Trip Guides

Twomile Canyon to mile 54 (yakpack)

SA Report: More things in heaven and earth - Day Three

Trip date: 9/3/2016

Location: Labyrinth Canyon, Bureau of Land Management

Launch: Ruby Ranch - private, donation required - $5 per person, $10 per boat

Land: Mineral Bottom (47 miles downriver) - Arrangement must be made either to have a shuttle service (there are quite a few operating out of Moab) pick you (and your boats if necessary) up here at the end of the trip, or to leave your own vehicle. Outfitter offer all sorts of options, the obvious of which is to have them drop you off at the launch, and pick you back up at the landing. It's a 39.5 mile trip back to Moab from the take-out, and traveling the precipitous, narrow, rough road is going to take over an hour.

Permit/Pass: Permits must be obtained through your outfitter (or here, from the BLM) in order to paddle this section of the Green River.

Inspections: All vessels, including kayaks, entering Utah on Interstate 15 must go through inspection for quagga mussels.

Directions: From the town of Moab, take US 191 north for about 30 miles to Interstate 70. Head west on I-70 for approximately 7 miles to exit 175. Drive south on increasingly rough and rutted BLM 147 for about 14 miles to where it turns into Ruby Ranch Road. Continue, after dropping money into the donation box, for another mile or so to the launch area on the riverbank. 

Synopsis: Sculling along this stretch of the Green River exposes the paddler to some spectacular canyon scenery. Beginning with Twomile Canyon, then passing huge Horseshoe Canyon on the right soon after, and followed by Hell Roaring Canyon four miles later, this is a fabulous near-to-last section of the trip through Labyrinth Canyon. Try to leave enough time to be able to do some hiking in these inviting spots.

Portage: The river widens as you paddle south. We noticed more and more spots where the shoals extended far enough out that it was important to direct our kayaks (very low draft) in an extended arc to avoid them. My inattention resulted in a couple of cases where I had to get out and walk the boat past the shallows.

Type: Point to point

Distance: 7.2 miles

Rating: Easy (factors: heat, water level and flow)

Notes: The sandbar at mile 54 seems to be one which is exposed even at high water. Tent stakes gain excellent purchase in the older, solidified sandy clays.

Track: Two-mile Canyon to mile 54 - Canyonlands NP: AllTrails, GaiaGPS

Navigation:

  -- From Twomile Canyon the paddler immediately turns to the east and follows the trend of the river in this direction for over five miles to the bend at Cottonwood Bottom. There is some truly wonderful scenery along this stretch, along with what appear to be several excellent canyon hiking opportunities.

  -- At Cottonwood Bottom the river circles to the south for the last three miles of Labyrinth Canyon, only one of which the traveler emulating this guide will need to paddle to reach the sandbar in the middle of the river at mile 54.

         
Campsite: Backcountry primitive        
         
  • We again made camp on an middle-river sandbar at mile 54, just downriver from a long sandbar along river right. This spot was higher (it probably remains above the surface during high water) and featured more compact sand. Stakes held quite well here. There is less privacy here, as one is within sight (though a good distance away) of campers on the sandbar upriver.
  • This campsite is a mere two miles from the take-out at Mineral Bottom. This allows for a very relaxed last day, though it did require a long day to get here.
  • There is no water source. You must pack in all you're going to need.
  • Fires are allowed only in fire pans (you must pack these in).
  • Remember to leave no trace of your presence here (except footprints). 
 

Photos: Flickr

Video: Youtube