Paddle the San Juan
PEAK Experiences

Paddle the San Juan costs $400 and includes the following:

• Food
• Transportation
• Outdoor equipment
• Lodging when on campus
• Access to your room for storage during the trip

Participants are responsible for bringing appropriate clothing and footwear listed on the packing list.

Financial assistance

Substantial financial assistance is available for those who qualify. To apply, please complete the registration process, including the financial assistance application. This will hold your space on the trip. We review applications on a rolling basis. You will be notified no later than June 15 if you qualify for assistance. 

**Cancellation policy**

• An administrative fee of $50 will be assessed for any cancellation
• The full trip amount is forfeited if canceled after July 31.

As a participant on Paddle the San Juan, you will:

• Paddle for four days and three nights with a group of ten incoming students and several student leaders on the San Juan River just outside Bluff, UT.
• Pass innumerable archaeological sites, including a large ancestral Puebloan cliff dwelling referred to as River House. Butler Wash and Comb Wash, through which the Upper San Juan cuts, is often considered the richest archaeological region in North America. As you enter San Juan Canyon, you’ll navigate a few class II rapids to keep things spicy.
• Learn the basics of a multi-day river trip.
• Travel, camp, cook, and share adventures with your group.

These trips are open for all experience levels.

Travel, Lodging & Logistics

Will there be a place for me to store all my things while on the trip?

Yes, you will be able to drop off any belongings not needed for the trip at your residence hall when you move in on Sunday.

When should I arrive?

Peak move-in will run from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday, August 16th. Please plan your travel to campus so that you arrive during this window. After check-in, you will have the rest of the day to move into your residence hall.

How do I get to campus from the airport?

Ground transportation options for the Durango-La Plata County Airport can be found at flydurango.com. Note that many options need to be booked in advance.

Will I be back in time for New Student and Family Orientation?

Yes, we will return to campus on Friday afternoon. If you are signed up for the New Student Orientation that weekend you will be back in time.

When and where can I meet my family upon returning?

Any family or friends joining for Orientation can meet you upon your return and after equipment clean-up. We will return to campus in the late afternoon on Friday. 

How many students are on Paddle the San Juan?

Paddle the San Juan consists of 20 incoming students, split into two groups of ten participants, with two Trip Leaders per group.

If I sign up for PEAK with my friend, are we guaranteed to be in the same group?

You are welcome to let the program administrator know that you’d like to be in the same group as your friend, but we may not be able to accommodate that request. Don't worry though, you will make a whole lot of new friends on PEAK to introduce to your friend in the other group!

If I’m over 21, can I bring marijuana or alcohol?

No, even if you can legally use either of these substances, neither is allowed on Fort Lewis College programs. We have a very strict, no-tolerance policy for these substances on Paddle the San Juan.

Equipment

What do I need to bring?

You are responsible for your personal clothing and footwear. Check out our packing list.

What if I don't have my own equipment?

Outdoor Pursuits has a complete equipment room where you can check out items such as backpacks, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, etc. You are responsible for your personal clothing and footwear. See the packing list for more information.

Can I use my own personal flotation device/tent/etc.?

Yes, you are welcome to use any personal gear you wish, and you are responsible for any personal equipment you bring. All personal equipment must be approved by your Trip Leader.

Can I bring my own dry bag?

Yes, but your dry bag must be large enough to fit all your personal equipment, clothing, and toiletries. We have dry bags you can borrow for free.

Should I bring my cell phone or emergency beacon device?

Cell phone and music player use is discouraged on PEAK, and you will not have service anyway. You are welcome to use your phone for photos if you wish but consider how to protect it from rain and use it in airplane mode to conserve the battery.

Please do not bring your own emergency beacon device; the groups will already carry a satellite communication device.

Route, difficulty & weather

What will the weather be like?

The weather can range from daytime highs in the 80s to nighttime lows in the 50s, though higher and lower temperatures are possible, as well as rain. Please read the packing list thoroughly to be prepared.

How far are we paddling?

The total route length is 27 river miles, with 4 days to cover this distance.

Environmental and cultural protection

The desert rivers of the southwest are a beautiful and fragile landscape that requires care during our visit. A moment of carelessness can have an impact on the environment that will last a lifetime. In addition, sites and remnants of the land’s ancestral people deserve special respect. Every Paddle the San Juan program begins with the acknowledgment that the land and waters on which we gather are the ancestral lands and territories of Nuchu (Ute), Apache, the Pueblos, Hopi, Zuni, and the Diné Nation. It is essential to provide this acknowledgment because the narratives of this land and region have long been told from one dominant perspective without fully acknowledging the people who lived on it. While visiting cultural sites, it is crucial to stay on established trails, not touch or deface petroglyph/pictograph panels, and not to climb on archeological structures. The removal of artifacts such as pottery shards is illegal.

Specialized toilets, kitchen equipment, fire pans, and blankets are provided to minimize our impact on the river corridor. Trip Leaders will instruct participants regarding low-impact procedures for food and human waste disposal, fires, camping, and hiking.

Small craft

During this trip, participants will paddle inflatable kayaks and stand-up paddleboards. There will be one raft to carry our equipment as we travel down the river. If you have been on an expedition-style rafting trip previously, this will be a simpler trip because it is a raft-supported paddling trip and not purely a rafting trip.

Parking

If you bring a car to campus, overnight parking is permitted in the North Rim lot while we are on the trip.

Food

Do I need to bring my own food or water?

No, we will provide food and water from Monday’s lunch through Friday's breakfast. Drinking water will be provided while we are in the field.

What will we be eating on the trip?

Our groups will fuel their adventures with delicious, nutritious meals and snacks. We pack plenty of food so no one will go hungry.

Do you accommodate dietary restrictions or allergies?

Yes, we can accommodate a wide range of dietary needs and allergies. Please identify these needs in the registration process.

Can I bring my own snacks?

Yes, if you have a special snack you want to have, you’re welcome to bring it.

Packing list

Unless otherwise noted, all the items below are required to keep you and your group safe and comfortable while on the river. Summer in the desert will likely have hot days and cool nights, and it sometimes rains. Anticipate getting wet while on the river

Download printable list

* Denotes items available to rent for free from Outdoor Pursuits at the start of the trip

On-water

• 2 synthetic t-shirts or sun hoodies
• 1 bathing suit and/or synthetic shorts
• 1 visor or wide brimmed hat or cap
• 1 pair of sunglasses with strap
• 1 pair of river sandals, water shoes, or old running shoes (no flip flops)
• 1 bandanna or Buff
• 1 sarong or other lightweight cover up

Camp clothes

• 1 t-shirt and/or long sleeve shirt
• 1 pair of shorts and/or pants
• 1 sweater or sweatshirt
• 1 set of sleeping clothes
• 3 pair of socks
• 1 warm hat*
• 1 rain jacket*
• 1 pair of lightweight hiking shoes

Camping equipment

• 1 large drybag*
• 1 compact sleeping bag*
• 1 sleeping pad*
• 1 small tent*
• 1 headlamp or flashlight

Personal items

• 2 32-oz water bottles
• Personal toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, etc.)
• Medications, glasses, contacts, and menstrual products as needed. If you wear glasses, please bring a strap to wear with them.
• Sunscreen (we recommend the spray style sunscreen for this trip)
• Bug repellent
• Lotion
• Chapstick with SPF
• Waterproof case for cell phone or camera
• Journal and pen or pencil

Optional items

• Small daypack
• Rain pants or splash pants
• Binoculars
• Book or field guides

What to leave at home

• Makeup, deodorant, perfume, and cologne (these attract bugs & animals)
• Recreational drugs, alcohol, and weapons (we have a zero-tolerance policy for these on the trip)
• Glass bottles and jars
• Non-locking carabiners
• Speakers

5-day San Juan River itinerary: Sand Island to Mexican Hat

River miles: 27
Nights on the river: 3, plus 1 night at the boat ramp before getting on the river

The San Juan River from Sand Island to Mexican Hat travels past numerous historical archeological and geologic sites, including ancestral Puebloan sites, petroglyph panels, abandoned mines and buildings, red rock canyons, and formations.

Day 1
Travel from Durango to Sand Island Boat Ramp (2.5 hours). Upon arriving at the river, we will prepare the boats to launch, set up camp at the campground, and enjoy our first night together. 

Day 2
After packing up camp, we will explore a few ancestral Puebloan rock art sites before starting our float downstream. The first day will take us past numerous historical and archeological sites as it travels past Butler Wash. The highlight of these sites is the River House, a prominent ancestral Puebloan dwelling. 

Day 3
After Comb Wash, we enter San Juan Canyon. A few class II rapids dot the canyon as the red rock walls tower above.

Day 4
As we leave San Juan Canyon, we enter the Mexican Hat Syncline. We will float along the meandering river until we get to our final camp.

Day 5
After an early morning paddle, we will arrive at Mexican Hat takeout. After a quick load-up, we will start the three-hour drive back and arrive in Durango mid-day. The group will work together to clean up and put away equipment.

Student leaders make this program what it is! They are:

• Committed individuals who are at the heart of every trip.
• Current and past Fort Lewis College students from all majors and disciplines.
• Selected for their judgment and experience in the outdoors, as well as their personality and ability to work with groups.
• Trained in a demanding outdoor leadership course focusing on group dynamics, teaching techniques, decision-making, risk management, backcountry travel, and outdoor ethics.
• Certified in wilderness medicine, swift water rescue, and raft guiding.

Learn more about our Student Outdoor Leadership program.