Gunnison
06. Delta to Whitewater(Lower Gunnison)
| Difficulty | I(II) |
| Length | 41.5 mi |
| Avg Gradient | n/a |
| Permit | 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. |
| Gauge | Gunnison River Near Grand Junction, Co. |
| Flow Rate as of 48 minutes | 1160 cfsrunnable |
| Reach Info Last Updated | March 27, 2024 |
River Description
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 p
...River Features
Put In - confluence park in Delta
Escalante Canyon Bridge (Escalante Canyon road off Hwy 50)
Escalante Canyon Bridge (Escalante Canyon road off Hwy 50)
Take Out - Whitewater
Trip Reports
Log in to add a reportPut in at Escalante bridge and take out at Bridgeport, six hours at 1,000 cfs. I am including photos here of the put ins and the old diversion structure (easy bypass in far left channel).
The river mileage quoted in the Falcon Guide is incorrect. From the put-in at Confluence Park in Delta, CO to the Hwy. 141 bridge at Whitewater, CO the distance is 44 river miles. If you use a lower common put-in for this trip at the Escalante Canyon bridge (Escalante Canyon Road off of Hwy 50), the distance down to Whitewater, CO is 29 river miles.