Desolation Canyon

169 Pictures: 1-20 , 20-40 , 40-60 , 60-80 , 80-100 , 100-120 , 120-140 , 140-160 , 160-169

Sand WashSand Wash (09/02/2002) Sand Wash is the put in for Desolation Canyon. The site includes a small interpretive center and reconstructed shacks from the day the area served as a ferry.

Sand WashSand Wash (09/02/2002) These low top buildings dug into the earth would provide the pioneers an escape from the relentless desert sun.

Sand Wash ShackSand Wash Shack (09/02/2002) Wood is scarce and dirt is cheap.

Sand WashSand Wash (09/02/2002) Trips through the canyon often involve long spells at Sand Wash while you wait for the shuttle and the initial loading of the boats. The little shelter in the background provides some relief from bugs and sun.

Sand WashSand Wash (09/02/2002) Looking up canyon from Sand Wash. The Green was hitting historic lows (in the 650 CFS range) when we were loading the boats. The ranger said that Flaming Gorge released 900 CFS. The river loses a little bit of water between the dam and the canyon.

RiggingRigging (09/02/2002) It appears to be getting dark as we begin rigging the boats.

Day TwoDay Two (09/02/2002) The first two days of the trip bring you through flat water on the high desert plains. The water was about 80 degrees. Excellent swimming weather.

Entering the CanyonEntering the Canyon (09/02/2002) The river slowly cuts into the Green River formation.

The Canyon ThickensThe Canyon Thickens (09/02/2002) Yes, I am the one in the rubber duckie...an inflatable Kayak by Sevylor. The last time I ran the river. You will see the nose of the boat in several pictures.

Sandy BeachSandy Beach (09/02/2002) The low water on the Green River created several large sandy beaches (especially on the upper part of the river.)

Green RiverGreen River (09/02/2002)

Floating the GreenFloating the Green (09/02/2002) The folks in the large boat were wise enough to bring along a parasol.

Green River FormationGreen River Formation (09/02/2002)

Wide Section in the RiverWide Section in the River (09/02/2002)

Feral CowsFeral Cows (09/02/2002) I believe this to be a band of feral cows (mavericks) abandonned by the ranchers when Desolation Canyon became a wilderness study area.

Water FowlWater Fowl (09/02/2002) The riparian zone was full of life, including this small band of water fowl

GeeseGeese (09/02/2002) Some water fowl hanging out in the riparian zone.

String of GeeseString of Geese (09/02/2002)

Wild HorsesWild Horses (09/02/2002)

Crossing the RiverCrossing the River (09/02/2002) The herd of wild horses crosses the river as we approach.

169 Pictures: 1-20 , 20-40 , 40-60 , 60-80 , 80-100 , 100-120 , 120-140 , 140-160 , 160-169

This is a set of pictures that I took while floating Desolation Canyon in late August 2002. The pictures are ordered from the top of the river to the bottom. There is well over a hundred pictures in this set. I present them in blocks of twenty.

We had three boats...a 16' raft and a 10' raft. I was in an Inflatable Kayak. We saw a great variety of wildlife along the shores including bears, wild horses, bighorn sheep, blue herons and the every illusive "feral cow."

Sea Eagle 330 -- The Go Anywhere Kayak For 2

Context: Desert

Utah State (42 pictures) Desolation Canyon is on the Green River in Eastern Utah. The caynon is in one of the largest sections of the United States not bisected by a road.

Rivers (1 pictures) The Green River is one of the major water ways in the Western US. Its headwaters are in the Wind River Mountains of Wyoming. It flows through Flaming Gorge Reservoir and cuts through Colorado and Utah before reaching the Colorado River.

Interstate 70 (51 pictures) The take out from Desolation Canyon is about 10 miles north of the East Exit for I70 in Green River, Utah. (About 50 miles north of Moab.

Colorado River (84 pictures) The Green River eventually flows into the Colorado River south of Desolation Canyon.

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