San Juan River & Hummer Cliff Dwelling Expedition

Easy to Moderately Strenuous. Short hikes up to ½ mile round trip. Easy paddling on calm, but swift water. No whitewater on this trip.

• Swimsuit or clothing that will dry quickly.
• Water shoes or tennis shoes you can get wet and muddy.
• A small day pack
• A Reusable Water bottle for each person
• Camera
• Sunscreen
• Sunhat
• Sunglasses with Chums or neckband

Meeting at our shop in Bluff, Utah we will load the vans at 9 am and head to Sand Island. Here everyone will learn how to paddle a kayak and after a short safety orientation with your guide we are on the river. The San Juan is a beautiful float and great for all paddling skill levels. Guides will teach you all you need to know and lead you down the river. The first float is approximately one hour on calm, but quick moving water. We’ll float along towering sandstone cliffs and often see many different types of birds. Mid-April thru June this is a great trip for birders. 6 miles down-stream we will beach the kayaks and go for a short hike to view one of the largest rock art panels in North America. The Big Kachina Panel aka Lower Butler Wash panel has rock art dating back to 2000 B.C. and your guide will teach you about the different figures engraved in the wall.

After photographing and viewing the panel we’ll jump back in the kayaks and paddle another two miles down to where the river cuts through Comb Ridge. Here we will pull the kayaks off the water to find lunch waiting for us under a giant cottonwood tree. While you’re enjoying a yummy fresh lunch the guides will deflate and roll up the kayaks and load them in our custom trailer that we pull behind our H1 Hummer. After lunch we’ll jump in the Hummer and cruise up a 4×4 only road to see a two-story cliff dwelling called River House Ruin. Here we will get up close and personal with a cliff dwelling reminisque of Mesa Verde National Park. This is a very photogenic ruin and your guides will teach you about the different rooms and architecture of this one of kind site.

Then we are back in the Hummer for our tour back along Comb Ridge on part of the Historic Hole in the Rock Pioneer trail. We will pass San Juan Hill and stop briefly to see the road built by pioneers in 1880 when settlers originally settled Bluff Fort. The road then crosses the wash more times than you can count as we weave in and out of tamarisk and willows following a fun roller coaster of a ride along Comb Ridge back into Bluff.

This tour captures the best archaeology seen on our full day rafting trip and experience riding in one of the most capable 4×4 vehicles on the planet.