Dolores, CO

Gauge Information

River Description

SEASON: April to early June depending on snowpack and release from McPhee Dam and inflow from the San Miguel River.

ISSUES: Recreational users have traditionally been the last to be considered in the management plan for McPhee Dam. A proposal to construct additional diversions designed to capture even more of the spring melt will only make the situation worse. Check with the San Juan Citizen's Alliance for the latest information on this issue.

LOGISTICS: It's a long shuttle via Grand Junction but that also means this section receives somewhat reduced use. The put-in is on the upstream river right side of the Highway 141 Bridge in Gateway. The take-out is at Dewey Bridge across the Colorado just downstream of the confluence with the Dolores. In spring, snow can block the short-cut shuttle through Castle Valley. Inquire locally to see if you can find someone willing to run your shuttle.

DESCRIPTION:

This river sees somewhat limited use compared to nearby desert runs. The shuttle can be long (when the mountain shortcut is blocked by snow), the action is mellow except for Stateline which can be too much action for some, and there's a bit of ranch and mining "history" that detracts a bit from the scenery. But if you're looking to avoid the crowds, this is a trip worth checking out and with supplemental flows from the San Miguel it can be a possibility when McPhee Dam holds back the spring melt and the upper sections on the Dolores are too low. In some years your only opportunity for paddling the Dolores is to paddle the sections below the confluence of the San Miguel and this one contains the most whitewater. The Dolores is managed by the BLM and they maintain a web page with information on the river. Although permits are not currently required, you will still need your firepan, portable toilet, and dishwater strainer.

The run starts out from the Gateway Launch at mile 141 as a mellow float characteristic of the sections just upstream. A road parrallels river right as you pass through open bottomlands. Within a few miles the action begins to pick up with some class II and III rapids before you reach the highlight of this section at Stateline Rapid. You'll want to get out to scout this class IV drop from river right. After this rapid the river mellows out again with only a couple more rapids before settling out to a lazy float to the Colorado.

Decent campsites can be found once you've passed through Stateline Rapid and into Utah. Here the run becomes more remote as you start to leave the roads behind. You'll find some good wilderness camping and side hikes. There are a couple sections of ranch land and you'll see evidence of the past human history of this area, but there's some good scenery.

The Dolores joins the Colorado and ends at mile 173 (as measured from Bradfield Bridge below McPhee Dam). It's another couple miles on the Coloardo to Dewey Bridge.

Boaters can start from further upstream or continue their trip downstream by taking advantage of boating opportunities on the following sections of the Dolores and Colorado:

• 1) Dolores River, Bradfield Launch to Dove Creek Pump Station, 19 miles, II-III
• 2) Dolores River, Dove Creek Pump Station to Slickrock, 28 miles, II-III+(IV)
• 3) Dolores River, Slickrock to Bedrock, 50 miles, II+(III)
• 4) Dolores River, Bedrock to Gateway, 44 miles, II+
• 5) Dolores River, Gateway to Colorado River, 30 miles, II+(IV), this page
• 6) Colorado River, Cisco to Moab, 47 miles, I-III
• 7) Colorado River, Moab to Lake Powell (Cataract Canyon), 112 miles, I-IV