Well T & I are getting ready for our great adventure westward. Lots of overnighters until Cap Rock Canyon in West TX. Staying there an extra day.

Going to Utah (Zion), North Rim of Grand Canyon (staying at Lake Jacob), one full day at Page/Lake Powell, then Mesa Verde CO, heading back south through OK, staying a few days at Withrow SP in Arkansas, then pushing home to Florida.

Whole trip will take us the entire month of May. Anyone have any paddle ideas for these areas, please share.

Thanks!

Hi Happi,
My wife and I took a trip across the country a few years back and the only water I saw that looked like it might be worth a little paddle was at Hot Springs, Arkansas.

If you were coming further west I would have a lot of suggestions. Lake Mohave in Arizona is a great place to paddle, but it might be hotter than heck. You ought to come out to the Pacific Northwest sometime; the paddling just doesn't get any better.

You're end of the country is a "must do" for both Tom & I. Right now Utah is as far west as we are going. This is a first for us to go so far with our travel trailer. If all goes well, we'll be brave enough to take our portable home further west on a future adventure.

We are planning to paddle at Lake Powell (south end). Have had a couple of suggestions there and either a day trip on the Kings or Buffalo on the return trip home through Arkansas. In Utah we will be camped right on the Virgin River. Tom is going to contact Zion and see if we can try it. Couple other lakes on some of our over night stays, so we'll look the waters over for at least an evening paddle at these places.

Taking the bikes & hiking gear too! Some of our Florida Trail Association pals are flying out to join us for a few days. All in all a big thing for us. But we would never forgive ourselves if we did not take the boats and then saw places to get them wet.

Deb

From what I've seen of the Virgin River, there isn't enough water in it to float a kayak. But then I'm used to the Columbia.

I'll post a "paddle report" whenever I can with where, water levels, scenery, etc.

Well we are leaving a day early (today). Hope this Wi-Fi thing works...

Happi, Have fun and drive carefully. If you do happen to drift as far west as the west coast of Arizona, be sure to drop down to Bullhead City. Go up to Kathryn's Landing on Lake Mohave and take a little tour around the southern end of the lack. It is gorgeous.

Well Tom & I lucked into a GREAT paddle on the southern end of Lake Powell. It is mostly away from power boats, with fantastic scenery and was a true "WOW" for us.

There is a tour company that takes passengers down the Colorado River from the Glen Canyon Dam to Lee's Ferry called "Colorado River Discovery" (www.raftthecanyon.com). For a fee they will load your boats on their huge rafts, take you upstream, drop you off below the dam and you can paddle back to Lee's Ferry. Its roughly a 12 mile trip down stream with a 6 mph current if you stay mid stream. A few ripples, but no white water.

We did it in a one day trip which was fine. If we were to do it again, we would get the last shuttle back up and camp at one of the beautiful campsites on the river (composting toilets and fire rings at each well marked site)and take more time going downstream. The canyon walls range from about 700 to 1200 ft on each side. There were lots of birds, some pictogliphs,and a few small waterfalls along the way as well.

We would have loved to do more exploring along the way, but since we limited ourselves to the one day we had to move along.

Oh! Tip your ride up when you load up and they will share some great places to stop on your trip down river.

Would do it again if we get back that way!