Desolation and Gray Canyon
Facts:
- River: The Green River
- Rapid Rating: Class II-III
- Put in:Sand Wash, Utah. (1 ½ - 2 hours from Duchesne,
Utah)
- Take-out location: Swaseys boat ramp. (30 minutes north of
Green River, Utah)
- River Miles: 84 miles
- Number of rapids: Over 50 rapids
- First to run Westwater Canyon: The trappers and prospectors in
the late 1700's and early 1800's, followed by John Wesley Powell in 1869.
For dates and rates on 2008 Majestic Canyons on the Green River trips
click:
- The 5
day Family Goes to Camp on the Green River offers a chance for the whole
family to escape. This trip offers exceptional bonding opportunities, fun
whitewater, charming camp sites on sandy beaches, stunning geological features,
ancient and recent western history, and it all begins with a scenic flight to
the launch site!
- The 5 day Majestic Canyons of the
Green River is tremendously scenic, and highly secluded from civilization
with fun and playful rapids.The beginning scenic airflight over the canyon
offers a taste of the geologic drama below.
Introduction
Desolation and Gray Canyons lie between the towns of Duchesne and Green
River in, east central Utah. These canyons are intertwined with history of the
Fremont Indians, John Wesley Powell, ranchers and outlaws and are a registered
National Historic site. In 1869, after traveling through "a region of wildest
desolation", John Wesley Powell named Desolation Canyon. Gray Canyon also
received its name from Major Powell after considering the names Lignite and
Coal Canyons.
Geology
For about 5 million years this region was covered by Lake Uinta. During
this time this shallow lake (never more than 100' deep) would continually rise
and then lower. This created lakebed formations where oil shale is found. The
other predominant formation is the Wasatch. This formation is one of streambed
deposits left while the lake was low. Fossils such as plants, insects, fish,
reptiles and, turtles can be found in both of these formations and help tell
the story of Lake Uinta. At Rock Creek Ranch the canyon is 5,000' deep (deeper
than the Grand Canyon at Bright Angel Trail!). As the walls of Desolation give
way to Gray Canyon, you begin to enter the Mesa Verde Group which consists of
sandstones and shales, including the oil bearing Mancos shale. Throughout the
84 river miles of these two canyons are some of the most current and rapid
forming debris flows in the Colorado River system.
Human History
When Major Powell and his men first traveled through Desolation
Canyon in 1869 this canyon was a very harsh environment. They had just lost one
boat, their flour was soaked, their bacon was rancid and they had just finished
a salad of fresh potato greens. Potato is a cousin of Nightshade, which is a
hallucinogen. So you can imagine they were not at their best and their
descriptions fit what they felt like. Many years before, these canyons were
home to the Fremont Indians and one could expect a very different description.
Containing many beautiful lush side streams and flood plains it was perfect for
growing corn, beans and squash. These people left their history carved into the
walls, capturing our curiosity of what made them disappear over 750 years ago.
More recent Native American history in the area involves the Ute
Indians. The current Ute Reservation was created in 1865. The reservation
starts at Tabyago Canyon and goes all the way down to Coal Creek on the left
hand side of the river. In the 1800's the first white men began to explore
Desolation Canyon. These men were fur traders and mountain men. One of the most
well known trappers was French-Canadian Dennis Julien. In the 1830's he left
inscriptions up and down the Green and Colorado Rivers including one in
Desolation Canyon. Captain John W. Gunnison forded the river near the current
town of Green River, Utah in 1853 while working for the Pacific Railroad
Survey. He and his crew were massacred soon afterwards. John Wesley Powell
began his first expedition in Green River Wyoming in 1869. In the 1900's
others, such as the Seamounton brothers, began to ranch the land. Other
ranchers include the McPhersons, Hank Stewart of the Sand wash Ferry site, and
the Wilcox's. Outlaws also frequented the canyons and were friendly with the
ranchers during this time. Outlaws such as Joe Walker and George Curry were
killed in Desolation Canyon. The trail to access Desolation Canyon started from
Woodside and followed the Price River into Gray Canyon. Desolation Canyon is
very popular with families because of the varied history and fun rapids. There
is something for everyone to do.
