The Gates of Lodore

COVID-19 may have clipped our international travel wings but it has not dampened our wanderlust. Eleven retirees and family rafted 44 miles of the Green River from the Gates of Lodore to Split Mountain through Dinosaur National Monument August 9-12, 2020. The upstream Flaming Gorge Dam provided river flows of 1,500 to 2,000 cubic feet per second through Dinosaur during our trip. We spent four days and three nights on the river that John Wesley Powell detailed 150 years ago. Our trip was cushy thanks to our Dinosaur River Expeditions guides. The three guides expertly rowed the laden rafts through rapids and flat water while also setting up the communal areas and preparing our meals.

Our first day started with a van ride from Vernal, Utah to the Lodore put-in at river mile 243. The 90- degree temperatures felt great on the river as we made our way into the Canyon of Lodore. We went through Disaster Falls with excitement and without the problems encountered by the Powell Expedition. We floated past bighorn sheep and other wildlife along the river. Our first camp was above Triplet Falls near river mile 232. Some of us fished, some swam, and others just relaxed.

Day 2 provide more time on the river. We took turns paddling two inflatable duckies once we were past the big rapids. The Yampa River joins the Green at Echo Park before winding around Steamboat Rock. Here, we took a short hike to Whispering Cave and the nearby petroglyphs. We continued down river through Whirlpool Canyon and camped our second night near the Colorado-Utah state line at river mile 220.

We crossed into Utah the third day and had an early stop at Jones Hole. Most of the group hiked two miles up the tree-shaded valley to the Deluge Shelter pictographs. Several of us refreshed in “Butt Dam” falls, where Ely Creek can be block by sitting in the stream channel and then releasing the dammed water to produce a shower below. We saw a small herd of bighorn sheep on our return to the rafts and lunch. Our final camp was in Island Park at river mile 212 where the meandering river has formed numerous sandbars and wooded islands.

Our last day started in the slow, shallow waters between Island Park and Little Rainbow Park. The colorful, wavy, tilted layers of the Morgan Formation (300 million years old) mark the beginning of Split Mountain Canyon. We enjoyed the small rapids of Moonshine, S.O.B., Schoolboy, and Inglesby on our way to the take-out point near river mile 199. Sadly, our adventure came to an end with a short trip back to Vernal.

It was a great trip – wonderful companions, excellent weather, splendid views, and fabulous guides.

More photos from the trip are shared by clicking here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/VzLdXdpQmH9PNdx58

Group shot (left to right) – Brett (guide), Dick Dieckman, Jeff Burch, Tommy John, Gary Roper, Jim Thinnes, Cindy Dean, Kassie (guide), Julie Grode, Kelley Liston, Jim Free, Emily (guide), Andy Free, and Ryan Free.