Green

Echo Park is the start of this segment that is boated as a continuation of the Yampa or Green Rivers that join at the confluence at Echo Park. Multi-day river trips pass by Echo Park but the vehicle-accessible river access here is not available as a put-in or take-out for multi-day river trips except in an emergency situation. The access may be used by packrafters or others crossing the river. You can also stop to refill water bottles or take a hike before continuing your Yampa River trip on the Green River. The Harpers Corner Road that provides access to Echo Park is typically closed seasonally in the winter and early spring and rainstorms can make the road impassable. Echo Park has a campground with 17 sites available to those who drive in on the road.

The Echo Park Dam was a proposed project in the 1950s by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation as part of the Colorado River Storage Project. The plan called for a 529-foot-high concrete arch dam that would have flooded significant portions of the Green and Yampa River canyons. However, due to strong opposition from conservationists and the public—including organizations like American Whitewater—the project was ultimately abandoned. Instead, the Glen Canyon Dam was constructed further downstream. The controversy surrounding Echo Park Dam was featured in the inaugural issue of the American Whitewater Journal, in an article by Stephen Bradley titled 'Echo Park Dam; Is It Needed Now?' He argued that the dam was unnecessary and warned that its approval could set a precedent, potentially triggering an avalanche of water development projects—particularly since at least fifteen other dams were already being planned within National Parks.

Jones Hole Camp is located at the confluence of Jones Creek and the Green River. It includes four designated campsites, each limited to one group during the high-use river season. The camp is also accessible to hikers and available for backcountry camping in the off season with a permit. From the camp, visitors can follow the Jones Hole Trail about 1.5 miles upstream to view Fremont-era pictographs at the Deluge Shelter, which date from around 300 to 1300 CE. The trail continues beyond the rock art site to the Jones Hole National Fish Hatchery.

Rainbow Park Campground serves as the access point for day trips on the Yampa River through Split Mountain Canyon. River permits are required, with two launches per day during the summer and one launch per day in the off-season. Most multi-day trips that begin upstream on the Green or Yampa River pass by this site on their way to the take-out at Split Mountain Boat Ramp. The campground offers four tent-only sites, each equipped with picnic tables, fire rings, food storage lockers, and vault toilets. It’s open year-round, though access can be challenging due to an unpaved road that becomes impassable when wet. No potable water is available, so visitors must bring their own, and campsites are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Split Mountain Dam was proposed as part of the Colorado River Storage Project and an integral element of the Echo Park Dam proposed in the 1950's. The Split Mountain Dam would have been 118 feet high, raising the water surface to an elevation of 5,048 feet, and creating a reservoir that would inundate areas such as Little, Rainbow, and Island Parks. It was intended as a reregulating dam for the hydropower operations of Echo Park Dam.

The Split Mountain Boat Ramp, located on river right, is the primary take-out for multi-day trips on the Green and Yampa Rivers, as well as for day trips launching from Rainbow Park. Due to its role as a major access point, the area can become quite busy, especially during peak season. The site features a wide, multi-lane concrete ramp used by both outfitters and the public. Amenities at the boat ramp include parking areas for vehicles and trailers, as well as vault toilets. Adjacent to the ramp is the Split Mountain Group Campground, providing access to restrooms and group camping facilities during the peak season. During the off-season, when the nearby Green River Campground is closed, the Split Mountain Campground is open to all visitors, not just group users.