Upper Colorado River

The Upper Colorado River offers rafting, kayaking, canoeing and drift boating opportunities with whitewater that is easy to moderately difficult for the beginner to intermediate boater. The character of the river corridor landscape varies from natural to rural, and the scenery includes a variety of features of geological, ecological and historic interest. A variety of trips are possible due to the many river access sites available. The following summarizes the segments between river access sites available for public use.

Although floating through private land is legal, private lands are not open for public use so please do not walk, camp or otherwise cross private land without the owner's permission. State Bridge is a river access site on private land and fees are required by the owner/operators for camping, parking and boat launching/takeout.

A river booklet"The Upper Colorado River Recreation Area" is available from the BLM office. It includes color river maps showing public lands, river access sites, camping areas, selected rapids and navigation hazards, and highlights some of the natural and historic points of interest along the river.

The scenery along the Eagle River includes 30 miles of colorful and rugged sandstone cliffs and canyons from Edwards to Dotsero. Spruce trees, cottonwoods, alder, dogwoods and a variety of other riparian vegetation borders the river. Spruce-fir and aspen forests are seen in the background mountains, and Serviceberry, scrub oak, pinyon-juniper woodland and sagebrush and grasses in the lower foothills. The valley is mainly agricultural and livestock ranches.

Site includes steep walled canyon with limestone, dolomite and sandstone cliffs. The canyon is carved 2000 feet deep into the White River Plateau. Vegetation bordering the creek in this diverse riparian zone is dominated by spruce, cottonwood and shrubs. Recreation in the area consists of hiking, camping, fishing and hunting.

Access: From I-70 at Dotsero go north on the Colorado River Road (Eagle County 301) approximately 2 miles to trail head. Use is limited to hiking; motorized vehicles are prohibited. The trail is a well defined track for the first 4 miles, it becomes diffuse in places due to narrowing of the canyon and travel on the creek bed necessary in a few places beyond 5 miles up the canyon.