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Adrift Adventures |
800-824-0150 |
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Arkansas River Tours |
800-321-4352 |
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Blazing Adventures |
800-282-7238 |
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Bill Dvorak's Kayak/Raft Expeditions |
800-824-3795 |
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Echo Canyon River Expeditions |
800-748-2953 |
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Gunnison River Expeditions |
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Peregrine River Outfitters |
800-598-7600 |
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Telluride Outside |
800-831-6230 |
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Wilderness Aware Rafting |
800-462-7238 |
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Cannibal Outdoors |
877-226-6422 |
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| Sections |
Gunnison
Gorge |
|
Location |
Montrose
and Delta counties, north of Black Canyon of the Gunnison National
Monument, southwest Colorado |
|
Driving Time |
Grand
Junction—1 hour |
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Difficulty |
Class
II-III+ |
|
Trip Length |
14
miles (22 km) |
|
Trip Options |
Paddle
raft, oar raft; one to three days |
|
Season |
May-September |
 Southwest Colorado's
Gunnison Gorge, immediately below the Black Canyon of the Gunnison
National Monument, is one of the state's finest wilderness river
trips. The mood for the remote river adventure is set before the
trip begins. Access to the gorge put-in is a 1-mile (1.5-km) hike
from the Chucker Trailhead down a side canyon. (Outfitters rent
packhorses to carry the rafting equipment to the river.)
The
outstanding characteristics of the gorge are its magnificent canyon
scenery, abundant wildlife, and fine whitewater. The canyon's sheer
basalt and granite walls, although not as high as those of Black
Canyon, are impressive. Peregrine falcons, bald eagles, bighorn
sheep, ringtail cats, marmots, and river otters are just a few of
the rare wildlife that inhabit Gunnison Gorge. The first 11 miles
(18 km) of the 14-mile (22-km) gorge are interspersed with a number
of fine Class III rapids, including Cable, The Squeeze, The Drops,
and The Hall of the River King.
While the Gunnison Gorge can easily be rafted in a day, its
pristine scenery, interesting side canyon hiking, and excellent
fishing are good reasons to make it a two- or three-day trip.
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