Trip Report: White Water Rafting - Flaming Gorge
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White Water Rafting - Flaming Gorge By Frank Bouchard |
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| BOATING | 07/04/2025 | Class II+ |
| Several months ago, I opened my inbox to an all too familiar sight: rejection emails from recreation.gov for every river permit I'd applied for. Rather than mope, I planned a trip on the Green River below Flaming Gorge - a beautiful stretch of water that requires no permits. Twenty-four enthusiastic paddlers ended up on this fabulous Fourth of July rafting campout. We set up a dispersed campsite in a mostly quiet corner of Ashley National Forest and spent the weekend exploring sections A, B, and C of the river. On Day 1, our plan was to paddle both sections A and B. Section A went smoothly, with fun rapids and dramatic canyon walls. Our colorful fleet consisted of a mix of rafts, duckies, packrafts, and kayaks. As we pulled into the Little Hole boat ramp for lunch, thunder cracked in the distance and within moments, a monsoon was upon us. We huddled under two tiny picnic shelters, assuming it would pass quickly. Two hours later, soaked and shivering, most of us gave up and hitchhiked back to our vehicles. A hardy trio waited for a break in the storm and pushed on through Section B. That night, another storm chased us into our tents just after dinner. Thankfully, the next day brought sunshine and better weather. We paddled sections B and C, enjoying the mellow flow and scenic beauty. Red Creek Rapid "the biggest of the trip" added a jolt of excitement. That evening, we gathered for dinner and a lively camp party. On our final morning, some of us squeezed in one last float through Section A while others went trail running. Despite the weather curveballs, the trip was a blast - great company, beautiful river, and just enough adventure to keep things interesting. |
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