Horsethief And Ruby Canyons
The Ruby-Horsethief section of the Colorado River, from Loma, Colorado, to Westwater, Utah, is a 25-mile stretch of mostly flatwater with sections of Class I and II. This section of the Colorado runs through beautiful red rock canyons and has many day hike opportunities offering both solitude and exploration. The Black Rock section is composed of rock known as Vishnu schist, which dates back about 1.7 billion years. This same rock, which geologists refer to as “an unconformity”, is exposed in certain sections of the Grand Canyon. There is an abundance of wildlife including great blue herons, bald eagles, peregrine falcons, mule deer, and desert bighorn sheep.
Suggested river levels for paddling this section of the Colorado River are between a bare minimum of 1,000cfs and a high of 25,000cfs.
River conditions sourced from USGS 09163500, the Colorado River Near Colorado-Utah State Line
Remember only watercraft are permitted
at Horsethief and Ruby Canyons.
Run Stats
Status | Runnable |
Class Level | II to II+ |
Elevation | 4,330 ft |
Run Length | 27.0 Mi |
Gradient | 5 FPM |
Streamflow Discharge | 4440 cfs |
Gage Height | 4.2 ft |
Air Temperature | 92° |
River | Colorado River |
Reporting Streamgage |
Colorado River Near Colorado-Utah State Line
USGS 09163500 |
Gauge | Streamflow | Stage |
---|---|---|
Dolores River Near Gateway
USGS 09179450 |
135 cfs | 7.0 ft |
San Miguel River At Uravan
USGS 09177000 |
108 cfs | 2.9 ft |
Mill Creek At Sheley Tunnel
USGS 09183500 |
7 cfs | 2.9 ft |
Castle Creek Below Castle Valley Near Moab
USGS 09182400 |
4 cfs | 5.8 ft |
Mill Creek Below Sheley Tunnel
USGS 09183600 |
3 cfs | 1.4 ft |
White River Near Watson
USGS 09306500 |
513 cfs | 2.4 ft |
Plateau Creek Near Cameo
USGS 09105000 |
40 cfs | 2.2 ft |
Dolores River Near Bedrock
USGS 09171100 |
9 cfs | 2.0 ft |
San Miguel River At Brooks Bridge Near Nucla Co
USGS 09174600 |
79 cfs | 1.9 ft |
Colorado River Near Colorado-Utah State Line
USGS 09163500 |
4,440 cfs | 4.2 ft |
Snotel Site | Snowpack | 24hr Change |
---|
Campground | Campsites | Reservations | Toilets | Showers | Elevation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Highline Lake State Park | 25 | 4,725 ft | |||
Saddlehorn - Colorado National Monument | 80 | 4,685 ft | |||
Fruita - Colorado River State Park | 45 | 4,484 ft | |||
Miracle Rock | 4 | 6,572 ft | |||
Mud Springs | 14 | 8,525 ft | |||
North Fruita Desert | 35 | 5,392 ft |
Ski Area | Snowpack | Air Temperature | 5 Day Forecast |
---|
River Run | Streamflow | Length | Class |
---|---|---|---|
Horsethief and Ruby Canyons | 4120.0cfs | 27.0 Mi | II to II+ |
Gateway to Dewey Bridge (Colorado River) | 648.0cfs | 32.0 Mi | III- to IV |
Westwater | 4620.0cfs | 17.0 Mi | III to IV |