|
The Yampa
an enchanting escape into the rarely visited canyons
of Dinosaur National Monument
 This is a special place. . .
The Yampa is the last major undammed tributary in the mighty Colorado River drainage and is runnable for only a few months each year. This inaccessibility gives the canyon a mystical and extraordinary aura; each visit is rare and unique.We take advantage by exploring intricate side canyons, hiking to stunning overlooks, examining Native American pictographs and petroglyphs, and marveling at the dramatic cliffs and sculpted rocks. This is the most picturesque trip we offer and the scenery isunforgettable, with 1,000 foot rock faces streaked by desert varnish, smoothly polished sandstone ledges overhanging the river, and expansive green parks surrounded by sheer white cliffs. There’s whitewater too, but, with the exception of the legendary Warm Springs, it plays second fiddle to the overpowering canyon walls.
The river is protected within Dinosaur National Monument, near Vernal, Utah and offers an incredibly pristine and unspoiled adventure.
"Your guides are absolutely amazing. Their attitude made the trip worth every cent (and more)!"
Suzi Saunders
"We can't wait to do it again."
Joan Stirlen
"I have been talking about my trip all summer."
Rosana Torrielli
ARTA GUIDE
SEASON YEAGER
 When they meet her, no one can remember her name, ("I'm sorry, was it Summer? April? Spice?") When they say goodbye, no one can forget her smile. In between it's pretty much giggles and good times. She can be one of the guys, (she grew up in a log cabin outside Durango with two brothers and a buckin' barrel in the backyard) or she can be one of the girls, (she likes to bake cookies then curl up on the couch with a cup of coffee and a box of Kleenex and watch chick flicks.) She can be tough, (she lived for a year in North Pole, Alaska) and she can be sensitive (we actually had to pull off the road last summer so she could cry after she hit a "bunny" while driving the rig to put-in.) She's always warm and totally cool; everyone's favorite Season.
Meet more of our guides...
|
For Left Brained People:
In one word:
 Ephemeral
In another word:
Picturesque
Best known for:
Dramatic scenery
No other trip has:
Better hiking
Expect to:
Be awe-struck
You can also:
Dig dinosaurs
Signature Rapid:
Warm Springs
Types of boats:
Oar+paddle+inflat. kayak
Meeting Place:
Vernal, UT
Length in days: 5
Length in miles: 71
Overall difficulty: III
Highest difficulty: IV- (1)
Rapids perday: ~4
Gradient: 13 feet/mile
Scenery: A+
Wilderness: A+
Swimming: B-
Hiking: A+
Campsites: A
Wildlife: B+
Fishing: C
For Right Brained People:
The Yampa River is only runnable for a few weeks each year which gives the canyon a feeling of secrecy and surprise. Not very many people get to visit and each trip feels privileged; like if the Smithsonian were only open for two months a year. And, like the Smithsonian, there is so much to do and see! First of all, the scenery is stunning, (as in: sensually-smooth cliffs with rust colored streaks that rise straight up from the river’s edge and stop conversations) and unbelievable, (as in: there is a place where those cliffs overhang the entire river). Then, there are the campsites, including one where you can sleep under an overhanging ledge on a sand beach and another where you can look across the river at a sweeping natural rock amphitheater and watch the rays of the setting sun perform magic tricks. And the hikes? The best of any trip we offer: to caves, to overlooks, to waterfalls, to Native American sites; too many. The rapids? Perfect for those who prefer It’s A Small World over The Matterhorn, (with a notable exception at Warm Springs on day 3).
|
