Ute Mountain Two Day Trip

The Ute Mountain section is the uppermost run of the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument. This trip is perfect for those who are looking for an active, out of the ordinary and adventurous scenic float experience. The Ute Mountain run is a place of wild natural beauty, traces of early native peoples, and thriving wildlife. This trip begins in southern Colorado in the open plains between the San Juan and Sangre de Cristo mountain ranges, where the Rio Grande begins its gradual descent into the deep basalt walls of the Rio Grande Gorge.
The Ute Mountain section is known for remarkable wildlife viewing opportunities: The shorter walls and relative inaccessibility in the northern section of the Monument form a perfect aerie habitat for eagles, falcons, hawks and owls. This section is seldom paddled and is closed to the public from February to April to allow for an undisturbed raptor nesting season. The recently reintroduced river otter is thriving here, making sighting much more probable than other stretches of the river. Herds of elk, deer, and rocky mountain bighorn sheep also call the area home.

We welcome beginning rafters 12 years of age and older. You should be in normal good health, active, adventurous and prepared for the exertions of full days of paddling, possible swimming, and a 1-mile hike on a rocky trail.