The Sunbeam Reach guide is currently available in DRAFT status. The map-by-map text pages (with river-mile-specific information) are not included. In the meantime, it is hoped that the maps alone will prove useful to folks floating this section of the Yampa. Check back in the future to download the completed guide.

The Sunbeam Reach guide covers the 30-mile flatwater reach of the Yampa River from the Maybell Bridge boat ramp (east of the town of Maybell) to the East Cross Mountain boat ramp (just upstream of where the river enters Cross Mountain Canyon). The Sunbeam Reach is covered by five maps.

Floating all the way from the Maybell Bridge to East Cross Mountain would make for an extremely long day under the best of conditions. Fortunately, the Yampa River State Park Sunbeam river access, located about 17 miles downstream from the Maybell Bridge, does allow you to break the journey into two portions. Otherwise, the river is almost entirely bounded by private property (the exception being the last three miles before Cross Mountain), so there are no other options for escaping the river along the way without trespassing.

Unfortunately, the Sunbeam access is neither a river camp nor a developed site. The “boat ramp” is functional, but is nothing more than a short, narrow two-track cut through the deep woody vegetation lining the river bank. There is some space for parking vehicles with trailers a short distance away from the river. Camping is not permitted.

Current Version Date 01-22-2025