Sand Island (Bluff) to Mexican Hat, Utah

Family Adventure Trip: July 1-5, 2012 - Ages 6 and up

Join CFI’s Naturalist guides on this rafting trip on the scenic San Juan River. Learn about the Ancestral Puebloan (Anasazi) culture, historic settlements, fossils, geology and more while rafting Class I-II rapids and enjoying beautiful sandstone canyons.

Starting in the San Juan Mountains in Colorado, the San Juan River cuts through a unique and varied landscape to get to its ultimate destination, Lake Powell. Our trip starts in the town of Bluff, UT, a small community with a vibrant history. We launch at Sand Island Recreation site and will travel 26 miles to Mexican Hat with plenty of time to explore the river and its many sites. Native Americans including the Ancestral Puebloan or Anasazi culture have left their mark on the landscape and we will see ruins, petroglyphs, and pictographs along the way. The famous Butler Wash Petroglyph Panel and River House Ruin are two of our stops along the river. The early history of settlement and exploration in the region will also be talked about as we make our way downstream.

The sandstone canyons provide a dramatic landscape for our trip and we will share with you a layman’s geology of the area to help you understand the land around us. The fun, splashy rapids are Class I-II and suitable for the whole family. The trip will be conducted in oar and paddle rafts along with some fun 2 man inflatable kayaks (duckies) for the more adventurous members of the trip. The wildlife we may see includes big horn sheep, rabbits, deer, hawks and other birds but many other animals live in the region. CFI Naturalists are always available for your questions about the land, animals, and history and will share their knowledge of the area.

Sample itinerary

First Day- Meet at Recapture Lodge in Bluff, UT. Check in to hotel. Orientation by CFI. Dinner is on your own.

Second Day- Breakfast at hotel. Pack luggage and head to the river put-in where we will launch for our trip after a safety talk.

River Days- Breakfast, Stretching (optional), Rafting, Lunch, Geology/History stops, Hiking and exploring opportunities, Camp in afternoon, Free Time, Dinner, Evening activities

Last Day- Breakfast, Float, Enjoy the last calm stretch of the river before taking out at Mexican Hat around 2:00pm. Return to Bluff to collect cars and say goodbyes around 3:00-4:00pm.

Adult: $740 - CFI Member: $720
Youth: $550 (age 6-17) - CFI Member: $530
Nonrefundable Deposit: $300 per person