I floated the Dirty Devil River from just below Hanksville to just above Hite from 13 May through 26 May, 2008. It was a solo trip and definitely a good one. I often feel that the time I allow myself for trips is inadequate, but 14 days on the Dirty Devil felt like the right amount of time. I was able to "float" leisurely, take a few dayhikes, and do two overnight backpack trips. I had plenty of time to sit and watch birds, the weather, and enjoy the incredible goelogy of the Ditry Devil River canyon and its tributaries.

My trip began on the afternoon of 13 May just below Hanksville. I put in at the end of 650 East Road, or Landfill Road, found about 3/4 of a mile south of the Chevron gas station on State Route 95. To find the put in, drive to the end of the road- you will hit the river after about 4 miles. For river and other local information visit the Hanksville BLM office at 406 South 100 West. For more information on the town of Hanksville visit the Desert Links page.

River flows were quite low while I was on the river, around 8 to 10 CFS, down from about 100 CFS a month before. While 10 CFS was not optimal, I found myslef dragging the boat for only the first 10 kilometers or so. By dragging, I mean literally dragging the boat down the river across sandbar after sandbar. After that it was more "guiding" the boat- making sure it got into the channel with enough water to float it through. By day 3 or 4, I was actually in the boat floating much of the time. I had and increase to 100 CFS mid-way through due to rain storms on the mesa tops. On that day I floated about 12 kilometers in 2 1/2 hours. On average, I traveled about 10 to12 kilometers, or about 6 to 7 miles, per float day. See the current river flow information at the USGS Water Data website.

Since I had 14 days on the river, I did not really have a set schedule. I floated, stopped and explored when I decided to. I hiked up Robbers Roost Canyon and into White Roost Canyon, which has an exit to the mesatop via an old cattle trail. I spent a morning in Happy Canyon, an amazing slot canyon that should not be missed. Downriver from Happy canyon is an unnamed, shorter slot canyon that is equally intersting. I did a dayhike in Fiddler Cove Canyon, up to the pouroffs. Fiddler Cove Canyon has some interesting geology, including spires and abandoned meanders. I did overnight trips up Twin Corral Box Canyon and Poison Spring Canyon. Although I could have spent days in each of these canyons, exploring them from the river is an efficient way to do it. You avoid climbing in and out of the canyons and traveling across the mesatop.

Fresh beaver tracks along the Dirty Devil River.



























I will add more float details and photos over the coming winter.


More Information and Further Reading-
If you have an interest in the history of the Robbers Roost and the WIld Bunch, I recommend reading one of Pearl Bakers books on the subject. Baker ran the ranch at tthe Roost early in the 20th century and heard story after story about the men, and women, of the Wild Bunch. Her writing is filled with fist-hand accounts and is written in the style of the time. I picked up The Wild Bunch at Robbers Roost just after my float. It is exciting to read and fills you in on the entire area and the exploits of the late 19th century outlaws. Read the book before you go or take it along to read on the float and it will be all the more exciting. I have not yet read baker's other book, Robbers Roost Recollections, but plan to buy it very soon.

As for guidebooks that might provide more information on hiking and backpacking while on the river, as usual I recommmend looking at Kelsey's Canyon Hiking Guide to the Colorado Plateau. Allen's Canyoneering 2 provides information on nearly every hike that you might consider taking from the river. It has two sections on the Dirty Devil River, split into north and south.

The 29 May Blog post tells a little more about the trip.