Little Yampa Canyon

The Little Yampa Canyon (LYC), also known as Duffy Canyon, is located in Moffat County, just downstream of Craig, Colorado and is home to a 32-mile, family-friendly, flatwater stretch of the Yampa River; a stretch that has been found to hold characteristics suitable for a Wild & Scenic River designation.

This section of river boasts incredible scenery, hidden Native American petroglyphs, frequent wildlife viewing opportunities, and an incredible sense of serenity and solitude that is lost in today’s modern, busy world. Unlike the Yampa Canyon which requires a permit from Dinosaur National Monument to float the river, the LYC is managed by the Bureau of Land Management as a Special Recreation Management Area and does not require a permit to float the river.

Until recently, the LYC has been one of the Yampa’s most underutilized sections due to its remote nature and lack of proper formalized campsites.  The 32-miles of river also discourages day-trippers due to it being to long to float in one day. But, as of May of 2018, things have changed.

If you are planning to float the LYC, please practice Leave No Trace for river ethics.  Learn about those here on our partners at American Whitewater’s website.

Little Yampa Canyon from Ben Saheb on Vimeo.

In partnership with the BLM Little Snake Field Office, the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Yampa River State Park, Mission Continues and the Northwest Chapter of the Parrotheads, among others, the Friends of the Yampa have helped revitalize 5 riverside campsites along the LYC corridor that are now clearly marked and ready for use. Each campsite is equipped with a fire ring and grilling grate, in addition to a picnic table and areas suitable for tent camping.

Discussions about establishing formal campsites in the LYC started ramping up in 2016 with FOTY, the BLM, and CPW working together to bolster public access for recreational boating, fishing and wildlife viewing while protecting this important riparian corridor.  After years of planning and weeks of on the ground volunteer efforts, the LYC is now home to five formally established camping areas: Antlers (Mile 7.6), Friends (Mile 14.5), Railroad (Mile 14.8), Bubba’s Beach (Mile 25.5), and Charlie Mike (Mile 30.4).

MILE 0: South Beach Put-In. Located 3 miles south of Craig, Colorado off of Colorado State Highway 13.  It’s obvious to find.  You’ll go south from Craig on Highway 13 and once you cross the bridge over the Yampa River, you take a right onto the dirt road.  You’ll pass the pump station to the power plant on your right and the access is just there behind it on the right along the Yampa River. There is a toilet at this river access but no camping allowed.  

MILE 7.6: Antlers Campsite.  The first of the five campsites is on river right and identified by several large cottonwoods and a large post-reading Antlers. There is a large pair of antlers attached to this post. The 7.6 mile float from the South Beach River access site takes approximately 2-4 hours depending on river-flows and weather conditions.

MILE 14.5: Friends Campsite.  The second of the five campsites is on river right and identified by a large clearing containing several large cottonwoods, both dead and alive, and a large post with Friends written on it. The 6.9 mile float from Antler’s campsite to the Friend’s campsite takes approximately 2-3 hours.

MILE 14.8: Railroad Campsite. The third of five campsites is the only campsite on river left, downstream and nearly adjacent to the Friend’s campsite (0.3 miles away), and identified with a post like the other campsites. 

MILE 25.5: Bubba’s Beach, the fourth of five campsites, is on river right, identifiable by several large Tamarisk stands and a few cottonwoods, in addition to the identifying post. The 10.7-mile float from the Railroad campsite (or 11 miles from Friends) takes approximately 3-5 hours depending on river flows and weather conditions.

MILE 30.4: Charlie Mike. The last campsite in the LYC is on river right and marked with a post. There is a small grassy area accompanied by a low-standing sage-brush flat.  it is important to note that the site borders private land closely and is separated by a barbed-wire fence, therefore it is advised to be careful so as to not accidentally trespass. The 4.9 mile float from Bubba’s Beach to Charlie Mike takes approximately 1-2 hours depending on river-flows and weather conditions. Due to its location near the lower irrigated ranchlands below the Duffy Mountain Take-Out, Charlie Mike can have many mosquitoes.  Typically this happens when the river is dropping, post-peak in June and July. 

MILE 32: Duffy Mountain Take-Out. To get to the take-out, you will take US Highway 40 west of Craig for 19 miles to Moffat County Road 17.  Drive 10.2 miles to BLM Road 1593 and turn left.  The river access site is 1 mile farther on the right.  From the river, it is obvious that this is the take-out. During high water it can be tight for multiple boats so spread out on this boat ramp. Please communicate with others and be quick with loading and unloading your boats. There is a toilet at this river access, a picnic area, and camping if you need it. 

It is important to note that there is private property interspersed throughout this float.  Most sections of public and private property are marked on the river with red (private) and blue (public) signs, but this isn’t always the case.  Please respect all private property rules and regulations and practice leave no trace camping and floating ethics during your LYC journey.

Some tips you should entertain before embarking on this LYC adventure:

• • Download Floaters Guide from Craig Colorado to Juniper Canyon. This guide was created by the BLM many years ago.  Most everything is still current but please don’t hold us to it.  We are hoping to work on a new guide in the near future and will repost it here when we do.
  • Download Floaters Guide from Steamboat Springs to Cross Mountain. This guide was created by our friends at the Yampa River State Park and is a general mileage and description guide for the Yampa River from Steamboat Springs to Cross Mountain.
  • Download the Yampa River State Parks brochure on the sections of rivers that they manage. Please respect all legal access points, private property and all things river when recreating in and around the river.  If you don’t know the general Leave No Trace for rivers, please review them on American Whitewater’s site here.
  • Learn all about leave no trace for the paddling community on American Whitewaters: A Paddlers Footprint. https://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/Wiki/stewardship:lnt
  • Plan and prepare accordingly for a remote, wilderness type riverine setting.
  • April through mid-June are great times to float the Yampa River, and sometimes, depending on flow, it is navigable by small floatable craft, such as paddleboards and duckies — small inflatable boats.  Review the USGS site “below Craig” to see what the river is flowing…here. https://waterdata.usgs.gov/co/nwis/uv?site_no=09247600
  • Understand the flows and the weather that you will be dealing with during your float and bring appropriate gear and shelter for forecasted conditions.  Check weather prior to your trip here: https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lon=-107.77568763121964&lat=40.4226730498558#.WvpvktMvx24
  • There are no toilets at the campsites so please take along a portable toilet system (a.k.a Groover).  Burying your waste and toilet paper isn’t recommended due to campsites being so close to river water. You can rent proper toilet systems or purchase Wag Bags from most outdoor stores. Peeing in the river is fine, just be careful to not fall in, especially during high water conditions. Our friends at Good Vibes River Gear in Craig, Colorado will rent you a groover, and also run your shuttle and sell you all sorts of important river gear. 
  • If you wish to have a fire, it is recommended to take your own firewood with you or only use driftwood that you find in or along the river channel.  Do not cut wood off of standing dead trees or live trees as this leaves a trace for years to come. Consider having smaller fires so to keep your impacts low.
  • Please pack out what you pack in.  There are no trash receptacles at these campsites.  You must take out all your trash with you and pick up after others. Consider using a tarp under your camp kitchen to contain micro-trash so as to keep ants, mice and other vermin out of campsite locations.
  • Respect others at all times on the river and at any campsite.  There is no official sign up for campsites so talk with other floaters at put in or on river and figure out where others are camping. These sites are not set up for multiple groups at a time, but you can share sites as several of them are large enough for multiple groups.  
  • Recommended group size is 15 people or under for all campsites.
  • Respect wildlife and livestock by keeping a good distance from animals you may encounter. If your dog isn’t under voice control consider leashing or leave them home until you train your pet. Keep your trash contained and put it away in secure location at night so to alleviate hassles from unwanted but hungry animals.   
  • Never take or damage Native American artwork, arrowheads or other antiquities that you may encounter.  This is not only a disgrace but it is also a crime. If you see of or hear of others doing such things, please contact your BLM law enforcement officials.