rafting the colorado river @ topoc gorge (safety, vehicle, best)

[tomboysawyer]

Is anyone familiar with rafting down through Topoc Gorge? Is there someone to pay for a ride back up the river? Will a small troll motor get us back up the river on a raft made with four diesel innertubes, a few rubber rafts, big ice chest, and a homemade barge in the middle made out of PVC, rope, and five foot long X 5 inch diameter styrafoam noodles? No, I'm not crazy just trying to get the kids completely away from the rat race.

[mightyjay]

That sounds like alot of fun. Im planning to do something similar with a trackter innertube raft. Its really hard to find information on the internet. Let me know how yours is going. One thing i`d really like to find out is the drift speed of these rafts. will i be drifting at a nice pace, or sitting arround in the same spot all day. I plan on having ores but i dont want to use them very often.

[AzDreamer]

I made that trip back in the 70's. We floated from Laughlin to Lake Havasu in a canoe and inflatable raft. If possible it's best to park a vehicle at the end. Use something like google map satellite view to scope things out.

[sassy2]

To raft down Topoc Gorge would be commiting suicide. There is way too much boat traffic, especially since the new bar in Moabi opened up (Pirate Cove). I used to see kayak's going down river but haven't for a couple of years and I would imagine it stopped due to safety reasons. I think you might start seeing some now since summer is considered "over" but the Gorge is no place to take kids in a raft/kayak.