Born as snow on Southern Colorado’s Continental Divide, the San Juan traverses the northwest corner of New Mexico before bending into Utah near the Four Corners Monument. Kayak, Raft, Canoe, SUP, Gear, Rentals, Lessons. The San Juan’s current is swift, but its rapids are gentle, and its sandbars, side canyons, and campsites are natural playgrounds for kids of all ages. Easy whitewater, fun sandbars, and interesting hikes make the San Juan River a great introduction to family river trips, but the reality is that all of Holiday’s river trips are good family trips. We have remarkably little turnover in our guide, office, and managerial staff, which is rare for a seasonal business, and 50% of our business consists of returning guests or referrals. The BLM has implemented temporary changes to the San Juan River … However, sand waves, a relatively rare phenomenon, add surprises and fun along this otherwise calm river. Mule Ear diatreme, where escaping volcanic gases carved a vertical shaft through the overlying rock layers. The lore of the river includes stories about the Navajo people as well as explorers, prospectors and hardy Mormon pioneers. People come back because of the sense of family and community that inhabits everything we do. Along the way, boaters will pass through the famous Butler Wash petroglyph panel, which features one of the largest concentrations of rock art in the Southwest. The staff of Fisheads, the only ORVIS endorsed outfitter on the San Juan River and winner of the Orvis Guide Service of the Year, has well over 20 years of experience guiding fly … 2020 4CRS Holiday Sale Starts November 9th, Demo SUP, Rec Kayak, Raft & Gear Sale – Sept 23rd, Demo Whitewater Kayak & Inflatable Kayak Sale – Sept 2nd, Aztec’s page on the Quality Waters stretch. Class I and II, with one Class III on the lower/full trips. More than 50 years later, Holiday is still family-owned and family-operated, and the extended Holiday family continues to grow. Below are the Free Visitor Guides for San Juan River Area. Sand waves are caused by the water’s movement against the silted river bottom. Pictographs, petroglyphs, granaries, dwellings, and pottery are highlights of the upper canyon, and both the upper and lower San Juan traverse remarkable geological formations. Grand Gulch, a classic southern Utah side canyon, with big cottonwood trees and dry waterfalls; a perfect place to explore after dinner or before breakfast. A permit from the Navajo Nation is required to stop, hike or camp on river left. The river cuts through Comb Ridge, a pastel-colored sandstone uplift that rises above the landscape in scalloped waves, and then goes on to slice into the Lime Ridge and the Raplee anticlines, two more distinct geologic wonders. Meandering through the sculpted painted canyons in southeast Utah, the San Juan eventually joins the Colorado River under what is now Lake Powell. Below the confluence exists a short but sweet Class III-IV section before it mellows to a mellow Class II float to Pagosa Springs. T he San Juan River has grown to be one of the top trout fishing destinations in the United States and is spoken of highly throughout the world. Try one of these great San Juan River guide … Minimal whitewater makes the San Juan River a relaxing place to reconnect with family, to float and play in an inflatable kayak, to simply sit and wonder. The oldest rock art on any trip that Holiday runs: Glen Canyon Linear–style, dated to 4000–500 B.C. The Upper San Juan above Navajo Reservoir is host to multiple stretches of whitewater boating. Most river trips on the San Juan begin near the town of Bluff, Utah at Sand Island, and continue through an ever-changing landscape of canyons and flood plains. These are one-person, inflatable crafts that give you the opportunity to paddle, explore, and enjoy a little solo time. Our vans will transport you back to Blanding at the end of the trip. Art Martinez, owner of ARCOM Outfitting And Guide, has fished the San Juan River … Cliff dwellings are accessible by short hikes from the river. Taking a 4 or 5 night river trip down the San Juan River from the Sand Island put-in to the Clay Hills take-out is an 83 mile journey surrounded by awe-inspiring canyons rising as much as 1000 feet above … In the beginning, it was Dee and Sue Holladay, building their nascent outfitting service while also raising four daughters. Passengers are free to lounge and enjoy the view! Abe's Motel and and Fly Shop has been the primary lodging choice for anglers fishing the San Juan River. Honaker Trail: a strenuous climb along a gold miner’s trail to the canyon rim and excellent views. A wade or float trip on the San Juan with one of our guides is always an educational experience whether it’s your first or fiftieth trip to the San Juan. San Juan Mountain Guides is the premier provider of Ouray Ice Climbing Courses and Private Guided Programs in both Colorado’s San Juan Mountains and Rocky Mountain National Park. The river twists and turns through convoluted "goosenecks" as it drains from southern Utah before flowing into the Colorado River at Lake Powell. In Pagosa, you’ll find a high-quality whitewater park right next to the town’s famous hot springs. Float through entrenched meanders and no fewer than three uplifts or anticlines, not to mention the oddities like the Mule Ear diatreme and the bioherms. E.L. Goodridge, 1882. One of the steepest average river gradients in the U.S.: eight feet per mile. (9 miles) Each portion of the river has unique attributes that suit different styles of flyfishing; your guide will match your ability and requests to these areas as river … Geology enthusiasts will love this stretch of the San Juan. Holiday River Expeditions has always been a family affair. With over 7000 trout per mile, the San Juan is one of the finest tailwater fisheries in the US. Select All General Interest Guides. Government Rapid, in the lower canyon. River trips are good family trips. Holiday offers a three-day upper canyon trip for maximum archaeology and a four-day lower canyon trip for maximum wilderness; sign up for the five-day full-length trip and see it all! Being held together in a spectacular place without the distractions of technology or work, families are able to share in new experiences, to make eye contact, and to just be together. They give a fun and certainly exciting ride. 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