Wilderness Whitewater Rafting!

Wilderness Whitewater Rafting is quite rare and special. At Smith Fork Ranch you have the opportunity to raft some of the greatest water in the West. We have a special relationship with a local authority on these waters and can offer first rate rafting trips through some of the incredible canyons and rivers this region has to offer. Here Owner of SFR Marley recounts his experiences on a typical rafting trip.

"First you have to get up early, grab a coffee and boxed breakfast from the ranch kitchen, and be on the road by 5:30AM. The driving part of the trip there takes about 2 hours. A third of the way there you change vehicles, and a guide takes the wheel of a really rough 4-wheeler because a normal SUV might not be able to handle the “road” ahead (it’s not really a road, but a trail that is wide enough for a tough vehicle). The next leg of the trip is basically a bumpy 7-mile, 1500’ descent from the high-country down to the startlingly beautiful Black Canyon of the Gunnison. The last part of the trip starts about 1000’ above the river. Everyone gets out and hikes the remaining mile or so (relatively easy) old Indian trail down to the river’s edge. The rafts, supplies and guides have been brought down the night before by pack mules. The guides (the best river guides in Colorado) inflate the rafts, pack in the gear, and sit everyone down to hear safety instructions. Of course “everyone” is just you and your party, the guides, and an occasional bighorn sheep or eagle looking down from above. There is no one else around."

"The whitewater trip down the river is a truly remarkable adventure. The 11 miles of rapids are wild, and thrilling and you will definitely get wet. The difference is that the river and it’s environment is so pristine, so wild, so empty of other humanity that you quickly realize that there are very few people who have ever had an experience like this."

"The first time I did this rafting trip I felt like I was Lewis and Clark. After rushing through 1000’ high narrow canyons and surging rapids for 11 miles, and pulling over to the shore for a relaxing lunch, the last three miles of the river trip is relaxing, through calm, easy water to the take-out area. In that 14 mile distance the landscape has suddenly changed. Now it’s barren, sagebrush covered prairie. But good news! The 40 minute ride back to the ranch is smooth and comfortable. You’ll be back in time for cocktails and dinner."

In addition to Wilderness Whitewater Rafting, we have a tremendous variety of activities to offer including guided horseback riding and lessons, guided fly fishing of our own private waters, guided hikes, archery, horse drawn wagon rides, massage therapy, yoga, vineyard tours, float trips, or even flying a bi-plane!
We hope you can join us this summer for one of these amazing adventures, an experience at Smith Fork Ranch is something you will never want to forget!

How about you? Are you interested in a wilderness whitewater rafting trip or have you been on one? Any memorable stories? We'd love to hear them!

-The Team at Smith Fork Ranch

Happy First Birthday, Jonah!

Our little foal is turning one year-old tomorrow! You might remember we adopted Gemini and her week-old foal from Spring Creek Horse Rescue in southern Colorado. Gemini had been dropped off at the auction barn with her day-old foal, and the two were tagged separately to be sold for slaughter.

Jonah is growing into a beautiful young horse! Jonah spent the winter at our dude ranch learning some valuable lessons on "being a horse" from Trixie and Blackjack, including not to bother Blackjack while he's eating, and how to reach your forelegs through the fence to reach any available leaves or weeds growing too near the pen from Trixie! She's a very trusting little girl, in contrast to her mama, which illustrates beautifully how good handling grows a good horse. Jonah leads quietly, backs easily, knows "whoa" and will happily speed up when you cluck to her. For a baby, she sure enjoys her pedicures! She's also eager to meet you at the gate each day for her special yearling feed.

As a yearling, Jonah will be going along on some of the spring trail rides while learning to be "ponied" from another horse. She won't be able to wear a saddle or carry a rider until she turns two, and even then, she'll only be ridden lightly until she turns three and her growing bones start to close up.

How is her mama, you ask? Gemini came to us about four hundred pounds underweight, obviously distrustful of humans, and unwilling to share with us the secrets of her past. She spent the summer gaining weight and taking care of her baby. Today she is around 1000 lbs, with a rich bay coat, healthy once again. We weaned Jonah in September, and Gemini seemed pleased to be a free woman again.

Gemini has proved to be an especially tough customer. She'd much rather be left to herself than make the choice to befriend a human again. Ciara has rehabilitated a number of abused horses over the past eight years, but Gemini is proving to be the toughest yet. While she will eat grain from a tub on your lap, or allow you to touch her with a four-foot training stick, she refuses to be approached or wear a halter. After several months of rest this winter, she's been progressing rapidly this spring, and the wrangler crew is dedicated to enlivening her trust in people again. Hopefully, all of our wonderful dude ranch guests can help us with that!

How is Jonah celebrating her first birthday? She's going to get a special grooming, a couple of treats, and have her hooves trimmed! It will be a special day for our special little girl on this Colorado ranch!