San Juan River from near confluence with Navajo River / Class 1+ day paddles or Sea Kayaking
Dates: June 5 – June 8, 2026
June 5 – Camp in the Navajo State Park CO at the Arboles Point Campground in the small group sites #1 or #2 at 1pm or later. Early people may want to paddle on Navajo Reservoir from the campsite to the mouth of the Piedras River and to the mouth of the San Juan River if time and weather permits. Trip leader and a few people will be coming here from the Montezuma Creek to Sand Island trip and will likely arrive sometime in the evening.
River Options with Karen
June 6 – Shuttle cars and put-in upstream on the San Juan River 1 mile past the Juanita Road bridge. Paddle the 15 or so miles to our chosen takeout which is the Cottonwood access (in the State Park). Sea kayakers may paddle an additional 6+ miles to our campground on the lake if they want. Complete the shuttle and return to camp.
June 7 – Shuttle cars and put-in upstream on the Piedra River about 4 miles above the USFS 613 bridge (aka hwy 193). Paddle about 9 miles to the early takeout which is the Day Use area within the CO Navajo Reservoir State Park. Those willing to handle some wind and lake waves can continue 2 miles to where the lake starts and another 1.5 miles to the Windsurf Beach Campground as it is the closest lake takeout.
June 8 – Sea kayakers could paddle from our Arboles Point Campground out into Navajo Reservoir and explore a side canyon or 2. Canoers may opt to repeat the Piedra or San Juan paddle (below the Ute waters and into the lake) or find a hiking trail or visit Chimney Rock. Evacuate the campsites by noon.
(Still deciding if we will get 3 or 4 nights at Arboles Point, so June 9 – Evacuate the campsites by noon may not be an option.)
Note that you will need a Colorado State Park pass or need to pay the entry fee daily. Each camp site provides for up to 8 people, 4 vehicles, and 1 camping unit (like a popup); primitive, so no water or electricity but there are toilets. Therefore we will split the $20/night camping fee for 3 or 4 nights among the number of people that we have. The first 2 days require Southern Ute fishing licenses ($20) or guest licenses ($5, max 1:1). Due to the exploratory nature of this trip and the site limits we will hold it to 10 or 12 people max.
Contact Karen A. at canoekarena@msn.com to sign up. Note that we want at least 300 or 400cfs for this trip and it may be cancelled or shifted to lake paddling only if it is too little water for our nice boats. Prefer canoes and sea kayaks; talk to Karen if you have something else.
Additional Options for Sea Kayakers
ACA Waivers
If you are a current ACA member as of June 5, 2026 you are all set. The ACA has a new system for online Event Membership/Waivers for those who are not annual members.
When doing the on-line waiver use the event name: Abole Point. Use the date: June 5-8, 2026. If you are not an ACA member and want to pay at the put in, you can sign an Event Waiver online using this link: https://aca.sport80.com/
Paper Event Membership/Waivers are still an option. Print (NEW ACA WAIVER) in advance or use the form your trip coordinator has at the put in. Pay $10 cash or pay by check payable to the ACA to the trip coordinator before you get on the water. Minor waivers are at: AMERICAN CANOE ASSOCIATION, INC
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