Need advice on SW Colorado kayaking spots.

[Brooks L]

I'm leaving around the 7th for a 3-week trip through CO, UT and AZ with my mountain bike and kayak. I've never done any kayaking in CO and was hoping for some suggestions on where to go. I'll be in southwest Colorado.

My planned route will be heading north from Sante Fe up to Pagaso Springs, CO, then north to the Gunnison area working my way to Crested Butte, then southwest passing through Montrose heading down to the Telluride/Ouray/Durango areas, before heading to Moab, UT.

Looking for popular spots where shuttles are offered or where it would be fairly easy to arrange for one, C4 rapids and below. My route is not at all set in stone, so if you know of a great place that is not too terribly far off that path then that is great too.

Thanks for the help,
Brooks

[okieboater]

From Gunnison if the Taylor is running it is a hoot class 3 with continuous rapids. Roadside for a lot of the way as well on the lower run. Awesome camping along the river at various forest service camp sites.

I would head up from Gunnison over to Buena Vista and Salida and spend a few days on the Arkansas River. Low water but plenty of spots to run and boaters every where. CKS in BV close to the play park is good for info (hit the Eddyline around the corner for craft brews and excellent food!) and Salida has a CO Parks information office right there at the Salida play park. Royal Gorge is a few miles down river in Canon City but is almost aways runnable. Camping all over the place at forest service west of the highway in the mountains or along the river at colorado state parks sites.

Salida and BV are biking centers as well.

[Brooks L]

Awesome. I camped in Taylor River Canyon when I was young and absolutely loved it. Good to hear that the kayaking is good there. I'll check out the BV/Salida area as well. I didn't realize CKS was around there. Sweet!

Also, I'm open to mountain biking suggestions in southern UT and northern AZ. So far my main spots for biking are Crested Butte and Moab, but from Moab I'll be working my way across southern Utah toward the Grand Canyon/Sedona/Prescott. I doubt I'll have many good kayaking options in those areas, but will be on the lookout for good biking spots.

[we66erno1]

FIBArk. June 14-17. Salida. It's the oldest whitewater festival in the Nation.

Steve Gabbard and I will be there June 10-17. We'll hit up the BV park on the 11th for sure. After that we'll be where the water is.

Lucky for us they are holding water till the day before FIBArk. So we will have plenty of water for it.
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Your welcome to join us for a day of padding, any day your there. And if you like steak, make sure you hit up Quincey's.

[Brooks L]

FIBArk sounds like a blast. The 11th is about the time I'll be arriving in the area. I'd love to paddle with you guys.

[BHK Okie]

BV / Salida area also great for mountain biking . Monarch bike trail from the top of Monarch Pass and shuttle is available for that also . Pretty much anywhere you want to peddle or paddle in that area is top notch . Save gas , stay there until I get there and I'll follow you to Moab and down to Flagg

[MaxTexan]

The Taylor runs at this time at a low level. It is a hoot. The area through the fish camp is interesting. The current is fast so you can do a long run in a day. Three rivers will shuttle you if you are comfortable on your own.

Pagaso Springs, CO has a newer whitewater park that I have heard of but not visited. It also is running at this time. If you go, please post a report.

Rio Grande in NM is very low and may only come up with some Monsoon rains by the looks of it becuase of a poor snow pack in NM.

[okieboater]

Just back from a week in the Taos NM area.

Great place to visit but Box was too low to run, Pilar was runnable but barely. Chama had a dam release and was good but is probably back down unless the irrigation need is still there.

Best to stay in BV or Salida if you want to kayak.

[Brooks L]

Definitely making time for Salida and BV now.