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River 3, 6 and 10 day rafting trips RATES IN USD VALID THROUGH 11/1/08 |
PONDEROSA GORGE 
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3 DAYS RAFTING - Class III-IV
(3 Day Desert Canyon)
The Dolores is a classic western
river, unspoiled, with a majestic desert backdrop. In May and June we take
advantage of the warm temperatures and early season runoff to raft this
exceptional wilderness river. Enormous Ponderosa pines grow in stark contrast
with a landscape of red and orange sandstone cliffs. This results in a striking
kaleidoscope of color unique to the Dolores River. Here you will encounter the
infamous Snaggletooth Rapid, the miles-long House Rock Rapid. You will also
stop to visit an ancient Anasazi Indian ruin where you can imagine the
lifestyle of a culture long since vanished.
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SLICKROCK
CANYON
3 - 6 DAYS RAFTING - Class III-IV
(3 or 6 Day Canyonlands
Experience)
Downstream of Ponderosa Gorge the Dolores enters the milder Slickrock Canyon. For the next three days the river descends into the deepest canyon of the Dolores where you are greeted by near vertical, stair- step cliffs over 1,200 feet high. Brightly colored sandstone cliffs, smooth and sheer for hundreds of feet, tower high above you. In places these cliffs overhang the entire river. You'll camp on river beaches or sandy alluvial fans created by fantastic serpentine side canyons which offer inspiring hiking.
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GATEWAY
CANYON
10 DAYS RAFTING - Class II-IV
(10 Day Total Escape)
Exiting Slickrock Canyon, the river descends into the lofty cliffs and rousing rapids of Gateway Canyon. You can combine Ponderosa Gorge, Slickrock, and Gateway Canyons to create one of the longest raft trips in the West. Day after day you will share the river with mergansers and great blue herons, exploring the desert from a unique vantage point. Exciting whitewater, fascinating geology, Indian ruins, interesting side creeks, and stunning sunsets will fill your days on this adventure of a lifetime. This trip is great for people that can't afford the time or expense of a Grand Canyon of the Colorado raft trip, or people just looking to truly escape the pressures of modern life.
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GETTING
THERE
See our
Dolores Map for specific directions. The Cortez
airport is serviced by United Express with connections from Denver and
Farmington, New Mexico. The Travelodge will pick you up at the airport at no
charge (we suggest a small tip). There is also a Cortez car rental company
called U/Save- 1-970-565-9168. The nearest major airports are in Albuquerque,
Colorado Springs, Denver, Salt Lake City and Durango. If you fly into any of
these cities, you will need to rent a car. Durango is one hour away and is
serviced by United Express- 1-800-241-6522, America West- 1-800-247-5692,
Southwest Airlines- 1-800-435-9792, Mesa Airlines- 1-800-637-2247, and American
Airlines- 1-800-433-7300.
LODGING & LOCAL INFORMATION
For information on other local accommodations or attractions call the Cortez Chamber of Commerce at 1-970-565-3414 or the Economic Development Council at 1-800-253-1616. For the nearby Durango Area Resort Association call 1-800-463-8726 or you can visit their websites from our links to other businesses page. You can also get information on river flows, weather, road conditions and other cool sites from that page.
... AND THEN WHAT?
After meeting at the Travelodge, you will sign liability releases and receive your waterproof bags to pack, along with any rentals you may have reserved (see our packing list page). Once you are packed and ready to go, we will transport you to the trip departure point near Cahone, Colorado by van or bus. At the put-in we will conduct an in-depth participant orientation, finish loading the rafts, and launch our trip. At the trip's conclusion, you will be transported back to the Travelodge in Cortez.
DOWNLOAD DOLORES RIVER PRE-TRIP INFORMATION
Our Dolores River pre-trip information is available in .PDF format by clicking on the icon below. If you are not able to view the file or are not sure if you have the right software you can click here to download Adobe Acrobat Reader.
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Dolores River Pre-Trip Information |
DESCRIPTION, GEOLOGY
By Bill Alexander
It is not known who named the
Rio de Nuestra Senora de las Dolores (River of our Lady of Sorrows) and when
they did so, but the Spaniards Dominquez and Escalante knew it by that name
when they joined it near the present day town of Dolores, Colorado on August
11, 1776. They were searching for a northern route to the California
missions.
The traverse of the Dolores takes one through an area as interesting for its history as for its rare natural beauty and the dramatic change from sub-alpine to desert terrain. The Dolores has its beginnings above 10,000 feet in elevation on the other side of Lizard Head Pass from Telluride. From here the sparkling mountain stream descends some 6,000 feet on its 250 mile journey to its confluence with the Colorado River near Moab, Utah.
The Dolores is runnable only during the peak spring run-off, usually from late April through early June. The more navigable portion of the river lies below the town of Dolores. Otis Marston, the Dean of Colorado river-runners noted that, "This river is no run for beginners; it has some very difficult water, requiring much skill to negotiate."
Below Dolores the Dolores River enters Ponderosa Gorge, where groves of spectacular Ponderosa pines offer beautiful campsites. It is in this canyon where the river runner encounters "Old Snaggletooth", the most formidable rapid on the entire river. Some river runners maintain that Snaggletooth has been portaged more times than it has been successfully run. Ponderosa Gorge ends as the river crosses the open spaces of Gypsum Valley some 10 miles below the tiny town of Slickrock.
Below Gypsum Valley the river plunges into Slickrock Canyon with its magnificent sandstone walls which are very reminiscent of Glen Canyon of the Colorado, which is now flooded by Lake Powell. Here the river passes a number of beautiful side canyons. Deer, Bighorn Sheep, and semi-wild stray stock, particularly burros, are regularly spotted.
Emerging from Slickrock Canyon the river enters the Paradox Valley, an interesting geologic phenomenon, also extensively occupied by a Pueblo Indian culture. This valley is also famous in western history as a route through which rustlers traversed to sell stolen stock in the mining camps. In the spring, nesting waterfowl abound in the natural but unprotected refuge.
From here the river cuts through Paradox and Mesa Canyons where one can view remnants of an almost unbelievable "hanging flume". Near the town of Gateway the river plunges into Gateway Canyon where some of the most difficult rapids of the entire river are encountered by the whitewater enthusiast. Some 30 miles below Gateway, Colorado, the Dolores River unites with the Colorado River.
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