Gates of Lodore
Powell's disaster canyon and everything below it — Lodore, Echo Park, Whirlpool, and Split Mountain in one lottery-permit run through Dinosaur.
Gates of Lodore is the Green River's Dinosaur traverse from the top: Lodore Canyon's red quartzite walls and its Class III–IV drops, Disaster Falls, Triplet Falls, Hell's Half Mile, then Echo Park where the Yampa comes in beneath Steamboat Rock, Whirlpool Canyon and Greasy Pliers, the open water of Island Park and Rainbow Park, and the Split Mountain gorge to finish. Forty-four miles through six named sections on one National Park Service lottery permit. Lodore alone runs in three or four days; some parties carry on and make it six or seven. May and June are the season, and the cold water early in it is a hazard of its own. The canyon Powell lost a boat in has not softened. Plan it as an expedition, not a long float.
Choose your route
-
Gates of Lodore to Split Mountain classic
Gates of Lodore Put-in → Split Mountain Boat Ramp
- Miles
- 44.2
- Sections
- 6
Permit Dinosaur Green And Yampa River Permits · lottery
-
Spillway to Split Mountain
Spillway Boat Launch → Split Mountain Boat Ramp
- Miles
- 89
- Sections
- 10
The long way in: the tailwater from the spillway through Browns Park, then all of Dinosaur to Split Mountain.
Permit Dinosaur Green And Yampa River Permits · lottery
Gates of Lodore to Split Mountain
The whole Green River line through Dinosaur: forty-four miles from the put-in at the foot of the Gates of Lodore to the Split Mountain ramp, through six named sections. Lodore's Class III–IV, Disaster Falls, Triplet, and Hell's Half Mile, come first; Echo Park and the Yampa confluence follow; then Whirlpool and Greasy Pliers, the quiet valley miles of Island Park and Rainbow Park, and Split Mountain's four rapids to finish. Four to five days is the classic plan. One NPS lottery permit covers every section of the run.
- Distance
- 44.2 miles
The geography underneath
One recognizable trip, 6 named river sections. The trip has one name; the river carries you through more geography than that name reveals.
- Lodore Canyon 18.7 mi the journey
- Echo Park 2.5 mi approach
- Whirlpool Canyon 8.4 mi approach
- Island Park 4.6 mi approach
- Rainbow Park 1.7 mi approach
- Split Mountain 8.3 mi approach
The journey
What the water is doing
Bands keyed to Green River near Greendale, UT
-
600–1,000 cfs
Minimum comfortable — technical and rocky
current
Runnable but scrapy. Precise low-water lines required at Disaster Falls. Hell's Half Mile loses power but demands careful reading.
-
1,000–2,500 cfs
Classic Lodore — defined lines, powerful but readable
current
The sweet spot. Hell's Half Mile is Class IV with a defined route. Scouting recommended for all groups.
-
2,500–4,000 cfs
High water — committed Class IV
current
Powerful hydraulics throughout. Hell's Half Mile becomes a serious commitment with larger holes. Camp options may be reduced.
-
4,000+ cfs
Expert high water
current
For teams experienced at high-volume Class IV in cold water. Full rescue systems required.
Flow knowledge is owned by the Lodore Canyon section record — full flow spectrum and history there.
Access
- Put-in
- Gates of Lodore Put-in
- Take-out
- Split Mountain Boat Ramp
Spillway to Split Mountain
Every mile of the Green from Flaming Gorge Dam to Split Mountain: Red Canyon's cold tailwater to Little Hole, the B Section, Swallow Canyon, and the open miles of Browns Park, then the walls close at the Gates of Lodore and the Dinosaur traverse begins — Lodore, Echo Park, Whirlpool, Island Park, Rainbow Park, Split Mountain. No float permit above the Gates; the NPS lottery permit governs everything below them, so the launch date comes from the lottery and the tailwater is the approach. Ten named sections in one float.
- Distance
- 89 miles
The geography underneath
One recognizable trip, 10 named river sections. The trip has one name; the river carries you through more geography than that name reveals.
- A Section 7 mi approach
- B Section 9 mi approach
- Swallow Canyon 10.8 mi approach
- Browns Park 18 mi approach
- Lodore Canyon 18.7 mi the journey
- Echo Park 2.5 mi approach
- Whirlpool Canyon 8.4 mi approach
- Island Park 4.6 mi approach
- Rainbow Park 1.7 mi approach
- Split Mountain 8.3 mi approach
The journey
What the water is doing
Bands keyed to Green River near Greendale, UT
-
600–1,000 cfs
Minimum comfortable — technical and rocky
current
Runnable but scrapy. Precise low-water lines required at Disaster Falls. Hell's Half Mile loses power but demands careful reading.
-
1,000–2,500 cfs
Classic Lodore — defined lines, powerful but readable
current
The sweet spot. Hell's Half Mile is Class IV with a defined route. Scouting recommended for all groups.
-
2,500–4,000 cfs
High water — committed Class IV
current
Powerful hydraulics throughout. Hell's Half Mile becomes a serious commitment with larger holes. Camp options may be reduced.
-
4,000+ cfs
Expert high water
current
For teams experienced at high-volume Class IV in cold water. Full rescue systems required.
Flow knowledge is owned by the Lodore Canyon section record — full flow spectrum and history there.
Access
- Put-in
- Spillway Boat Launch
- Take-out
- Split Mountain Boat Ramp