CFI women’s trips provide a time and place for deepening connections to the wild and trying out new skills. You will have the opportunity to be physical, relax, and play outdoors!

Women of all ages and backgrounds enjoy this trip; youth 16 and older are welcome too... it can be a memorable time with mom, grandmother or that special "aunt" or mentor. Our group will be congenial and small, limited to 12, plus guides. We often have a nice mix of loyal returnees and first timers.

Short sessions and hikes offer natural and cultural history, river stories, and time for nature walks and journaling. We share readings from Ellen Meloy, Ann Zwinger, Terry Tempest Williams and others who write creatively and passionately about the canyon country.

Join us in optional morning stretching and greeting the day. We will consider "reciprocity"—ways of giving back to Mother Earth and restoring beauty and balance in our everyday lives.

You may choose to delve into our trip library and read, or just relax too!

Our trip is led CFI Cofounder and Director, Karla VanderZanden who has 35 years experience as outdoor leader, river guide and naturalist. Prior to starting CFI in 1984, she worked at Westwater as a River Ranger and in Colorado and Oregon as an outdoor educator.

We provide all boating gear including row rafts that are 14-18ft. long and a few, very stable, inflatable kayaks ("Duckies") for those who would like a bit more adventure and a chance to use river reading and basic kayaking skills.

Ours is a "participatory" journey; you'll take a turn in the kitchen, learn to bake in a dutch over, help with boat care and camp routines but still have time to relax and explore on your own.

We serve healthy meals, featuring many locally grown foods and dutch oven cookery; participants are asked to help with light camp chores. There is a portable toilet set up in camps.

First Timers Welcome, a perfect introduction to river life that will be a gentle interaction with the outdoors. Time will be set aside for those who need to learn camping basics—how to pitch a tent, attend to sanitary needs, etc.

You do need to be reasonably physically fit and be able to carry your own river bag (sleeping bag and clothing for the trip) to and from the boat to your camp each day.Paddling would be 3-4 hours day with rest breaks and stops on shore.

After a demonstration, you are expected to set up and take down your tent and help with group packing too. Hikes are optional and usually 1-2 miles round trip. Call or email us if you are not sure about your fitness suitability.

For 2010, we will be returning to Colorado River running from Loma, Colorado to Cisco, Utah including Westwater Canyon. We will be in rafts and on the upper calmer stretch, have optional use of inflatable kayaks as well.

Our trip begins with an important orientation at 7.p.m. and overnight stay in Grand Junction at the Hampton Inn. Your lodging and breakfast the next day are included; we would then travel to our launch site at Loma, Colorado about 1/2 hour away. After safety orientation, basic skills training and lunch, we would launch that afternoon. We would camp 3 nights on wonderful sandy beaches and tree benches in tents or out under the stars if you choose.

We float through McGinnis Canyons Recreation area and enjoy the stunning "black and red" rock geology and whitewater of Westwater Canyon, a proposed Wild &Scenic River.

We take out the last day after lunch and return to the hotel otel (where you may leave your car) by 6 p.m. Lodging and dinner this last night is on your own. We strongly advise that you do not plan to fly this last night to due unknowns of river travel on the take out day.

Go Green: You can reach the town of Grand Junction by Am Trak train or fly to a major airport

Current Trip Dates & Fees - Call for info