Yampa
05. Deerlodge Park to Echo Park(Dinosaur National Monument Yampa)
| Difficulty | II-III(IV) |
| Length | 46 mi |
| Avg Gradient | 12 fpm |
| Permit | Permits required year around. Lottery for high-use season second weekend in May to second weekend in July with applications due Jan 31. |
| Gauge | Yampa River at Deerlodge Park, Co |
| Flow Rate as of 28 minutes | 3490 cfsmedium runnable |
| Reach Info Last Updated | January 14, 2026 |
Projects
The Colorado River has been over-allocated and mismanaged for more than a century. Known as the hardest working river in the western US, the Colorado River flows from Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado to Mexico where it gets sucked dry before reaching its mouth in the Sea of [...]Read More
The Yampa River is one of the last major free-flowing rivers in the Colorado River Basin, and it has long been a focus of American Whitewater’s river stewardship work in the region. American Whitewater is committed to preserving the Yampa’s wild and unregulated character in the face of ongoing [...]Read More
River Description
The Yampa is a classic multi-day whitewater river. Most boaters spend 3 to 5 days floating the Yampa and Green Rivers that comprise this run. For most in-season runs a permit must be acquired from the Dinosaur National Monument Ranger Station. These permits are highly competitive and the possibility of winning a permit varies year to year. The permit generally specifies the camping beaches for each float trip.
This page describes the Yampa to the confluence of the Green at Echo Park. Boaters almost alway continue another 26 miles down the Green Echo Park to Split Mountain section. The total distance of the two sections is about 72 miles.
As a high desert run the weather pattern of the Yampa River can range from freezing to over 100 degrees in less than a day during the early float season. Later runs in July or August are generally hotter and more predictable but can suffer from low water and mosquitoes.
Almost every big rapid on the Yampa can be scouted on river right. The Yampa at Deerlodge starts as a wide meandering river in an open desert. Within a mile or so it enters a box canyon and some easy but continuous rapids begin. There are several notable rapids on the Yampa and the gradient is fairly constant for most of the first day. On the second or third day of paddling the Yampa becomes tranquil as it approaches its largest rapid, Warm Springs.
Scout Warm Springs from river right. A huge flood that temporarily dammed the river formed this rapid. The rapid itself would not be much more than an easy class IV drop were it not on a multi day river excursion. Flipping a raft in Warm Springs almost always results in an unpleasant night with wet or lost gear.
Below Warm Springs the river continues to present complex rapids and wave trains, but never approaches the difficulty of Warm Springs until after the confluence with the Green in Split Mountain
...River Features
Deerlodge Park Campground and River Access
Access to the Yampa River is at Deerlodge Park on river left where the road ends shortly before the river enters the canyon. The site is administered by the National Park Service within Dinosaur National Monument. A campground here has seven shady walk-in sites under the cottonwoods that are suitable for tents with tables, fire pits, and seasonal water and vault toilets. There are no designated RV sites separate from the main parking area. The campground is open throughout the year but winter snow can affect accessibility. The campground is on a terrace adjacent to the river and will be flooded at flows greater than 18,000 cfs.
Yampa Canyon
After a 1.5 mile float you will enter the Yampa box canyon.
Anderson Hole
The first notable rapid is Anderson Hole. This drop is easy but makes a river wide horizon line after the box canyon opens up. Some play waves exist here.
Tepee Rapid
A wave-train with large holes at high water.
Big Joe
The Yampa is squeezed down at this point and the rocky debris in the river creates a wave and hole filled rapid.
Tiger Wall
A tiger striped wall on river left. Boatsmen kiss the wall for good luck.
Warm Springs Rapid
The largest rapid on the Yampa. A 1965 Debris/Flash flood event formed this rapid rated among the 10 biggest drops in the country. Scout from the right.
Warm Springs/Maytag
The last hole in Warm Springs is named Maytag and can flip rafts or work over boaters.
Springs
Numerous hot and cold springs flow into the Yampa and Green River. However, the springs at Warm Springs are not warm at all.
Echo Park
Echo Park is located in the heart of Dinosaur National Monument's canyon country. Here, the Yampa River flows into the Green River, which winds around the massive feature known as Steamboat Rock. The meeting of the two rivers along with nearby geologic faults have created some of the monument's most dramatic scenery. Although it is the end of the Yampa River, it is not the end of the river trip as the journey continues down the Green River.
Echo Park Access
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.
Trip Reports
Log in to add a reportFollowing our annual board meeting in Golden, Colorado several members of the American Whitewater board and staff, and a couple friends, gathered for a trip on the Yampa River that continued on to the Green River. Conditions were cold and wet. Flow was dropping over the course of our trip from approximately 7700 cfs at the start to approximately 7200 cfs by the time we reached Echo Park. Day 1 was a long river day and we camped at Harding Hole that night. Day 2 was a shorter day with stops at Signature Cave and Mantle Cave before establishing camp at Laddie Park. On day 3 we boated through Warm Springs before we reached Echo Park around 1pm. We camped at Jones Creek that night before paddling out on Day 4. This Trip Report represents the first half of the trip on the Yampa and continues with a report on the Echo Park to Split Mountain Boat Ramp segment of the Green.
The Confluence of the Green and Yampa Rivers, in Dinosaur National Park.
Taken from Deerlodge Park in Dinosaur National Monument, the mighty Yampa River was flowing at an historic low of 19cfs in late summer 2018.
a view from the rim road, Yampa Canyon, Dinosaur National Monument
Group shot at Wagon Wheel Point during Friends of the Yampa's annual Yampa River Awareness Project float
In partnership with Google, Friends of the Yampa brought street view to Yampa Canyon through Dinosaur National Monument
Just ran this at 1400 with my 17 foot cat and other 18 foot boats and barely made it through big joe. The hole at warm spring at this level was nothing and we all took turn running right through it with our duckies. Great beaches. Great camping. Its a shame they don't give out more permits since there are so many camping spots. It took me 10 years to get this permit
Cross Mountain Gorge is my favorite kayak run in Colorado. But I only know it at low flows around 1500 cfs. Filled with eddies and the rapids have great twists, sneaks, and surprises. Everyone on the river is always pumped up! IV+...significantly harder than the Numbers on the Arkansas but not nearly as hard as Gore Canyon. This makes a great first IV+ run.
The Great Overhang on the Yampa River
Named Echo Park because you can hear at least eight returns off of the massive cliffs of Steamboat Rock.
Eight and Six year old Girls Kayaking on the Yampa
Wagon Wheel Point and Harding Hole area of the Yampa River.
Kids rafting on the Yampa River