Kayak and Small Craft Safety on the Colorado River Near Grand Junction
A kayak, canoe, or small raft opens up a lot of the Colorado River that you cannot reach from the bank. It also puts you in moving, cold water with fewer ways out. This is our baseline for small craft days in the Grand Valley, whether you plan to fish from the boat or just use it to reach a gravel bar.
What CPW says you need on board
- Life jacket: one U.S. Coast Guard approved life jacket for each person, the right size, in good condition, and readily available. Kids 12 and under must wear one whenever the vessel is on the water.
- Inflatables: CPW says inflatable life jackets are approved only for people 16 and older and are not approved for white water paddling. Read the label.
- Sound device: CPW lists a whistle, horn, or air horn as required equipment.
- Throwable: CPW requires a Type IV throwable device on boats 16 feet or longer.
Required is the floor. On moving water we wear the life jacket the whole time, not just keep it on board. For fall and spring floats, run our cold-water trip checklist before you launch.
Read the river and the sky
The USGS gage Colorado River near Cameo is the common reference for the stretch above Grand Junction. Look at the trend, not just today's number. Rising and muddy water carries debris. Low fall water exposes bars and shallows, covered in our late-season low water guide.
For the Ruby-Horsethief stretch below Loma, BLM publishes flow guidance on its permit page, including when canoes are not recommended and when family raft trips are best. Use it.
Then check wind and storms on the NWS Grand Junction forecast. Our wind and fog go/no-go covers when to stay on shore.
Plan the take-out first
Know exactly where you will get off the river, and that it is public, before you put on. Below Loma, BLM says there is no other take-out until Westwater, Utah, about 25 miles downstream. Closer to town, use James M. Robb park sections and signed ramps. Read our public access guide before you pick a shuttle.
Safety
- Cold water: CPW says water below 68 degrees is dangerous and can cause gasping and swimming failure. If you go in, CPW advises staying with your boat and not overestimating a swim to shore.
- Strainers: downed trees and debris let water through but not people. Give them a wide berth.
- Group pace: the least experienced paddler sets the plan.
- Sober: CPW warns that alcohol and boater fatigue together slow reaction time and raise drowning risk.
- Self-rescue: practice with a throw bag before you need it. See our throw bag and self-rescue guide.
Verify regs
CPW lists the Colorado River from the Eagle River confluence to the Utah line as "infested" for zebra mussels. Motorized and trailered boats must be inspected in Colorado, and CPW says paddleboards, kayaks, and inflatables should be cleaned, drained, and dried too. Read CPW Boating Safety, CPW Boat Inspections, and the current CPW Fishing Brochure.
Shop related
We do not sell life jackets or throw bags right now, so buy them in person where you can try on the fit. The VCO Safety Kit we are building is waitlist only, with nothing to pay today. Our tumbler and hat are in our merch shop.
Plan with Trip Builder
Choose kayak or boat style in Trip Builder, then check our clean, drain, dry notes before your next launch.
Frequently asked questions
What safety gear does Colorado require on a kayak?
CPW requires a properly sized, Coast Guard approved life jacket for each person and a sound-producing device such as a whistle. Children 12 and under must wear their life jacket on the water.
Do kayaks need a boat inspection in Colorado?
CPW requires inspections for motorized and trailered craft and sailboats. It says paddleboards, kayaks, and inflatables should still be cleaned, drained, and dried, and some may still need inspection.