enjoy them. Plenty of side hikes are littered on either side of the river. Which is the first of the many campsites along the river. Bald eagles sit atop the red rock cliffs of Rattlesnake Canyon. The FloatĪs you move further from the boat ramp, the ease of the river sets in and it’s easy to be distracted by the beauty of the canyon walls. Looking for a Ruby Horsethief shuttle service? Rimrock Adventures is a premier guide service that offers shuttles at a reasonable rate for private boaters. Robb State Park in Fruita and wake up right next to the boat ramp (camping fees apply). Since we usually drive down the night before, it’s nice to camp at the James M. Although there is plenty of room there, I like to use a slightly lesser-known ramp just upstream. The most popular put-in is at the Loma Boat Ramp and Ranger Station. Some boaters opt for motors on this section to avoid the potentially brutal Colorado River winds. The ease of this river gives you plenty of opportunities to stare in awe at the landscapes carved into the walls by centuries of erosion, rivaling the scenes you might find while floating in the Grand Canyon. Meandering along the state’s southwest border, this popular section of the Colorado River is a beginner-friendly float outside of spring runoff season. It’s easily attainable by making reservations at can make them up to two months in advance, but the coveted Black Rocks campsites are the first to go! What to expect while exploring the Ruby Horsethief canyon section While you don’t technically need a river permit, an overnight camping permit is required to camp within the 25-mile stretch. The Ruby-Horsethief section provides awesome overnight rafting and camping trips with family, friends, and four-legged friends. It is a must-float for any geology buff looking to explore the solitude of our wild western rivers. For non-motorized craft, you will definitely want to camp along this section. This secluded 25-mile section has breathtaking scenery that takes you back in time. Trading the slopes for warm summer nights on the Ruby-Horsethief section of the Colorado River. To kick off this river season, we are making our pilgrimage from the mountains to the canyonlands of Western Colorado. Packing for an overnight rafting trip on the Colorado River made easy.