02. Lodore to Echo Park

The Green River is dam controlled and, flow permitting, this beautiful high desert run can coincide nicely with good fishing and jaw-dropping scenes. While it is only 19 miles to the confluence with the Yampa River at Echo Park, the usual take out at Split Mountain is another 25 miles downstream.  See Green: Echo Park to Split Mountain. The total distance from Lodore to Split Mountain is about 45 miles. Sitting in the tailwaters of Flaming Gorge Dam, this muddy and sandy bottomed section of river is home to some canyon wren, elk, deer and beaver. The permit and camping is small scale with +/- 300 permits awarded annually. The canyon is fragile. The rapids are fun. Grand sandstone arching walls make the Gates of Lodore a real Western treat. Hells Half Mile Rapid is a fun rock garden for kayakers. The Hatch and Belknap families really helped put the Green River on the map and made this section famous with their trips and great guiding service. There are secrets in many places that may be found along with the remnants of the dinosaurs.