Desolation Float 2009

Rena and I floated Desolation Canyon on the Green River launching on Oct 11, 2009. The water level was about 3,000 cfs. Quite low for the Desolation and that is why we did the trip in the SOAR canoe. Higher water would have made it more difficult.

We planned the trip ourselves, drove to the Sand Wash put-in with our gear, and had a car shuttle service move our car to the take-out at Swasey’s. The fall colors were spectacular and we had the river to ourselves. We saw only 2 other groups of people in 8 days. All the camps and details of the trip can be seen in Belknap’s Desolation River Guide.

On the drive in to the put-in, we visited Cove Fort, a Museum in Price, and photographed the great pictographs in 9-Mile Canyon. After the float, we met our friends Howard and Ursula at Cedar Mesa. We hiked at Natural Bridges and visited Anasazi ruins.

ITINERARY
Day 1 - Drive from Redondo Beach to Sidewinder and camped.
Day 2 - Continue driving. Camp near I-15 and Hwy 20 in Utah.
Day 3 - Visit Dove Fort and Price Museum. Stay at 9-Mile Ranch
Day 4 - Drive to Sand Wash - Mile 95.4 - rig boat, and camp
Day 5 - Canoe 1 - Mile 87.5 - Camp at island above Tabyago Riffle.
Day 6 - Canoe 2 - Mile 73.2 - Camp below Peters Point
Day 7 - Canoe 3 - Mile 59.4 - Camp at Fretwater Falls
Day 8 - Canoe 4 - Layover day - bad weather
Day 9 - Canoe 5 - Mile 48 - Camp at Lion Hollow
Day 10 - Canoe 6 - Mile 37.2 -Camp at Wire Fence Canyon
Day 11 - Canoe 7 - Mile 22.6 - Camp at School Section Canyon
Day 12 - Canoe 8 - Mile 12 - Take-out at Swasey’s, sleep at Moab
Day 13 - Redstone Inn at Moab
Day 14 - Hike and camp at Natural Bridges NM with Howard and Ursula
Day 15 - Hike to Moonhouse Ruins with Howard and Ursula, camp at Natural Bridges
Day 16 - Hike Lower Fish Canyon with Howard and Ursula, camp on Comb Wash Road
Day 17 - Hike South Mule Canyon with Howard and Ursula, camp at Natural Bridges.
Day 18 - Start driving home. Camp in route
Day 19 - Return home