By the late 1870's, the Mormons had colonized virtually every
corner of Utah before pushing the boundaries of "Zion" southeast to the
isolated canyons of the San Juan River. It was on the San Juan that Norman
Nevills, a pioneer of commercial river running, began his first river trip
with a new bride and a boat built from outhouse planks.
This country is a mecca for the lover of slickrock, prehistoric Indian
ruins, and warm-water rapids. Your guide can lead you through side canyons
to polished limestone swimming pools, or to the canyon rim for an endless
vista of Monument Valley, the landscape synonymous with the "John Wayne
Western".
Flowing faster than any other river we run, the San Juan has scores
of small rapids. In addition, sand waves caused by shifting sands on the
river bottom add several spontaneous roller-coaster rides to the 83-mile
trip. For those who like a lot of action, we bring inflatable kayaks which
shift the San Juan's modest rapids upscale to high adventure.
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