18. Colorado/Green Confluence to Hite Marina (Cataract Canyon)

The Colorado River cuts an impressive course through Cataract Canyon creating an exciting big water experience. Although faster runs can be made, four to five day trips departing from Potash Boat Ramp downstream of Moab make for a 100 river mile trip that provides a balance between quiet floating, impressive geology, prehistory in canyon country, cool hikes, beach camping, and fast-paced rapids. The trip is an all-around river adventure with spectacular scenery. While this is a great trip for intermediate boaters during the summer or fall, the flows of spring snowmelt provide a high water challenge that should only be attempted by expert big water boaters. The Colorado River through Cataract Canyon at 50,000 cfs is extremely big, pushy, and powerful. The rapids come in quick succession with no recovery time making long swims in cold water a very real possibility. Cataract Canyon begins just below the confluence of the Green and Colorado Rivers in Canyonlands National Park but this location is not accessible by vehicle. Paddlers have a few options that include boating approximately 50 miles down Meander Canyon of the Colorado (from the Potash Boat Ramp near Moab) or Stillwater Canyon of the Green (from Mineral Bottom Access). Kayakers may be able to arrange a jet boat shuttle from Potash Boat Ramp to Spanish Bottom to avoid the flatwater paddle in. Another option, popular with packrafters, is to hike in from the east along one of the trails in the National Park that provides access to Spanish Bottom. Beginning at the confluence of the Green and Colorado Rivers, the river is flat for the first three miles before the rapids start and remain more or less constant until the reservoir drowns the river. A short flatwater section (1.5 miles) between rapid 12 and rapid 13 is the prelude to the Mile Long Rapids; this section culminates in the Big Drop Rapids. Scouting Big Drops 2 and 3 at all water levels is recommended. At low water these drops can be scouted individually. At high water paddlers should consider the long scout of the whole sequence from above Big Drop 1 through the bottom of Big Drop 3. After the Big Drops you leave Canyonlands National Park and enter the reservoir-impacted reach of the National Recreation Area. With the continuing drought and decreased reservoir levels, several more good rapids can be enjoyed and you can find the latest information through the Returning Rapids Project. Be aware, if it has been a while since you have been down there the returning rapids are quickly changing and will require your attention. The one big negative of the trip is the end. The waters of Powell have inundated several of the lower rapids below the National Park Boundary. With low reservoir levels you will find current all the way to the Dirty Devil but the approxmiately 30 miles of flatwater after Gypsum Creek Rapid can be challenging especically with the frequent up-canyon winds. Most groups bring a small motor to provide assistance on the trip out. You can row out but pulling into head wind on water with no current can ruin an otherwise excellent trip.