Gates of Lodore

The run

44 miles of Class III on the Green River through Dinosaur National Monument. Named rapids: Disaster Falls at mile 2 (Class III, where John Wesley Powell wrecked the No Name boat in 1869), Triplet Falls at mile 12 (Class III), Hell's Half Mile at mile 14 (Class III-IV, the crux). Below the named rapids the river quiets through Whirlpool Canyon, picks up the Yampa at Echo Park, then runs Split Mountain Canyon to the take-out. The canyon walls are red Weber Sandstone, 1,500-2,000 feet tall, with lighter Morgan Limestone bands near the top. Less technical than the Yampa, less remote than the Middle Fork - a good first-permit river.

The permit

Shares permit #250014 with the Yampa, with separate lottery odds for each section. Season is May 1 through September 15. Lodore odds are roughly 10-20% for core weeks, higher in shoulder season. The Lodore section has more launches per week than the Yampa, so drawing is easier. A cancellation monitor is useful for last-minute weekend trips in peak season.

Timing

Flaming Gorge Dam controls the Green River, so flows are more predictable than the Yampa. Summer releases typically run 1,500-3,000 CFS. Spring (May-June) sometimes sees higher releases when the reservoir is full. Below Echo Park mile 19 the Yampa's spring runoff adds significantly to flows. Fall (September) drops to 800-1,500 CFS - technical but not bony. Gear for 2,500 CFS as the baseline.

Logistics

Put-in is Gates of Lodore boat ramp, 20 miles of gravel off CO-318 north of Maybell, CO. Take-out is Split Mountain ramp at Dinosaur National Monument near Jensen, UT - same take-out as the Yampa. Shuttle is 150 miles around the monument, $400-600 with a company. Permits are picked up at the Dinosaur Visitor Center near Jensen; Vernal, UT is the nearest full town for groceries and fuel.