Gunnison

Flow Rate: 700-800 cfpm Review: A great float but a lot of wind dependent flatwater paddling. We started at the Escalante Bridge Put in and took out at whitewater boat ramp. We did end up doing 18-19 miles day one because someone was at tunnel springs camp around mile 15-16 and the next camp was 3 miles further at poverty flats. I wouldn’t recommend this if you have an unmotivated crew or if you are fighting the wind like we were as last 3-4 miles of our first day were mainly flatwater and it was more end of day paddling than our friends expected. The only notably difficult rapids are the Hail Mary Rapid train which had a few of our paddle boarders swimming. Day two was just short of 9 miles and with the wind at our backs was a cake walk; this section would be much more difficult if you were paddling into the wind though so I would recommend you start early just in case the wind doesn’t work in your favor. Overall, we had a great time, the views along these sections were beautiful, miles of rocky canyons and red rock walls surrounded by wildlife, mainly birds, otters, beavers, and goats. Very Close to Grand Junction we stopped at a small fair on our way in and camped near the takeout. If I was to do it again I would be conscious of the wind forecast to plan around and we would have started earlier on day one to try and beat anyone going to the tunnel springs site.

Put 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.