THE ROUTE
1. Float the Upper Colorado
The expedition will begin in June at the headwaters of the upper Colorado River, on La Poudre Pass in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. We will hike, packraft, kayak, and raft for the next 50+ days, all the way down to Lee’s Ferry, Arizona. Our route takes us through the alpine of the Colorado Rockies, the whitewater of Gore Canyon and Barrel Springs, the surf waves of Glenwood Springs, the desert canyons of Westwater and Cataract, and the inland sea of Lake Powell.
Whitewater in Gore Canyon
2. Explore the Lower River
Downstream of Lee’s Ferry, a permit is required to float the Grand Canyon. If we can arrange a trip through the Grand Canyon, we’ll continue by water to the US/Mexico border near Yuma, AZ; if not, we’ll take a quicker tour of the Lower Basin. Either way, we will continue to sample water quality, interview stakeholders, and update the expedition map.
Zak looks for a way around another dam
3. Get Muddy in the Delta
Undoubtedly the most degraded portion of the entire Colorado River, we will spend at least a week exploring the Delta by foot and boat.
Irrigation canal in the Colorado River Delta, Mexico
THE MAP