RMCC May Activities


The water is running, the sun is shining and RMCC has an exciting slate of activities in May to take advantage of the lovely spring conditions.

Gunnison river: Escalante to Whitewater

May 4-5, moving water class II

Join us as we paddle the Gunnison River from Escalante to Whitewater. It is a 28 mile trip that is generally a beginner friendly river, but has one potentially difficult rapid, which can be portaged or perhaps lined thru a rock garden. Contact trip coordinator Mat Bozek at matbozekx@gmail.com to sign up or for information.
https://rockymountaincanoeclub.net/event/gunnison-river-escalante-to-whitewater/

RMCC Packing and Rigging Class

May 4 from 1:00-4:00, in Boulder

Learn to set up and pack your canoe for river tripping. This is a dry land exercise and will prepare you to rig your boat for moving water and what and how to pack for weekend and multi-day camping outings. Bill will cover rigging and techniques for efficient and secure packing. We’ll start at 1:00 pm in Boulder at Bill’s home, and we’ll finish up by 4pm and there will be an optional pot-luck taco meal afterwards. Contact Bill Ashworth at washwort@gmail.com or 720-352-6456 to register and for address and directions.  Open to all.  https://rockymountaincanoeclub.net/event/rmcc-packing-and-rigging-class/

Yampa River: South Beach to Duffy Mountain

May 4-5

The Yampa trip is currently full and a wait list has been started. If you wish to be added to that list, please contact Trip Coordinator Dan Custer at custer.dan@gmail.com. https://rockymountaincanoeclub.net/event/yampa-river-south-beach-to-duffy-mountain-2/

Essentials of Canoeing: flatwater and moving water

May 11 & 12, 2019

This is a Day and a half class on May 11 and 12. The cost is $40 per person for the entire class (or $25 per person for just the flatwater class on May 11) to be paid before the class. Students can enroll for only the flatwater day if they desire. If you are not a current American Canoe Association (ACA) member, there is an additional $5 insurance fee; if you are a current ACA member please provide that number to the class instructors. Lead instructors are Lynne Carpenter and Debbie Hinde. Please register by emailing Lynne Carpenter at lynnecarpenter@gmail.com. Location depends on the water level and will be announced a couple of weeks before the class. May 18 has been designated as the back-up date in case of bad weather. https://rockymountaincanoeclub.net/event/essentials-of-canoeing-flatwater-and-moving-water/

White River near Rangely, CO

May 17-19, moving water class II

This is a three day, two night trip through scenic high desert plains and rugged canyons.  Plan on two nights camping on the river –  but with a strong group, we may opt to do the trip in two days/one night depending on flow – that  would allow a full day for the long drive back. Intermediate paddling skills is required. Contact Trip Coordinator: Mat Bozek, matbozekx@gmail.com to register for this trip or ask questions. https://rockymountaincanoeclub.net/event/white-river-rangely-co/

Memorial Day Niobrara River

May 25-27, moving water class I

This beautiful stretch is one of America’s premier scenic heritage waterways; we’ll see many waterfalls, beautiful hardwood forests, and birds!  And the resident buffalo herd at the Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge often has calves this time of year.  We run the river on Saturday and Sunday. Most will car camp at Smith Falls State Park, Friday – Sunday nights (campers may want to reserve a campsite at this park as soon as possible); return to the Front Range after breakfast on Monday (about a 6-7 hour drive back to Denver) or continue to see the sights of Nebraska or head up to South Dakota. Contact Bill Ashworth (washwort@gmail.com) to register for the trip . https://rockymountaincanoeclub.net/event/rmcc-memorial-day-niobrara-river/)

Be sure to check out all of the other upcoming trips and classes listed on RMCC’s event calendar https://rockymountaincanoeclub.net/events/ 

  • Gross Reservoir Day Paddle (June 1 from 10:00 to 2:00)
  • Standley Lake: A Morning for the Birds (June 9 from 9:00-noon)
  • Upper Colorado River Whitewater Weekend (July 20-21, moving water class II & III)
  • North Platte Glendo to Guernsey (July 20, moving water class I+ with one wave train that is class II)
  • RMCC Radium Rendezvous on the Colorado River (August 2-4, moving water with trips appropriate to all paddling levels on class I, II and III water)
  • Green River Flaming Gorge (September 7-9, moving water class III)
  • San Juan River (September 8-14, moving water class III)
  • Colorado River: Loma to Westwater (also known as the Ruby-Horsethief section, September 28-29, mostly class 1+ with one class II rapid)
  • Everglades National Park, Florida (November 2-9, crossing large open saltwater bays and paddling through mangrove swamps)
  • Okefenokee Swamp and Suwanee River, Florida, November 12-23.  Flatwater swamp (the swamp portion of the trip is currently full and has a waiting list) and moving water (this section of the trip is still open and accepting participants), class II with one class III rapid that will be portaged