TRIP REPORT: Day Trip on the Lower San Juan via Honaker Trail
RIVER MILES: 18 Miles
CLASS: II+
HIKE IN: none
HIKE OUT: 2.2 Miles / 1300 vert
PUT IN: Mexican Hat Boat Ramp (37.14724, -109.85387)
TAKE OUT: Honaker Trail (37.18439, -109.96422)
PARKING: Honaker Trail Parking (37.18857, -109.95103)
SEASON: Anytime >350-400 cfs
WATER: Filter / Carry
PERMITS: San Juan River (rec.gov)
WASTE MANAGEMENT: wag bag
DRONE: Allowed
DOGS: Allowed
The float from Mexican Hat to the Honaker Trail is roughly 18 river miles, making it a fantastic trip for a long summer day or a lazy overnight. Short shuttle, easy paddling, and endless views.
Kai and I met in Moab and headed the last couple hours down to the take out, an easy 4×4 trail just outside of the public boat ramp for put in near Mexican Hat, UT. Only a 20 minute shuttle from the pavement, we dropped one Tacoma and headed back to the boat ramp.
Outside of Gypsum Rapid, which is just a minute or two past the put in, this stretch of river is a splashy, pushy, Class I-II that travels downriver through Goosenecks State Park. Through here, the river twists relentlessly through the canyons. It was hot when we traveled through in August, but I remember the deep, long shadows of my October float and the icy pockets of air lingering in the bends. In summer, the experience is equal parts beautiful and brutally hot.
Despite traveling 6 river miles, you only travel about 1 mile across the desert landscape. From river level, you lose all sense of direction. The canyon bends back on itself again and again, with enormous walls of limestone, shale, sandstone, and siltstone wrapping around the river. An abundance of greenery still lingered on the banks, with big horn sheep and a few FATTY river otters graced us as we passed by!
The boating itself was generally mellow through this section, leaving plenty of time to look up at the walls and appreciate just how deeply the San Juan has carved itself into the desert. It feels surprisingly remote considering you can actually see people camped on the rim at some points.
The hike out of Honaker, despite being a little steep, was well defined and offered incredible views on the way out. If you are brave enough to jump the gap - you can even walk out on top of the rocky formation on your way out to the rim.
The hike out is 2.2 miles with about 1300 vert gain, following an old miner’s access trail. All in all, it took us about 4 hours to float the river with little paddling and a stop for lunch!
