This section of the Gunnison River is a beautiful and scenic float through the Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation area. Downstream of the put-in you will be greeted with breathtaking views of red-rock canyons and sandstone bluffs. Additionally, this section of the Gunnison hosts an array of essential ecological benefits for fish, wildlife, and recreational resources and allows the opportunity for wildlife encounters as the Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area is home to a variety of species including desert bighorn sheep, mule deer, golden eagles, turkeys, elk, mountain lions, black bears, and the collared lizard. For more information on this float and the Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation area, follow this link to the BLM's website:
https://www.blm.gov/programs/national-conservation-lands/colorado/dominguez-escalante-nca. On the right side of the page you will see a link which says "Float the Gunnison River" for more information about the area.
There are two different put-ins for the river: The first is the put-in at the confluence park in Delta which makes the total trip distance 44 miles down to Whitewater. For a shorter trip, you can put in at the Escalante Canyon Bridge (Escalante Canyon road off Hwy 50) which makes the total river mileage 29 miles to Whitewater.
This section of the Gunnison has recently started using self-issued permits for overnight trips, although the process of obtaining one is very simple and straightforward. All overnight boaters are required to self-issue a free camping permit. These are located at the Escalante Boat Launch and at Bridgeport. Further instructions are located on-site. The permit is a helpful required tool to inform users of the river regulations and to provide the BLM with important data regarding river recreation use patterns. If you plan to begin your trip in Delta, fill out a permit at the Escalante Boat Launch during your shuttle.