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AllAboutRivers Forums for UT
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Cataract Canyon Info
Use this information at your own risk. See our legal notices. |
| Put In: |
Potash Launch Site |
| Take Out: |
Dirty Devil River |
| Difficulty: |
Class I
to Spanish Bottom , Class IV
in Cataract Canyon
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| Gradient: |
1 ft/mi first 48 miles; 16 ft/mi in Cataract Canyo |
| Run Length: |
96 miles. Shorter trips possible. |
| Current Streamflow |
3450 cfs @ 11/18/2008 11:00 PM - COLORADO RIVER NEAR CISCO, UT, reading taken from USGS
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| Flow Information (phone): |
NWS tape, 801-539-1311 |
| Good Level: |
2,000-30,000 cfs (larger rafts up to 40,000 cfs) |
| Streamflow Comments: |
To get accurate flows through Cataract Canyon after the confluence of the Green River and Colorado River you must add flows from Green River at Green River Utah and the Colorado River at Cisco, UT. The flow shown on this page is just the Colorado at Cisco, UT. |
| Season Comments: |
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
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| Permit: |
Required year-round below Spanish Bottom. Available for the asking in the offseason but limited April 15 through October 14. First come, first served basis starting January 1. Group limit of 40. Contact Canyonlands National Park, Moab UT 84532; 435-259-3911. |
| Character/Similar To: |
Cataract Canyon lies below the Colorado-Green Confluence and is essentially an extremely scenic float through deep, rugged, desert canyon until that point. Once your actually inside the "Cat", the river provides ten miles of big water rapids. At low flows boaters can count 26 distinct drops. At high water many of the rapids blend together to form huge waves and monster holes. Sneak chutes are often comfortably wide but a few passages require skillful maneuvering in very heavy surf. |
| Hazards: |
Huge hydraulics at high water. Rugged, isolated canyon. |
| Water Craft: |
kayak,canoe,raft |
| Land Ownership: |
Mostly public. Private at the put-in. |
| Wilderness: |
Yes |
| Camping on River: |
Excellent camping with broad beaches and outstanding side hikes. Many sites are flooded at highwater. |
| Location: |
In the Canyon Country (UT), 240 miles Southeast of Salt Lake City |
| Shuttle Logistics: |
Put-in: From US 191 about 4 miles north of Moab (about a mile west of the US 191 bridge) turn south onto Utah 279 and drive about 15 miles to the Potash Boat Ramp.
Take-out: Return to US 191 and drive north to I-70. Head west to Utah 24 and then go south to Hanksville. Turn left on Utah 95 and drive approx. 40 miles. Turn right between mileposts 41 and 42, just downstream from the Dirty Devil River. Hite Marina is no longer the takeout due to a receding Lake Powell. |
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Kayak Stores near Cataract Canyon
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Paddling Schools near Cataract Canyon
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