SUP Touring Labyrinth Canyon, Green River, Utah (photo-intense!)

[levity]

Wanting to escape the gray-May fog in coastal So. Calif., Mrs. levity and I threw a dart at the map and packed our boards for a trip to Utah.
We wanted to try an overnighter on a river to see how “SUP camping” would be.  We love Utah’s canyons, and touring/camping on our SUP boards
would allow us to explore and experience some of the larger canyons from the water.
Weather is generally nice in late spring and river flow usually peaks late May to early June, so we headed out May 20.

Labyrinth Canyon is formed by the Green River as it winds as its way thru Utah’s high desert and then Canyonlands Natl Park before joining the Colorado River.
Here’s a map showing the route.  We would put in at Ruby Ranch and take out at Mineral Bottom, 45 miles downriver.
We arranged a shuttle to take our car from Ruby’s to Mineral Bottom so we could start early and didn’t have to follow a schedule.



Here’s the launch site at Ruby’s and our Uli inflatable boards.  We lashed on a fair bit of gear and food, enough for 2-3 days, along with 3 gal of water.
(The Green is actually brown due to all the fine silt carried along, and filtering is difficult - Alum is probably the best way to clarify it.)
River regulations also require carrying a PFD, pump and patch kit, spare paddle, fire pan, and poop bags so we were loaded.




Ruby Ranch is the last stretch of farmable riverside land, and after that the river carves thru layers of sedimentary rock and the canyon begins to form.
Jill is just visible as a small spec in the next two photos.






The river meanders along and the canyon slowly gets deeper.
Sandbars provide nice break points but were infrequent at this water level.










We had lunch at one of the few small islands that wasn’t submerged.




The canyon gradually grew deeper, and we were often tempted to just sit or lie back and enjoy the scenery.










After about 35 miles we decided to camp at Oak Bottom just below Bowknot Bend.
We found a nice site on a sandy shelf with good views of the canyon and river.










We set out early the next morning as sun hit camp.  The river was beautiful as we paddled from shade to sun and back around each bend.










Mineral Bottom appeared much too soon, and we floated in the current to make it last as long as we could.










A fun paddle – now we’re hooked on the river SUP camping experience!
We’re already planning the next trip in Stillwater, Meander, San Juan, etc., etc.

[UKRiverSurfers]

What a stunning place and lovely blog!!

Isn't SUP camping great fun

Thanks for posting 

[lucabrasi]

+1, yes. Thanks for posting.
You are paddling many places I want to go. Didn't make it that far south this spring as we intended but maybe this fall.

[TallDude]

Levity,
You and Jill are living it! Great photos. They are pretty much a wake-up call, for all of us rat racers to get out and enjoy this amazing planet. Where are you taking us next?

[JillRide45]

After talking with several people we were ready to make this a 3 day paddle.  We had packed food and gear for 3 days with an emergency 4th day breakfast.  However, a couple of days before we launched the water flow really picked up and we ended up paddling at the peak flow so far this year, > 11,000 cfs.  The current would push us about 4 mph with no paddling, about 6.5 mph with easy paddling.  The 45 miles was over way too fast. 

Have fun out there!  Jill

[CascadeSup]

Wow, just awesome!

[SeaMe]

Looks like it was awesome, thanks for sharing the photos!

[balance_fit]

Beautiful scenery ! Great experience, campsite, and gear. I just imagine the sky at night...no city lights to block the stars...thanks for the trip !

[supthecreek]

You are both indeed fortunate to have partners that share the magic!

Great trip in a beautiful place

Thanks

[Utah SUPer]

Nice little trip!  And I like when people post lots of pics   Just curious, how did you handle the logistics?  Did you have two vehicles or what? 

Just a suggestion for a future trip- Lone Rock campground on Lake Powell.  It is primitive (they do have flush toilets and outdoor showers) and cheap.  I would recommend 4x4 vehicle but not required if you don't mind walking a couple hundred yards to the water.

[levity]

Utah SUPer --

Logistics:  we paid a shuttle service to move our truck from Ruby Ranch to Mineral Bottom.  That way we could launch early and take out when we wanted rather than arrange a scheduled drop-off/pick-up.

Lake Powell:  Thanks for the suggestion bout Lone Rock.  Is Wahweap Bay nice to paddle, or is there a lot of traffic from the nearby Marina?  How’s Navajo Canyon?  Is Navajo easily accessed from Lone Rock or perhaps Antelope Point?
 
We like to get away from the crowds when possible.  The many side canyons of Lake Powell are appealing, but it’s a BIG lake and a heck of a paddle to get to the more remote areas (e.g., Escalante and San Juan arms).  We’ve thought about renting a boat.  Any suggestions would be appreciated.  Maybe a group of Zoners should go in on a Houseboat!   

[Utah SUPer]

Levity-

I don't like crowds either and unfortunately in the summer Wahweap is a zoo and I would avoid it if possible.  Not much to see around there anyway.  Lone Rock is pretty crazy too in the summer since people beach their jet skis and boats there on the sand while they are "camping" in their 40' toy haulers.  Hugh Hefner used to throw parties here every summer but unfortunately I never saw any of them     

I think renting a pontoon boat (party barge) would be the ideal way to see Navajo Canyon and the whole lake for that matter.  Just load your boards on deck and use it as a mobile base camp.  Some day...

[SUPnICE]

Levity -

Excellent paddle report - thank you for sharing. Your post reminded me of the many excellent ride reports found on ADVRider. I don't have ready access to the beautiful panoramic vistas experienced by so many on this site so it is nice to be able to paddle vicariously through those that do. Perhaps if the Lake Superior gods are smiling this July, I'll be able to come away with some nice shots of Pictured Rocks and the Keweenaw Peninsula.

What camera did you take with you? You've got some fabulous shots.

[SUPinSC]

Simply WOW.   Thanks for the report and great pics!! 

[levity]

Hey SUPnICE,

Yes, Good memories from the trips described in Ride Reports on Advrider. Now that the GS is gone I'm pedaling or paddling.
I'm liking the water perspective.

You can have fun paddling even in the frozen north -- see the many excellent posts by supthecreek in this section of the forum.
He has advice about cold weather gear.

Camera used in this trip was a Sony Cybershot DSC-TX20: small, lightweight, panorama capability, and waterproof!