Ruby Horsethief Canyon Permits

By obtaining a permit for overnight camping, the permittee agrees to read and comply with all permit stipulations. 

Trips may be delayed or permits invalidated if adherence to stipulations below are not met. Failure to comply with stipulations or launching without a permit may result in penalties under Federal or Colorado laws and regulations. 

 

1. The permit is not transferable and a signed copy must be in the possession of the permittee on the trip. 

2. The permittee will check in with a ranger or volunteer and must allow rangers to complete permit checks to determine the validity of the permit, ascertain that the group has all required equipment, and orient participants about river etiquette and safety. If there is no ranger on site, permittees will fill out the log located at the Loma Boat Launch. 

3. The permittee will launch on the launch date stated on their permit. 

4. The permittee must have at the launch: 

a. a group of 25 people or fewer and not greater than the number pre-paid for on the permit, 

b. a first aid kit adequate for the size of the group and sufficient for treating serious injuries, 

c. a repair kit or kits with adequate materials to repair the types of boats used on the trip, 

d. an air pump or pumps adequate to inflate boats after repairs, 

e. a washable, leak-proof, reusable toilet system or an engineered bag waste containment system containing enzymes and polymers to treat human solid waste that allows for the carry-out and disposal of solid human body waste in a responsible and lawful manner. The system must be adequate for the size of the group and length of the trip. All solid human waste, including bags, must be contained in a leak-proof, animal-proof, hard-sided container with a screw-on or ratchet-locking lid. Leaving solid human waste on public land or dumping it into vault toilets at Bureau of Land Management (BLM) facilities is prohibited. 

f. a durable metal fire pan at least 12 inches in diameter with at least a 2 inch lip around its outer edge and sufficient to contain fire and remains. Fire pans must be carried on all trips even if stoves are being used for cooking. All fires must be contained in the fire pan. Fire blankets under fire pans are recommended to facilitate total ash removal. 

g. a properly sized whitewater type I, III, or V Personal Floatation Device (PFD) (approved on the label for paddling, whitewater, kayaking, etc., as required) in good working condition for each member of the party. Type II PFDs are permissible under state law, however, BLM strongly advises against the use of type II PFDs. Inflatable life jackets are not allowed. All children under 13 years of age are required to wear a PFD at all times while on the river. 

5. Each raft, dory, kayak or canoe must have at the launch: 

a. an extra oar, paddle, or motor capable of maneuvering the vessel, and 

b. a bail bucket or bilge pump (does not apply to self-bailing boats, kayaks, and inflatable kayaks). 

c. Parties using low capacity vessels (kayaks or inflatable kayaks) must have one spare paddle for every three vessels. 

6. Each boat 12 feet or longer must have a type IV throwable device or a commercially made rescue rope with at least 40 feet of line, and a horn or whistle capable of a four to six second blast. 

7. The permittee must ensure that all trip participants: 

a. carry out all charcoal, fire ash, garbage (dishwater strainers recommended), pet waste, and solid human waste out of the river area, 

b. ensure children under 13 years of age are wearing an approved PFD for the entire length of the river, 

c. keep springs and other non-river water sources free of soap and other contaminants, 

d. do not remove, damage, or destroy archaeological, historical, or ecological resources, or cause damage to the natural and cultural resources of the public lands, 

e. make campfires only in firepans and do not cut wood for campfires, 

f. launch, travel (stay within visual contact) and camp together as a group, 

g. have no more than two dogs per party. 

8. All overnight river users must have an assigned campsite. Camping at any of these sites without a reservation is a violation of permit stipulations, and may result in a citation. Camping in non-designated sites is prohibited. 

9. The discharge of fireworks or explosives is prohibited on public lands. Recreational shooting is also prohibited. 

10. The permittee must ensure that all trip participants do not engage in commercial use as defined by 43 CFR 2932.