Dolores River - Gateway to Dewey Bridge

Starting just upstream of the Dolores River Bridge in Gateway, Colorado, the lower stretch of the Dolores River offers technical rapids, stunning scenery, side-canyon hiking, and few crowds. The take-out is 32 miles downstream from the Dolores River Bridge put-in on the Colorado River at the Dewey Bridge Recreation Site. The Lower Dolores has a very short, erratic (and often non-existent) boating season. Flows typically peak between late April and early May. Suggested minimum flows are 200 CFS for canoes, packrafts, kayaks, and inflatable kayaks; 800 CFS for rafts under 14 feet; and 1,000 CFS for rafts larger than 14 feet. The most challenging rapid is Stateline Rapid (class IV), which begins at the Colorado-Utah border. This mile-long rock garden requires scouting and quick maneuvering at all water levels. Please contact the Moab BLM Office with any questions regarding the Dolores River permit system, (435) 259-2100. Do not call the recreation.gov call center with questions or concerns about the Dolores River permit system.