Upper Yampa River

Little Yampa Canyon on the Upper Yampa River is becoming an increasingly popular flatwater river float trip for canoeists. This 53-mile river segment from Craig to Juniper Hot Springs flows past rolling sage-covered hills and colorful rimrock ledges reminiscent of the Old West. A number of good undeveloped campsites are available along the river.

A short, more challenging whitewater run, unsuitable for canoes, is available in Juniper Canyon, lying below Little Yampa Canyon, across Axial Basin. Low late season flows limit good runs on the entire segment from mid-July.

Regarded as unrunnable until just recently is Cross Mountain Canyon, west of Maybell, Colorado. This run is Class V-VI and is for the expert boaters only. Rafting this segment is extremely hazardous and is discouraged. However, outfitters are available to run Cross Mountain Canyon.

Access
Three put-in sites in Craig are the Yampa Valley Golf Course off Highway 394, Moffat County's Loudy Simpson Park on Highway 394, and the Yampa Project Pump Station on Highway 13 & 789. Take-out points are Government Bridge on Moffat County Road #17, or BLM land upstream from Juniper Hot Springs Bridge on Moffat County Road #53.

Difficulty
Little Yampa Canyon, Class I
Juniper Canyon, Class III-IV
Cross Mountain Canyon Class, V-VI

Average Gradient
3 ft/mi unknown 57 ft/mi

Trip Length
Yampa Project Pump Station - Government Bridge 2-3 days, 37 mi.
Golf Course - Juniper Hot Springs 2-4 days, 53 mi.

USGS Maps
Craig, Round Bottom, Horse Gulch, Juniper Hot Springs, Juniper Mountain, Maybell Sunbeam, Peck Mesa, Cross Mountain Canyon, 12-mile Mesa.

Other Notes
Juniper Canyon has a large diversion downriver and is not recommended for open canoes due to rapids. Low flows (from mid-July on) bring shallow waters; expect to drag your boat. Cross Mountain Canyon is for experts only. It has Class V-VI water with continuous rapids for 3 miles dropping 57 ft./mile.

BLM Resource Area Office
Little Snake Resource Area
1280 Industrial Ave.
Craig, CO 81625