San Juan River, from Montezuma Creek to Sand Island

Class 1 Paddle with Camping

Three spots have opened up!  Please contact Karen A to join the fun.

June 3, 2026

Camp at the upstream end (FCFS, 2 vehicles $15 site) of the Sand Island Campground, if possible, to make the shuttle easy.  Otherwise, arrange to join the shuttle.

June 4, 2026

Shuttle cars and put-in near the High School in Montezuma Creek.  Paddle about 10 miles downstream, checking out small ruins when we see them.  Pull over on the Navajo side near the washed out footbridge concrete abutment and set up camp here.  Hike 2.2 miles round trip to the Casa del Eco — a very nice 17-room ruin.

June 5, 2026

Paddle the 8 miles to Sand Island, looking for the “Dance Hall” ruin and other sites on river left.  Arrive and complete the shuttle.

Costs:

Note that we will get a free permit from the BLM section as well as a Navajo camp/hike permit for $15 per person to cover our time on the left bank, which is all in the Navajo Reservation.

Contact:

Karen A at canoekarena@msn.com to sign up for this trip.  We want 800 to 3000 cfs for this trip and it may be cancelled if it is outside of this range.  Limit:  10 people.

Preferred craft:

Hard-sided craft (canoe or kayak) preferred but strong inflatable paddlers can discuss with Karen A.

ACA Insurance Waivers

If you are a current ACA member as of June 3 and have communicated with Karen A and approved for the trip, you are all set.

If you are not an annual member of the ACA, you need to purchase an Event Membership/Waiver after communicating with Karen A and verifying you are registered for the trip.

You can try out the ACA new system for on-line ACA event membership/waivers.   When doing the on-line event waiver use the event name:  Montezuma.  Use the date:  June 4-5, 2026.

If you want to pay the $10 fee at the put in, you can sign an Event Waiver online using this link:  https://aca.sport80.com/public/wizard/a/1370/home.  This wizard will have you create an account with the ACA without becoming a full-fledged ACA member.   This waiver will not collect the $10 fee in advance.

If you want to create an Event Waiver and pay the fee directly to the ACA, use this link:  https://aca.sport80.com/public/wizard/a/1371/home. Again, you will be creating an account with the ACA just for the purpose of signing and paying for an event waiver.  No refunds if you pay for the waiver in advance, even if the event is cancelled.

Download and print the proof of waiver the ACA sends you and bring to the put in.  We are not likely to have internet access to see it on your phone.

Paper event waivers are still available.  Print your own using NEW ACA WAIVER.  Payments to Karen A should be in cash or by check payable to the ACA.

Safe Paddling

To keep our events both fun and safe for everyone, each participant needs to have the skills and the equipment appropriate to the waters and the weather.  Each participant is the first judge of whether they have the skills and equipment necessary, but trip coordinators have the final say. Please read the RMCC Requirements and Recommendations for ACA-Sanctioned Events