Sand Island to Mexican Hat
Utah – US
- Class
- II
- Length
- 27 Mile(s)
- Gradient
- 8 FPM
- Typical season
- January to December
Current Flow
555 CFS
Gauge height: 5.57 FT
Reading from Jul 10, 2026 10:15 PM
▲ 0.25/hr (12h) ▲ 0.13/hr (24h)
Hit some laps
- Primary gauge
- SAN JUAN RIVER NEAR BLUFF, UT Gauge detail & alternatives Live gauge ↗ NOAA river forecast ↗
Recommended levels
| Minimum | 500 |
| Average | 3,500 |
| Maximum | 8,000 |
Recommended use
- Kayaking
- Rafting
- Canoeing
- SUP
- Packrafting
- Fishing
Struck-through craft are not recommended for this run.
Flow history — last 6 days
No gauge history recorded in the last 6 days.
Photos
Rapids
| # | Rapid | Class | Recommended flow | Description | Scout |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 Foot Rapid | II | 500–8,000 | This rapid is mainly a series of waves. Pretty straight forward |
Read and run |
| 2 | 8 Foot Rapid | II | 500–8,000 | 8 foot rapid is probably the most difficult rapid between sand island and mexican hat. As the river makes a hard 90 degree right hand turn there is a tooth like rock in the middle of the main flow. If you hug the cliff river right close you could squeeze most craft between that rock and the cliff wall. Most run this left of that rock and then pull left to avoid a large flat rock below the tooth rock. Then its a matter of riding out the wave train. This rapid gets easier at really high water since some of the rocks will flush out and be covered. |
Read and run |
| 3 | Ledge Rapid | II | 500–8,000 | This rapid gets its name from a large ledge on river right that the current pushes against and then flows down. Follow the flow down and pull away from the wall as you make the main drop and then ride the waves out. |
Read and run |
Access
| Type | Name | Elevation | Camping | Water | Boat ramp | Vehicle access | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Put-In | Sand Island Boat Ramp | — | Yes | Yes | Yes | All Vehicles | Located about 3 miles west of Bluff, UT on Highway 191. |
| Take-Out | Mexican Hat | — | No | No | Yes | All Vehicles | From the town of Mexican Hat (don't blink or you might miss it), take a dirt road that leads to the river. It's about a half mile long. |
Camps
| Camp | Fee | Beach | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sand Island Camp | Yes | No | Several campsites exist at the put-in. Some are single car access sites and some are for trailers and RV's. Decent shade and many are near the river. |
| River House Camp | No | Yes | A nice sand beach on river right. This is a great camp if you want to spend some time exploring the River House Ruin area. |
| Upper River House Camp | No | Yes | This is a large beach with lots of camping options. There is an excellent trail that leads from this camp over to the River House Ruin. |
| Upper Lime Ridge Camp | No | Yes | A nice camp with lots of room for a large party. When we camped there last there were several wild horses (we think) roaming in the area. |
| Lower Lime Ridge Camp | No | Yes | Another large camp on river right |
Permit
P.O. Box 7 (365 N. Main)
Monticello, UT 84535
Between March 1st and October 31st requires a $6 per person permit fee. After that permits are still required but don't have a fee associated. Permits are required on any stretch between Montezuma Creek and Clay Hills.
- 25 people or less per permit
- First Aid Kit
- Repait Kit
- Air Pumps
- Toilet System
- Firepan
- PFD's for each person
- Extra Oar or Paddles
- Throw Bags
Fishing
No fish species have been associated with this run yet.
Points of Interest
External Links & Resources
Sign in to add a link.
Community Run Notes
No community notes added yet.
Sign in to add a community note.