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Colorado · Paddling
Moffat County sits at the confluence of two of the Colorado Plateau's most serious whitewater rivers, and the paddling here is not for beginners working up their confidence.
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View on mapPaddling · 6 spots
Whitewater kayaking
Moffat County, Colorado
Whitewater kayaking
Moffat County, Colorado
Whitewater kayaking
Moffat County, Colorado
Whitewater kayaking
Moffat County, Colorado
Whitewater kayaking
Moffat County, Colorado
Moffat County sits at the confluence of two of the Colorado Plateau's most serious whitewater rivers, and the paddling here is not for beginners working up their confidence. The Green River drops through the Gates of Lodore and continues past Echo Park, while the Yampa cuts through Cross Mountain Gorge and Little Yampa Canyon before joining the Green at Deerlodge Park. Every run listed in this county falls in the hard or expert range, which tells you something about the character of the terrain. The Yampa is one of the last major undammed rivers in the Colorado River system, which means its flows are genuinely seasonal and can swing dramatically year to year. The Green, regulated upstream by Flaming Gorge Dam, runs more predictably but still demands respect through Lodore Canyon. Together these six runs cover everything from the put-in at Flaming Gorge down through Echo Park and on toward Split Mountain, giving experienced paddlers a logical progression through some of the most remote canyon whitewater in the American West. Permits, logistics, and multi-day planning are all part of the equation here.
Every run listed here is rated hard or expert. Cross Mountain Gorge on the Yampa, Lodore to Echo Park on the Green, and Deerlodge Park to Echo Park are all expert-level routes. If you are not comfortable reading and running Class IV-V water in a remote canyon setting with no easy egress, these are not the right runs for you yet.
The Yampa's peak runnable window is typically late April through early June, driven by snowmelt from the Flat Tops and Sierra Madre. By mid-July it can drop too low to run cleanly. The Green below Flaming Gorge Dam holds more consistent flows through summer, but spring is still the preferred season for most paddlers targeting Lodore Canyon.
Yes. Lodore Canyon, the Yampa through Dinosaur National Monument, and the Echo Park corridor all fall within Dinosaur National Monument, which requires a river permit for overnight trips. These permits are managed by the National Park Service and are competitive, particularly for the Yampa in spring. Check the NPS reservation system well in advance of your planned dates.
Most of these routes are multi-day trips by nature. Lodore Canyon to Echo Park and the Yampa from Deerlodge Park to Echo Park both involve canyon travel that is not practical as a day trip given the distances and remoteness involved. Plan for at least two to four nights on the water and come prepared for self-supported camping in a desert canyon environment.
The Green River runs reference Flaming Gorge, Lodore, Echo Park, and Split Mountain as put-ins and take-outs. The Yampa runs access from 85 Road and Deer Lodge Park Road for Cross Mountain Gorge, and from Deerlodge Park for the lower Yampa stretch. Roads into these areas are often unpaved and can be impassable when wet, so check conditions before hauling a loaded raft trailer out there.
