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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
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