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Dolores Canyon Whitewater Kayaking & Canoeing Trip on the Dolores River



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Paddlesports Schools:

Rocky Mountain Outdoor Center
Located in:
Salida, CO

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Whitewater Kayaking, Rock Climbing, Mountaineering, & Mountain Biking: Guiding & Instruction in Colorado Rocky Mountain Outdoor (more...)
 
 
 
 

Paddlesports Shops:

Confluence Kayaks LLC
Located in:
Denver, CO

More Details
Our Website
Confluence Kayaks is Denver's Kayak Headquarters. Established in 1995 near the whitewater chutes at Confluence Park in Denver, C (more...)
 
 
 
 

Paddlesports Schools:

Confluence Kayaks
Located in:
Denver, CO

More Details
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All you need to bring is desire... and a swimsuit. Confluence Kayaks will oufit your mind and body for the sport of kayaking. Our (more...)
 
 
 
 

River Shuttle Services:

Wilderness Aware Rafting
Located in:
Buena Vista, CO

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Wilderness Aware Rafting offers shuttles for private boaters using their own rafts or kayaks on the Upper Arkansas River between G (more...)
 
 
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Dolores Canyon Whitewater Kayaking & Canoeing Trip on the Dolores River

Related River Guidebooks on AllAboutRivers

Dolores River Guide
Dolores River Guide
in Colorado River Guide Books
Arkansas River Guide
Arkansas River Guide
in Colorado River Guide Books
Dinosaur River Guide
Dinosaur River Guide
in Colorado River Guide Books
Colorado Rivers & Creeks 2nd Ed
Colorado Rivers & Creeks 2nd Ed
in Colorado River Guide Books
Paddling Colorado
Paddling Colorado
in Colorado River Guide Books
Whitewater of the Southern Rockies
Whitewater of the Southern Rockies
in Colorado River Guide Books

Snaggletooth Rapid


View larger map of Dolores Canyon & get directions
Click 'Earth' to fly through the canyon!
 

Colorado Calendar of Events
 
5/23:  The Golden Games
Our calendar of events is filtered for downriver races so you can find a down river race near you. Click on the all events link to see all events.

Complete Events Calendar for Colorado
Dolores Canyon Info
Use this information at your own risk. See our legal notices.
Put In:  Bradfield Bridge
Take Out:  Slick Rock
Difficulty:  Class III
Gradient:  21 ft/mi
Run Length:  47 miles
Current Streamflow:  49.2 cfs @ 05/26/2012 01:45 PM - DOLBMCCO -- DOLORES RIVER BELOW MCPHEE RESERVOIR, reading taken from DWR
Flow Information (phone):  Watertalk 303-831-7135, 7* 5*. Dolores River below McPhee Reservoir.
Good Level:  1,000-4,000 cfs
Season Comments:  April, May, June
Primary Season: 

Variable, depending on releases from McPhee Dam.

Permit:  None presently required.
Character/Similar To:  As the Dolores glides into ever deepening canyons you encounter several Class II-III drops and then the river plunges into the Class IV Snaggletooth rapid. The rapids can be technical at low flows, powerful and hazardous at high flows.
Water Craft:  kayak,wwcan,raft
Land Ownership:  Mostly public
Wilderness:  Yes
Camping on River:  Excellent sites available.
Location:  In the Rocky Mtn Region (CO), 433 miles Southwest of Denver
Shuttle Logistics: 

Put-in: Turn east off US 666 onto Colorado 505 just north of Pleasant View, about 20 miles northwest of Cortez in the southwestern corner of Colorado. Drive some 6 miles to the river and launch at Bradfield Recreation Site, several hundred yards downstream from the bridge on the left bank.
Take-out: Located on the right bank above the Colorado 141 bridge over the Dolores between the towns of Dove Creek and Naturita (private access with no parking. Pay to park at the cafe west of the bridge).



Towns near Dolores Canyon Kayaking

Durango Colorado
Pagosa Springs Colorado
Telluride Colorado


Other Resources

Conservation Organizations
  • Save The Poudre
  • Sierra Club-Poudre Canyon Group
  • Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado
  • River Managing Agencies
  • Colorado State Parks
  • Rocky Mountain Kayak Clubs
  • Colorado School of Mines Kayak Club
  • Colorado Whitewater Association
  • High Country River Rafters
  • Pikes Peak Whitewater Club
  • Poudre Paddlers
  • Rocky Mountain Canoe Club
  • Travel Guides
  • Colorado Vacation & Travel Guide
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