Natural History of the San Juan River

Late evening light ignites the varnished hues of high desert sandstone. The deepening shadows make the peckings of ancient rock art more visible. Bouquets of yellow prince's plume flowers burst forth from the crevices between boulders at the bases of cliffs. As the light fades, the first planets pop out of the heavens, then come the stars, two, three, hundreds. A few Yellow-breasted Chats throw out their last evening songs from deep inside of desert olive thickets. The whole time the river glides by, quietly in places, roaring in others, slowly taking away the whole scene grain by grain.

Join naturalist David Gilligan and NHI's Jennie Tutone for an extraordinary trip along the San Juan River as it moves through the bent, layered rocks and ribbon-like riparian woods of the Colorado Plateau. While traveling downriver, we will explore the geology, botany, ecology, and human history of the river corridor and adjacent slickrock and desert landscapes. We will bird by morning, interpret geology and vegetation ecology by day, and learn our way across the star-strewn sky at night. We will travel in the spirit of the exploratory naturalists who have gone before us, with qualified river guides, a skilled naturalist, and the camaraderie and collective knowledge of all participants.

The river trip is a fully guided experience. You can expect professionally guided river travel, facilitated natural history programming throughout each day, and a casual, relaxed, communal environment in the evenings at camp. All meals are provided by the guide crew, and you can look forward to tasty, delicious food with options throughout the trip. All parts of the program are designed for maximum participation and all ability levels: our goal by day is to travel downriver and practice natural history together, and by evening to tell stories about it.

Where: San Juan River – Sand Island to Mexican Hat

When: May 27, 2025 through May 31, 2025

Number of Days/Nights: Five days and four nights

Transportation: Vans depart 8 am from the Natural History Institute, Prescott; return 8 pm to the Natural History Institute or provide your own transport to the Sand Island Group Campground, located near Bluff, Utah.

Group Size: Maximum 22

Age Group: Adults and youth 16+

Cost per Person: $1,100

*Payments by check are encouraged to help us save on fees! To reserve your spot email us at [email protected] and mail a check to NHI, 126 N. Marina Street, Prescott, AZ, 86301.

NHI Nature Guardian and Champion membership discounts do not apply to this trip.

Equipment: You provide your own clothing, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, and related personal camping equipment. Tents are not provided but are available for rental. We will provide all river gear, including a waterproof gear bag. Click here to view the packing list.

Meals and Drinks: The river guides and crew are seasoned river runners with many decades of guiding experience on Western rivers, including the San Juan. They will provide 12 wonderful meals, beginning with dinner on May 27th and ending with lunch on May 31st. The crew will provide potable water and a limited supply of cool drinks, such as sparkling water. There is space in the coolers for participants to bring canned drinks — no bottles, please. Alcoholic beverages are allowed on the trip, and participants are expected to consume those beverages in a prudent manner as we will be days away from medical care.

The Boats: We will use three oar rigs for carrying gear and food. Participants have two paddling choices: joining five other participants on a guided paddle raft or limited seating is available on an oar rig.

Programming: Our river adventure explores 27 miles of the scenic San Juan, which varies from calm water to fun Class ll rapids. Each day will include structured and unstructured activities focused on natural history. We will offer hikes, both casual and challenging, for you to choose from. We will secure a Navajo Nation permit that will allow us to hike up Chinle Wash. Other possible destinations are the Big Kachina panel near Butler Wash, River House ruin, San Juan Hill at Comb Ridge, Fossil Camp, and more.

Emergencies and Communications: Our guides are certified Wilderness First Responders with decades of experience and carry industry-standard satellite communication devices on board for use in emergencies.

Transportation: We will provide van transportation to and from the San Juan River. The program will begin the morning of May 27th and end the evening of May 31st, 2025, at the Natural History Institute on Marina Street in Prescott, AZ. Participants are welcome to drive themselves and meet the group at the Sand Island Group Campground in Bluff, UT.

Day 1: May 27th

• Leave the Natural History Institute in Prescott, AZ
• Drive to Sand Island Campground near Bluff, UT (6 hour drive)
• Meet non-van participants and shuttle personal cars to Mexican Hat
• Dinner provided by guides

Days 2-4: May 28th - May 30th

• Launch from Sand Island
• Raft the 27 miles to Mexican Hat, camping in a different location each night.
• Possible scenic destinations include the Big Kachina panel near Butler Wash, River House Ruin, hike up Chinle Wash, view Mule’s Ear Diatreme and the Monument Upwarp, San Juan Hill at Comb Ridge, and Fossil Camp.

• Class II rapids
• All meals provided

May 31st

• Leave Camp
• Arrive at Mexican Hat
• Goodbyes and leave Mexican Hat
• Drive to the Natural History Institute in Prescott, AZ (6 hour drive)
• Breakfast and lunch provided

*The itinerary is subject to change due to river conditions and group interests.

David Gilligan is a professional naturalist, explorer, professor, and writer. He has led wilderness trips and developed and taught natural history field programs for Prescott College, The Sierra Institute, and Sterling College. He has spent over three thousand days and nights in the field, training hundreds of people in expeditionary backpacking, mountaineering, canoeing, and sea kayaking skills necessary for exploration of wild places. He is the author of numerous books and articles including The Secret Sierra, In the Years of the Mountains, Nature, Culture, Consciousness, and “The High Country of the Mind.” His academic specialties include vegetation ecology, botany, and geology in mountain and desert environments, and nature philosophy. David has lived and worked in Arizona, California, and Northern New England, and traveled to remote mountain environments all over the world.

This program is offered in collaboration with Prescott College, a commercial permittee on the San Juan River through the Bureau of Land Management, to provide you with experienced guides and leadership for your time on the river.

Cancellation Policy:

1. Participants who cancel more than 30 days before the Program (on or before April 27, 2025) will receive a full refund, minus a 10% administrative fee of the trip cost.
2. For cancellations with less than 30 days left before the 1st day of the Program (after April 27, 2005), no refund will be issued.
3. Any refund under this Agreement will be paid within 14 business days of NHI’s receipt of the refund request.
4. No refund for the Program will be available solely because of dissatisfaction with the presentation or contents of the Program. I understand and agree that no credit or refund for the Program shall be available if I cancel on the arrival day, if I do not show up, or if I leave the Program early for any reason.
5. All notices of cancellation and refund requests shall be made by contacting NHI via email [email protected] or by submitting notice in person or by mail to: NHI, 126 N. Marina Street, Prescott, AZ, 86301.

Host or Publisher Natural History Institute