Cataract Canyon
An in-depth environmental and human history of Cataract Canyon and the rivers of Canyonlands, exploring Indigenous presence, exploration, dam impacts, river ecology, and the evolution of modern river running.
Flow
— cfs
Season
Spring, summer, fall
Duration
1–1 days (typical 1)
Permit
No permit required — free BLM day use.
Shuttle
8 mi — 12 min
Logistics
Beginner
Colorado River — UT
Dewey Bridge to Hittle Bottom
The most accessible mellow float above Moab — a redrock half-day on the Colorado with zero whitewater and stunning canyon scenery the whole way.
A short, mellow flatwater stretch on the Colorado River between the old Dewey Bridge site and Hittle Bottom Campground, running through the heart of the UT-128 scenic highway corridor above Moab. The river winds through open redrock canyon country with easy riffles and cottonwood-lined banks — a classic half-day float accessible to paddlers of all skill levels. UT-128 parallels the entire section, making roadside access simple and shuttle logistics easy.
6.3
miles
1
day typical
Flows & Hydrology
Monitored by the USGS Cisco gauge; 2,000–8,000 cfs is the sweet spot for easy flatwater paddling.
Reference Gauges
Colorado River Near Cisco, UT
Primary upstream Colorado River gauge used in Westwater and Moab Daily runoff interpretation.
USGS #09180500Current flow — Colorado River Near Cisco, UT
USGS
—
Water temperature
Gage height
Reading the Water
Low water
Shallow riffles and slower current; may require lining in spots at very low flows.
Medium water
Ideal conditions — good current, easy riffles, comfortable depth.
High water
Faster moving water and stronger current; flatwater character maintained but paddlers should be alert.
Hazards by season
- Spring
- cold water, wind
- Summer
- extreme heat, afternoon sun exposure
- Fall
- cool temperatures in morning, wind
7-Day Forecast
Seasonality
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Spring runoff (Apr–Jun) and shoulder season (Sep–Oct)
- Spring
- cold water, wind
- Summer
- extreme heat, afternoon sun exposure
- Fall
- cool temperatures in morning, wind
Reading the Rock Record
The UT-128 corridor exposes classic Colorado Plateau canyon geology — warm-toned Entrada and Moenkopi layers carved by the ancestral Colorado River into a broad, open canyon.
Rock sequence of Dewey Bridge to Hittle Bottom
↑ Rim
- Entrada Sandstone
- Chinle Formation
- Moenkopi Formation
↓ River level
Ecology
Life in the Corridor
Flora
- Biomes
- desert canyon, riparian corridor
Fauna
- Notable species
- great blue heron, canyon wren, mule deer
History
UT-128 has been a working corridor for a long time, threading early ranching and homesteading through this stretch of redrock. The original Dewey Bridge, built in 1916, was one of the longest remaining suspension bridges in Utah and served as the primary Colorado River crossing here for decades — until a child accidentally set it on fire in 2008. The put-in still carries the bridge's name; the crossing it marked is gone.
Layers of Human Presence
The original Dewey Bridge, built in 1916, was one of the longest remaining suspension bridges in Utah before a child accidentally set it on fire in 2008.
- Indigenous homelands
- Ute Nation, Ancestral Puebloans
- Historical layers
- Early ranching and homesteading along UT-128 corridor, Dewey Bridge served as primary Colorado River crossing for decades until its destruction by fire in 2008
Logistics
No permit, easy paved shuttle on UT-128, BLM day-use parking at both ends.
Getting There and Getting Out
Put-in — Dewey Bridge Boat Ramp
BLM day-use site at the former Dewey Bridge location on UT-128. The historic 1916 suspension bridge was destroyed by fire in 2008; piers remain. Serves as the standard take-out for Cisco-to-Dewey floats and the put-in for the scenic Dewey-to-Hittle-Bottom / Professor Valley stretch.
- Elevation
- 4111 ft
- Road
- paved
- Facilities
- boat ramp, parking, vault toilets, picnic area
Take-out — Hittle Bottom
- Elevation
- 4097 ft
Shuttle
Dewey Bridge Boat Ramp to Hittle Bottom
- Road miles
- 8
- Drive time
- 12 min
UT-128 parallels the entire section — shuttle is straightforward paved highway driving.
Google used a car, their times do not account for towing a trailer, driving on washboard, pitted pavement, and dirt that goes to grease in the rain — our adjusted times help align to the reality of running real river shuttles.
Permit
No permit required. Free day use on this BLM section.
- Required
- No
- Agency
- BLM
Trip realities
- Gateway towns
- Moab, UT
- Groover
- Recommended
- Managed by
- BLM Moab Field Office
Gear
Camp Kitchen
On a seven-day trip, you'll cook roughly 20 meals on a folding table in the sand. The constraint isn't ambition — it's ice management. Days one through three, you have real cooler capacity. Days four and five are the transition zone. Days six and seven are pantry cooking.
The best river cooks plan backward from the last night. If your final dinner is still good — not just edible, but genuinely good — the trip ends on a high.
Feeding a Crew for Seven Days
Ice management strategy
Two coolers, segregated by access frequency. A well-managed deep cooler will hold usable ice through day 6 in 100°F air temps.
Kitchen setup
Folding table, two-burner propane stove, cast iron skillet, Dutch oven, and a large pot. The Dutch oven is the single most versatile piece.
Reading the River
Books that shape the science, history, and stories behind this place.
Desert Solitaire
Edward Abbey's classic portrait of canyon country, solitude, and wilderness, influential to the identity and mythology of the Colorado Plateau.
If We Had a Boat
A river-running memoir by Roy Webb capturing the spirit, humor, and culture of Western river expeditions and the people who chase moving water through canyon country.
River Runners' Guide to Utah and Adjacent Areas
A comprehensive guidebook to whitewater rivers in Utah and neighboring regions, covering river access, rapids, flow considerations, trip logistics, and historical context for river runners.
The Emerald Mile
The thrilling story of the dory daredevils who set a speed record through the Grand Canyon at the height of the legendary flood of 1983 — and of the river that made it possible.
The Exploration of the Colorado River
Powell's original account of the first scientific expedition through the Grand Canyon, documenting the geology, natural history, and challenges of navigating the unknown Colorado River.
