Colorado River

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Trip Overview

This spectacular canyon country of the Colorado Plateau, including Ruby and Horsethief Canyons, features majestic walls of red sandstone and offers some of the best Colorado canoeing and Colorado sea kayaking. The river is gentle with occasional small Class I+ rapids to add spice to the journey. Roads do not bound this portion of the river and the steep-walled canyons are accessible only from the river, giving the area a true wilderness setting.

You’ll be amazed at stands of shiny granite sculpted by water through the ages while paddling or floating in your lifejacket past the remnants of ancient metamorphic rock, called Black Rock. Camping along the river’s banks, exploring a natural amphitheater with ancient Indian rock art or hiking into deep box canyons will leave you awed by the immensity of geologic time and the silence of the wilderness. This is BIG COUNTRY and a geologist’s paradise. Many of our educational classes focus on this area. This stretch of river near Grand Junction, CO, can accommodate either a canoe trip or sea kayak trip.

Special Information

WESTERN WATER WAYS
On this 3-day canoe trip, examine geography, math, economics, and social and environmental issues as they relate to western water resources.  The focus will be on interactive studies, role-playing, and participatory scientific programs, which will help teachers (K-12) connect their students with current western history, the energy crisis, and the politics and science of the Endangered Species Act and Colorado River ecology. 

Centennial teams up with the Colorado School of Mines (303-273-3303) to offer a class for teachers (K-12) and for general interest to the public. This combined one-day class session and 3-day canoe trip earns 2 continuing ed credits for teachers. The pretrip class for students will be at the CO School of Mines, Berthoud Hall #205, from 9 am to 6 pm, on Wednesday, July 16, 2008. Non teachers may take the full course for the student price and have a reserved seat. Non credit, discounted seats, for the canoe trip only (at regular canoe trip prices), are based on space availability. Ages 15 and up.

The Instructor, Karen Caddis, brings over 20 years of experience in:

• Biological and Geological Field Studies Coordination and Implementation
• Wetland Delineation and Mitigation
• Special Status Wildlife and Plant Species Surveys
• Environmental Permitting and Compliance Preparation, Evaluation, Implementation, and Monitoring
• Coordination and Management of Multidisciplinary Environmental Plans and Programs
• Design, Implementation, and Supervision of Environmental Education Programs

Karen will be assisted by David Graf, Water Resource Specialist, CO Division of Wildlife.