Hype:

Looking for a casual family float trip? Ruby / Horsethief provides a very mellow 25 mile float with one rapid, generally considered class II. This is a good trip for beginners, or families. Aside from the one rapid, and short section of turbulant water, the other 24 miles is very easy and relaxing. The scenery is second to none, with ample opportunity for side hikes.

Trailhead:

Put-In
Take the Loma exit (exit 15) just inside Colorado. Go south off the highway, making an immediate left at the T. The boat ramp and parking is less than a mile from this junction.

Take-out
Travel back into Utah on I-70 for about 5 miles to the Westwater exit. (Exit 227). Travel south off the highway for about 9 miles to the ranger station, picnic area, and boat ramp.

The shuttle takes about 45 minutes each way.

Route:

From the put-in, simply float down canyon. Ruby Canyon is the first canyon you'll enter. Watch the walls for impressive numbers of swallow nests clinging the cliff overhangs. Ruby is relatively short, but Rattlesnake Canyon comes in on the left during it. Rattlesnake Canyon is known for having the second largest concentration of arches in the world, after Arches National Park in Utah, although it is a strenuous and long hike to reach them from the river. Soon Ruby canyon gives way to Horsethief canyon. It is easy to recognize the difference, as the rail road joins up with the river at the start of Horsethief, and follows the river for the rest of the trip.

Several side canyons along the way provide ample hiking opportunities for the ambitious. The water is flat, and easy paddling until about 2/3 of the way through, when you reach Black Rocks.

Black Rocks is easy to recognize, as it is the place where the river makes an abrupt left turn and black metamorphic rock appears. This is some of the oldest rock in the area, and marks the beginning of a mile long section of turbulant water. About 1/2 way through this mile long section, several large boulders form the obvious rapid. Staying far left will avoid it for the most part. Once past the rapid, the turbulent water quickly eases, and it's back to flat water.

Down from Black Rocks, the first side canyon on the right provides a short hike to pictographs. It is not entirely obvious, but you should pull the boat up under the railroad bridge. The hike is on the east (right side) of the canyon and has a register at the beginning. It is short, and will take about 20 minutes round trip.

From there down, the canyon opens and becomes somewhat less interesting. Pay attention when the canyon opens fully, as you are nearing the Westwater takout.

Photos:

Maps:

Download map(s): Map 1 Map 2

My History:

As a group of 6 (4 adults, 2 small children, and one ill mannered German Wirehaird dog) we floated the river Memorial Day 2010. With relatively high flows (15,000 CFS the first day, 20,000 CFS the second), we floated about 9-10 hours total, with the first day to Black Rocks being the longest at 5-6 hours. If planning on doing side hikes, I would recommend setting the shuttle up the day before, or taking 3 days. Two days seemed somewhat rushed if trying to do a lot of hiking.

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