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Craig man dies in kayaking accident

Craig Press

DINOSAUR — A 66-year-old man from Craig died this weekend while on a two-person private trip using inflatable kayaks on the Yampa River in Dinosaur National Monument. The man’s name has not been made public.

Based on preliminary reports, at approximately 2 p.m. Saturday, the kayaker hit a rock in Tepee Rapid, capsized and never resurfaced. He was wearing a personal flotation device.

The person reporting the incident kayaked 24 miles downstream to Hells Canyon Ranch. Monument staff were contacted just before 9 p.m. Saturday. Search and rescue efforts were launched Sunday morning.



Due to the remote location of the incident and low water levels along the Yampa, monument staff used a helicopter in the search. A contract helicopter and Mesa Verde National Park Helitack crew were already on-site in the monument for a wildland fire assignment.

At 11:40 a.m. Sunday, the kayaker’s body was located approximately 3 miles downstream from the point he was last seen. The body was recovered from the river and transported to the Moffat County coroner.


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