Dolores River Camping Trips
AT A GLANCE
Highlights
- Multiple River Sections
- Diverse Scenery and History
- Numerous Trip Options
- Delicious Camp Cooking
- Whitewater and Float Trips
Overview
2023 Season:
There will be flows on the Dolores this year! The snow runoff has already begun and so have recreational releases! The lower reaches of the river are already running and will be running through most of the Summer.
Due to the irregular nature of the release schedule we have disabled online bookings aside from scheduled group multi-days. Please give us a call or email using the contact button below to set up a once in a lifetime trip on this incredible river!
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The Dolores River, or “River of Sorrows” carves a northwesterly bend up from the Four Corners Region through the sandstone deposits of the Colorado Plateau. Directly below McPhee Reservoir the river passes through a heavily wooded canyon with steep gradient and many rapids, notably the infamous class IV Snaggletooth section. From there the river continues downstream into a series of beautiful sandstone canyons and across large open southwest country, past its confluence with the San Miguel river, and eventually joins with the mighty Colorado River upstream of Moab, Utah. There are many sections of the Dolores River, all of which are worth your time to explore. We are excited to guide your journey down one of the Southwest’s most iconic rivers. Choose a section that fits your desires, or combine all of them in one of the longest river trips in the continental united states!
About
Ponderosa Gorge – 2,3 and 4 Days
2023 is off to a great start in the Dolores River basin. We are looking forward to huge flows in the downstream reaches of the river and recreational releases beginning the end of May for the upper Ponderosa Gorge segments.
Ponderosa Gorge is wonderful wooded section that before McPhee reservoir was a staple of great western whitewater and is part of what made the Dolores such a famous western river trip. This section is a fantastic whitewater run and includes the infamous Snaggletooth rapid! Guests can expect wonderful alpine and southwester scenery combined with exhilarating whitewater and premier service on this special and rarely available river trip!
These days releases are limited to the early spring and folks rush from across the country to catch this amazing section while it is runnable!
Dates and Launches:
We will have daily launches and custom dates available beginning May 12th of 2023!
Prices:
Ponderosa Gorge Two-Day Whitewater Section: $475/person
Ponderosa Gorge 3-day, Whole Canyon: $649/person
Itinerary:
Multi-day and single-day trips will meet in Cortez, Co at the Cortez Welcome Center at 9am, where we will get packed up and then take a shuttle to our put-in at either Dove Creek or Bradfield Launch (roughly 45 minutes away).
Following your trip we will return you to you vehicle by 4pm.
About
After leaving the alpine woodlands of the Ponderosa Gorge, the Dolores drops into a tight sandstone canyon and winds its way through beautiful stretches of river and class II-III desert whitewater. Flows are unfortunately unreliable on this section, which is a shame because of how beautiful it is. On a good snow year this is one of the highlights of the Dolores River. On a marginal water year it is important to remember that this is a great trip for rafts but can also be done in canoes and kayaks for those looking for a more active adventure!
Please inquire for more specifics about this amazing river trip!
Itinerary
Multi-day and single-day trips will meet in Cortez, Co at the Cortez Welcome Center at 8am, where we will get packed up and then take a shuttle to our put-in at either Dove Creek or Bradfield Launch (roughly 1hr away).
Following your trip we will return you to you vehicle by 4pm.
Camp Scene/Gear
Camp Scene:
Get ready to pitch a tent, sling a hammock, throw down a pad, and relax! Every day we will prepare and serve you a delicious riverside lunch, not limited to, but often including an array of home-roasted sandwich meats and homemade dips and salsas. In addition, our camp dinners and breakfasts are a classic staple of the Far Flung experience, as 40 years in business has not only taught us the principles of reading white-water…but also of cooking and camp ambiance!
***Please let us know ahead of time about any allergies or special food requirements***
Camp Gear:
Following is a list of required and recommend items for this three-day camping excursion. As part of this experience we will provide waterproof dry bags for all of your personal items, camp chairs for fireside relaxation and enjoyment, and any camping equipment that you need.
About
Other possible river sections include:
Ponderosa Gorge – 1,2,3 and 4 Days
A wonderful wooded section that before McPhee reservoir was a staple of great western whitewater. These days releases are limited to the early spring and folks rush from across the country to catch this amazing section while it is runnable! This trip has class IV+ whitewater, great camping, and even side hikes to ancient Anasazi ruins!
Gateway Canyon – 3,4 and 5 Days
This section is downstream of the Dolores’ confluence with the San Miguel, so it is the most reliably run section of the river. Gateway Canyon is a classic Utah river section that has high cliffs and canyons, wide open desert vistas, slot canyon side hikes, and challenging class IV whitewater.
Paradox Canyon:
A nice extension and precursor to Mesa Canyon when flows allow.
About
Launching at the base of deep canyon walls at the confluence of the San Miguel and Dolores rivers, this trip immediately whisks us away into the heart of the middle-Dolores canyon country. Enjoy days of floating beneath steep and multi-colored sandstone cliffs, camping and beautiful side hikes. This is a great trip for families or groups looking for a fun and scenic desert river experience.
The length of these trips can vary depending on flow. 3 days is a typical minimum, while 5 days is the maximum for this stretch of river.
3-Day: $599/Adult $499/Child (11 and under)
4-Day: $725/Adult $625/Child (11 and under)
5-day: $825/Adult $725/Child (11 and under)
Itinerary
Day 1: The day will begin by meeting in Naturita, Colorado at 9am, where we will organize any last minute gear and camping needs and then take the short 20 minute drive to the river. Once at our put-in at the confluence of the San Miguel and Dolores Rivers, we will load up the boats and launch on Mesa Canyon of the Dolores River! Note the drastic color difference between the muddy Dolores and the crystal clear San Miguel! Day one will be shorter day as well float downstream to explore the famous Hanging Flume and get to our campsite for the evening. Once at camp you will be encourage to sit back, relax, take in the scenery and let the guides do the rest of the work!
Middle Days: Wake up to beautiful mornings next to the Dolores River and enjoy hot coffee and a delicious breakfast. Days will be punctuated by fun and challenging class II rapids, scenic river meanders, remnants of the areas mining past and the opportunity for numerous side hikes. Groups that are interested can plan for the wonderful 5 mile round trip hike up to visit Juanita Arch. Enjoy rapids such as Bull Creek and Salt Canyon while you navigate your raft, inflatable kayak or canoe down this mellow and tranquil section of southwestern river.
Last Day: After another beautiful morning we will make our way down to our takeout at Gateway, Colorado. Once loaded up it will be about an hours drive back to Naturita and your vehicles.
Camp Scene/Gear
Camp Scene:
Get ready to pitch a tent, sling a hammock, throw down a pad, and relax! Every day we will prepare and serve you a delicious riverside lunch, not limited to, but often including an array of home-roasted sandwich meats and homemade dips and salsas. In addition, our camp dinners and breakfasts are a classic staple of the Far Flung experience, as 40 years in business has not only taught us the principles of reading white-water…but also of cooking and camp ambiance!
***Please let us know ahead of time about any allergies or special food requirements***
Camp Gear:
Following is a list of required and recommend items for this three-day camping excursion. As part of this experience we will provide waterproof dry bags for all of your personal items, camp chairs for fireside relaxation and enjoyment, and any camping equipment that you need.
There are many different sections of the Dolores River and many combinations of the various sections. Following are examples of trips but also an idea of the price of trips according to the number of days of the trip.
Ponderosa Gorge Two-Day: $475/person (Just whitewater section)
Ponderosa Gorge 3-day: $649/person
Slickrock Canyon 3-day: $675/person
Ponderosa + Slickrock Canyons 6-Day: $1350/person
Gateway Canyon 3-day: $699/person
Full Dolores, 14-days from Ponderosa Gorge to Dewey Bridge: $2999
BOOK YOUR TRIP TODAY!
Join us for an adventure that you will never forget!