Due to recent events, my schedule allows a non-pre-planned trip from
Green River to Mineral Bottom. From what I can tell, a permit is
required for this run, but do you just pick it up in Green River State
Park? Is the Green River to Ruby Ranch section memorable and worth
doing? Is there a definitive guide to this run? The BLM website was
not cooperating, so I was hoping for some first hand information. TIA

JIM

try the National Park Service site, nps.gov (click on visit your parks then
Canyonlands). Also, Tex's (they rent canoes and run shuttles for the stretch)
in Moab is a good source of information. There is a good map widely available.

Hi Jim,

The "permit" can be obtained from Green River State Park, Ruby Ranch,
or possibly even Mineral Bottom. There was no fee for the permit last
year. The BLM issued it more to keep track of who is using the river,
when, etc.

Green River to Ruby Ranch passes through some low cliffs, but the only
memorable thing was Crystal Geyser. The spurting remains of a test
drilling. It has built up a series of tufa like deposits. You can also
drive to it, if you don't want to spend the day paddling.

Ruby Ranch to Mineral Bottom is much more scenic. The canyons start
right below Ruby Ranch. You can paddle Ruby Ranch to Mineral Bottom in
a day if you work at it, but I'd suggest spending time hiking and
exploring the side canyons.

My preferred guidebooks to the area are the River Runners Guide to
Canyonlands (detailed history, along with things to see), and Belknaps
Canyonlands Guidebook (basically waterproof maps). Both can be found
on Amazon.com

You will need a BLM approved toilet system. The ranger at Green River
State Park will check, as will the ranger at Mineral Bottom. You can
buy them or rent them from local outfitters. The guidelines were that
it must be washable and reusable. REI has a new disposable baggy type
toilet system which claims to be BLM approved, but I don't know that
the rangers will accept it. If the ranger at Mineral Bottom picks up
an empty toilet, be prepared for a fine. Stuff doesn't degrade in the
desert, and there is no need to leave petrified poop for future
generations. Pack it out.

Water is another thing people forget about. The river is silty and
salty. It will plug up filters quicker than you can sneeze. Side
canyon springs are an option, but you often have to hike quite a ways
up the canyon for a spring. If the spring doesn't have moss, grass,
trees or other things growing out of it, don't drink it. There are
poison springs in the area. It is best just to bring your own water, 2
gallons per person per day is enough. I have heard various "settling"
techniques, and will test the alum theory in a week when I am out
there. I did leave water overnight once, and the silt is so fine it
really didn't settle out. Heating water will cause it to expand, and
that settled it fairly well (at a cost in fuel).

The BLM website may be down for a while. It's an issue with the entire
department of the interior (someone hacking sensitive data from them).
If you go to Google, and select "cached page" you will get Googles
copy of the page, with all the text intact.

If there are any questions I can answer for you, feel free to send me
an e-mail.

- Eric

You don't need a permit if you're going to Mineral Bottom. Permit
required from there on down.

The section from Green River to Ruby Ranch is a denuded, overgrazed
scabland. I'd put in at Ruby Ranch.


(jim forbes) wrote in message . com...
Due to recent events, my schedule allows a non-pre-planned trip from
Green River to Mineral Bottom. From what I can tell, a permit is
required for this run, but do you just pick it up in Green River State
Park? Is the Green River to Ruby Ranch section memorable and worth
doing? Is there a definitive guide to this run? The BLM website was
not cooperating, so I was hoping for some first hand information. TIA

JIM

Last year a permit was required above Mineral Bottom. Did they change it again?

I'll be there Saturday, so I guess I can find out first hand.

Eric

(beaver charlie) wrote in message . com...
You don't need a permit if you're going to Mineral Bottom. Permit
required from there on down.

The section from Green River to Ruby Ranch is a denuded, overgrazed
scabland. I'd put in at Ruby Ranch.

(Eric Nyre) wrote in message . com...
Last year a permit was required above Mineral Bottom. Did they change it again?

I'll be there Saturday, so I guess I can find out first hand.

Eric

Would you mind letting me know what the current regs are? I
appreciate it. Have a great trip!

In article , Eric Nyre
wrote:

Last year a permit was required above Mineral Bottom. Did they change it
again?

I'll be there Saturday, so I guess I can find out first hand.

Eric


The website for Labyrinth now claims you need a permit, but you can
print one out from the BLM site (or could before the website freeze).
Do a Google search on Green River Labyrinth. You get two copies, one
to carry with you & one to give to the ranger at the State Park. You
can also get one at the John Wesley Powell River Museum in Green River
(and go through the museum while you're there - it's good. Do the
slide-show, too.) You're also supposed to be able to get the permit
from the ranger at the State Park. I've done this stretch 3 or 4
times, starting at the State Park on down to Mineral, and it's nice.
Don't look for rapids, and plan on 5 or 6 days. Do the hikes.

--
Lose the ring to reply.

There wasn't a ranger at Mineral Bottom, so I don't have the latest
greatest. I'm inclined to agree with Sam that there is still a
voluntary permit required. However in that the permit was free, I
wouldn't worry about it. If you run into a ranger, ask them for one.
If no ranger, well you just kinda slip through.

- Eric

P.S. I just came off an 8 day Mineral Bottom to Spanish Bottom back up
to Mineral Bottom trip. 3 days to get down (including tons of hiking),
1 day at Spanish Bottom to hike to the Harvest Scene (20 mile sunrise
to after sunset hike) and 4 days to paddle back up to Mineral Bottom
(hauling a@@ and hiking).

The ravens and the mice are starting to be problematic. At Spanish
Bottom I had a mouse eat through my hatch gasket to munch it's way
into my food (lost 2 bagels, 3 parts of tortillas, 1 carrot, and some
dried soup). The ravens at Anderson Bottom flew off with my sponge and
almost snagged my cockpit cover during a 20 minute lunch break.
Remember to animal proof your stuff!

The weather was cooperative for all but the last days. We actually set
up tents the last two nights due to rain. Mosquitos were just starting
to come out, so they may be nasty in a week or two. Otherwise no
problems.