Trip Overview
The Yampa River is the last undammed tributary of the Colorado River system, and its free-flowing waters surge through cauldrons of big, untamed Class III and IV rapids. In its natural state, the Yampa also displays sandy beaches, habitats for native plants and animals, and other splendid features of a river unfettered by man-made obstructions. Join OARS for a professionally-guided multi-day expedition and spend your days crashing through whitewater before enjoying catered camping on the banks of the river.
The Yampa’s location in Dinosaur National Monument adds an intriguing archaeological element, and side hikes along the river reveal ancient fossils, prehistoric Native American ruins, and petroglyphs carved into cliff walls. All these treasures are encased in a strikingly beautiful river corridor where the tall, vertical walls are a canvas of yellow and red, sometimes dramatically streaked with jet-black coloration known as “desert varnish.”
