Thoughts on Yampa River/Juniper Canyon?

Table of Contents

Thoughts on Yampa River/Juniper Canyon? - monstor - Jun-29-12 4:59 PM
- It's at 86 cfs?!?!!??? - pikabike - Jun-29-12 6:36 PM
  - Yampa at 86 cfs - yep - monstor - Jun-29-12 8:41 PM
    - Ask your clubmates - pikabike - Jun-30-12 9:51 PM
- Yampa is an easy river - Mattt - Jul-04-12 10:25 AM
  - Yampa info- thanks - monstor - Jul-06-12 2:59 PM

Messages in this Topic

  It's at 86 cfs?!?!!???
  Posted by: pikabike on Jun-29-12 6:36 PM (EST)

"...rated class II at normal flows (1800 cfs), but it's at a meager 86 cfs right now."

I don't know the Yampa River, but I think it's safe to say that 86 cfs out of a normal flow of 1800 cfs means it'll be a waste of gas to go there. You might be able to WALK down it at that low flow. But as I said, I have not paddled the Yampa. I've walked along it in the Steamboat Springs area. Seemed to me that it was wide enough I can hardly imagine it being more than a trickle at 86 cfs.

Just for comparison with somewhere I do know, Clear Creek in Golden, which is very narrow, is good above 300 cfs, OK in the 200s, and lately has dropped into the 170s and 180s. This is low already. I have paddled there (WW kayak! Not a good place for long sea kayaks) as low as about 75 cfs, years ago. That really sucked. Horribly shallow, and most of the eddylines practically died out. You could edge totally wrongly when crossing them and barely feel any touch of instability.

Definitely don't bother putting a glass kayak in such low rivers.

  Yampa at 86 cfs - yep
  Posted by: monstor on Jun-29-12 8:41 PM (EST)

A trickle is probably correct.
http://waterdata.usgs.gov/CO/nwis/uv?09247600

I was not planning on taking it when it's that low, but was interested in other's feedback on it as a river to paddle in a longer boat. I know I won't be able to touch it this year, but hopefully next year.

This year is one of the dry ones, for certain.

I'm itching to hit some moving water soon, but may not have a chance in state.

  Ask your clubmates
  Posted by: pikabike on Jun-30-12 9:51 PM (EST)

Some of them like to do river trips in sea kayaks.

There's still adequate moving water to practice in in CO...with a WW kayak.

  Yampa is an easy river
  Posted by: Mattt on Jul-04-12 10:25 AM (EST)

For the most part, the Yampa is about as easy as it gets, so would be a fine beginner river.

In spring, it is big and fast, in summer, normally big and slow. Last year in high water with very fast current, it was hard paddling to just ferry across it to check out a campsite.

it is generally not a good place to practice on CI or CII rapids because there basically aren't any for most of the sections below Steamboat Springs. But it can be sone in sections as daytrips - see the link below

http://www.blm.gov/co/st/en/fo/lsfo/programs/recreation/yampa_river/access.html

a better river to practice CI and CII would be the Green River, below Flameing Gorge Res. The "A" section (just below the dam) has maybe a dozen CII drops. If you put in at Little Hole, the start for the "B" section, it is an easier CI trip down to Swallow Canyon or Swinging Bridge for a 2 or 3 day trip - there is one CIII rapid, Red Creek Rapid, that you would want to portage (basically a must portage for you) - not real easy and no real trail, but not a really hard portage either if you take your time - portage River Left (there is a sign warning about the rapid) - the Green is dam release, and always has enough water to paddle, though it fluctuates a lot

Right now with low water, your best bet would likely be on the Colorado - do the Loma to Westwater classic trip - one CII rapid may get set up at the entrance to Black Rocks - its often harder at low water than high water. Its 28 miles? I think, and can be donw in a day if you are a strong paddler - to do it as an overnight trip, for most of the summer, its a permit system and you'd have to secure a permit to camp overnigt.

not really sure what level you are looking for, but those are your best choices more or less in the area of teh Yampa - we get to drive a lot

  Yampa info- thanks
  Posted by: monstor on Jul-06-12 2:59 PM (EST)

Matt.

That's really helpful.

	It's at 86 cfs?!?!!??? Posted by: pikabike on Jun-29-12 6:36 PM (EST)
	"...rated class II at normal flows (1800 cfs), but it's at a meager 86 cfs right now." I don't know the Yampa River, but I think it's safe to say that 86 cfs out of a normal flow of 1800 cfs means it'll be a waste of gas to go there. You might be able to WALK down it at that low flow. But as I said, I have not paddled the Yampa. I've walked along it in the Steamboat Springs area. Seemed to me that it was wide enough I can hardly imagine it being more than a trickle at 86 cfs. Just for comparison with somewhere I do know, Clear Creek in Golden, which is very narrow, is good above 300 cfs, OK in the 200s, and lately has dropped into the 170s and 180s. This is low already. I have paddled there (WW kayak! Not a good place for long sea kayaks) as low as about 75 cfs, years ago. That really sucked. Horribly shallow, and most of the eddylines practically died out. You could edge totally wrongly when crossing them and barely feel any touch of instability. Definitely don't bother putting a glass kayak in such low rivers.

	Yampa at 86 cfs - yep Posted by: monstor on Jun-29-12 8:41 PM (EST)
	A trickle is probably correct. http://waterdata.usgs.gov/CO/nwis/uv?09247600 I was not planning on taking it when it's that low, but was interested in other's feedback on it as a river to paddle in a longer boat. I know I won't be able to touch it this year, but hopefully next year. This year is one of the dry ones, for certain. I'm itching to hit some moving water soon, but may not have a chance in state.

	Ask your clubmates Posted by: pikabike on Jun-30-12 9:51 PM (EST)
	Some of them like to do river trips in sea kayaks. There's still adequate moving water to practice in in CO...with a WW kayak.

	Yampa is an easy river Posted by: Mattt on Jul-04-12 10:25 AM (EST)
	For the most part, the Yampa is about as easy as it gets, so would be a fine beginner river. In spring, it is big and fast, in summer, normally big and slow. Last year in high water with very fast current, it was hard paddling to just ferry across it to check out a campsite. it is generally not a good place to practice on CI or CII rapids because there basically aren't any for most of the sections below Steamboat Springs. But it can be sone in sections as daytrips - see the link below http://www.blm.gov/co/st/en/fo/lsfo/programs/recreation/yampa_river/access.html a better river to practice CI and CII would be the Green River, below Flameing Gorge Res. The "A" section (just below the dam) has maybe a dozen CII drops. If you put in at Little Hole, the start for the "B" section, it is an easier CI trip down to Swallow Canyon or Swinging Bridge for a 2 or 3 day trip - there is one CIII rapid, Red Creek Rapid, that you would want to portage (basically a must portage for you) - not real easy and no real trail, but not a really hard portage either if you take your time - portage River Left (there is a sign warning about the rapid) - the Green is dam release, and always has enough water to paddle, though it fluctuates a lot Right now with low water, your best bet would likely be on the Colorado - do the Loma to Westwater classic trip - one CII rapid may get set up at the entrance to Black Rocks - its often harder at low water than high water. Its 28 miles? I think, and can be donw in a day if you are a strong paddler - to do it as an overnight trip, for most of the summer, its a permit system and you'd have to secure a permit to camp overnigt. not really sure what level you are looking for, but those are your best choices more or less in the area of teh Yampa - we get to drive a lot

	Yampa info- thanks Posted by: monstor on Jul-06-12 2:59 PM (EST)
	Matt. That's really helpful.