Colorado whitewater - Rio Blanco, San Juan and Jemez Mountains, Archuleta County

Archuleta county, Highway 84 to San Juan River section whitewater kayaking, rafting, and paddling information.

 

CLASS II-III     8 miles
  This section of Rio Blanco in Archuleta County is 8 miles long and is according to American Whitewater a class II-III section of whitewater. The nature scenery of Archuleta County and the water flowing gracefully down Rio Blanco have people coming here. This stretch is mid length, you can easily run it on an afternoon. Since you're on this site you are probably into whitewater rafting or kayaking, either way there are lots of good rivers for that around here. Getting some good exercise and a chance to spend some time outdoors are great reasons to come. There's
    camping available near Rio Blanco. The average Colorado whitewater rafting or kayaking river tends to be harder to run than those in other states, so don't forget that the rivers in this state are less manageable. Whitewater paddling here in the San Juan and Jemez Mountains is
a great experience. Rio Blanco doesn't have a lot of paddling sections, the Highway 84 to San Juan River section is the only one. There aren’t any hotels right nearby but if you're willing to drive a short distance then no problem but you'd better reserve in advance because these hotels fill up quick.

Briefly about the general area:
High temperatures at Rio Blanco during the warmest time of the year are in the 80's. When the night sets in temperatures fall down into the 40's. For the period of the winter highs are in the 30's, and through the
 
dark hours in the wintertime at Rio Blanco temperatures descend to the 0's. Around Rio Blanco you don’t get a lot of rainfall; most of the rain falls throughout August while June is regularly the driest month.
Near Rio Blanco you locate Frio Canyon which is a great place to explore.

Rio Blanco, Highway 84 to San Juan River road map
Printable road map with the put-in and take-out locations clearly marked.

QUICK STATS
AW Class: II-III
Length: 8 miles
  
Putin Location Coordinates:
Latitude: 37.1626
Longitude: -106.94461

Takeout Location Coordinates:
Latitude: 37.1211
Longitude: -107.0431

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Current weather conditions at Rio Blanco, San Juan and Jemez Mountains, Colorado
WXPort

Local climate location: PAGOSA SPRINGS 1 miles away


RAFTING TRIP OUTFITTERS

There are no whitewater outfitters currently listed for this river.

OakRidge Lodge, Pagosa Springs
7 miles away
The Oak Ridge Lodge is just steps away from the beautiful San Juan River and directly below Pagosa Springs expansive Reservoir Hill Park with horseback riding and hiking trails, winding through 50 acr...

Holiday Inn Express PAGOSA SPRINGS, Pagosa Springs
7 miles away
The Holiday Inn Express Pagosa Springs offers guest rooms with either one king or two queen beds; all interior corridor. Every room has a 25' color TV, coffee maker, hair dryer, iron and ironing board...

Whispering Pines Condominums, Pagosa Springs
8 miles away
Pagosa Springs derives its name from the Ute Indian name -Pagosah- which roughly translated means healing or boiling waters. The Utes discovered the healing power of the Hot Springs, and to this day, ...



OTHER_INFO
  San Juan and Jemez Mountains Whitewater
Complete list of all the whitewater kayaking and rafting spots in the San Juan and Jemez Mountains.

San Juan and Jemez Mountains Outdoors Info
Complete outdoors info for the San Juan and Jemez Mountains.

All Colorado Whitewater
Complete list of all the whitewater paddling spots in Colorado.
Books about whitewater paddling on Rio Blanco, Colorado
List of books from Amazon.com that cover whitewater paddling on Rio Blanco, Colorado.
Find a whitewater outfitter in Colorado

Whitewater Basics
If you're new to whitewater paddling please take a look at this basic whitewater info.
Outdoors Recreation Near Durango, Colorado
Very comprehensive list of a variety of outdoors recreation in the vicinity of Durango, Colorado, the metro area neareast to Rio Blanco. Find info on campgrounds, hiking trails, ski resorts, lakes, beaches, parks, whitewater and more.
 

   

OUTDOORS
These outdoors activities are available near Rio Blanco.
 Whitewater Near Rio Blanco:
San Juan River, Archuleta County , 4 miles away, Class II-III - 13.4 miles long (Pagosa to Trujillo Road)
Navajo River, Rio Arriba (NM) / Archuleta County , 6 miles away, Class I-II - 25 miles long (Lower 25 miles to San Juan confluence)
San Juan River, Archuleta County , 7 miles away, Class II-III - 1 miles long (Pagosa Springs Town Run)
Navajo River, Rio Arriba County , 8 miles away, Class II - 20 miles long (Chromo Colorado to Colorado Border)
San Juan River - East Fork, Archuleta County , 14 miles away, Class III-IV - 4 miles long (East Fork to 160 Bridge)
Wolf Creek, Mineral County , 19 miles away, Class IV+ - 0.25 miles long (Downstream from Highway 160 Bridge)
Piedra River, Hinsdale/ Archuleta County , 25 miles away, Class II-IV - 12 miles long (Upper Piedra Campground to 1st Fork Bridge)
Piedra River, Hinsdale/ Archuleta County , 26 miles away, Class III-V - 10 miles long (1st Fork Bridge to Lower Piedra Campgound)
Piedra River, Archuleta County , 28 miles away, Class II-III - 20 miles long (Lower Piedra Campground to Navajo Reservation)
 Ski Areas Near Rio Blanco:
Wolf Creek, Colorado , 23 miles away, 1604 vertical feet
Silverton, Colorado , 59 miles away, 1900 vertical feet
Kendall Mountain, Colorado , 59 miles away, 400 vertical feet
Purgatory, Colorado , 63 miles away, 2029 vertical feet
Telluride, Colorado , 73 miles away, 3845 vertical feet
Hesperus Ski Center, Colorado , 74 miles away, 700 vertical feet
Pajarito Mountain, New Mexico , 80 miles away, 1410 vertical feet
Monarch, Colorado , 88 miles away, 1162 vertical feet
Irwin Lodge, Colorado , 95 miles away, 2100 vertical feet
Crested Butte, Colorado , 97 miles away, 2775 vertical feet
 Hotels Near Rio Blanco:
OakRidge Lodge, Pagosa Springs , 7 miles away
Holiday Inn Express PAGOSA SPRINGS, Pagosa Springs , 7 miles away
Whispering Pines Condominums, Pagosa Springs , 8 miles away
Pagosa Lodge, Pagosa Springs , 8 miles away
Econo Lodge Pagosa Springs, Pagosa Springs , 9 miles away
 Camp Grounds Near Rio Blanco:
Acres Green RV Park, Pagosa Springs, 3 miles away
Wolf Creek Valley Campground, Pagosa Springs, 5 miles away
The Last Resort RV Park and Campground, Pagosa Springs, 5 miles away
 Trails Near Rio Blanco:
Blanco River Trail, Archuleta County , 9 miles away
Mill Creek Stock Drive, Archuleta County , 12 miles away
Fourmile Stock Trail, Archuleta County , 14 miles away
Martinez Creek Trail, Archuleta County , 15 miles away
Rainbow Trail, Mineral County , 15 miles away

Outdoors related information copyright © Stratus-Pikpuk, Inc. - Detailed hotel information copyright © Interactive Hotel Solutions
Some content, including Reach Name, Class, and Length, comes from American Whitewater