Green River (Gates of Lodore) Rafting

Gates of Lodore take-out near steamboat rock

The Gates of the Lodore is a fun river that is great for families. The biggest rapid is Hell’s Half Mile (which can be up to class IV depending on the flows), but otherwise, there isn’t much whitewater until Split Mountain Canyon. The beaches are sandy and the hikes are short but scenic (think waterfalls and good views of the river). After a couple days (44 river miles), you reach Echo Park and can admire the confluence with the Yampa River and explore Whispering Cave if you hike away from the river. Jones Hole is a great camp to stay at to enjoy some hiking and fishing. Island Park is a meandering section of river after Jones Hole that takes half a day to float but has good views. The Gates of the Lodore can be floated from May through October because it is dam controlled, unlike the Yampa River.

Like the Desolation & Gray Canyon section, permits to float this stretch of the Green River are controlled through a lottery. For more info check out our Permit Lottery for Rafting Western Rivers 2017 Guide.