Ruby Horsethief Campsite Guide: Every BLM Site on the Float

If you are planning an overnight float through Ruby and Horsethief Canyons, picking the right campsite is one of the most important decisions you will make before you put in at Loma. The 21-mile stretch from Loma to Westwater has 34 designated BLM campsites spread across the route, and they are not all equal.

This guide covers every campsite on the Ruby Horsethief float with river mile, landing surface, shade, group size limits, and the need-to-know details that will keep you from missing your site or getting pinned in a bad eddy. All campsite data comes from BLM recreation.gov listings. I stayed at Mee 4 personally and have noted firsthand observations where I have them.

Permits are required for overnight camping. Book through recreation.gov before your trip.

Before you put in at Loma, make sure you have the right gear for an overnight float. I put together a full Ruby Horsethief packing list with everything I bring, including the packraft, dry bags, and camp setup that made Mee 4 work for me.

A view out of my tent at site Mee 4 in the evening

A Few Things to Know Before You Go

The float runs 21 river miles from Loma Boat Launch to Westwater. Most overnight floaters break the trip at the halfway point around mile 13, which puts the Mee Bench cluster right in the sweet spot for a two-day trip.

All campsites are on river left unless noted. Black Rocks campsites have a one-night limit on Fridays and Saturdays with no layovers permitted. Dogs must be leashed at Cottonwood, Mee Bench, and Black Rocks sites.

Water levels affect landings significantly throughout the route. When in doubt, talk to a ranger at the put-in before you launch, there should be one there or call the BLM Office.

Miles 0 to 6: The Upper Stretch

Rattlesnake

Mile 3.2 from Loma | River Left Clay and rock landing. Shaded. Maximum group size: 14.

One of the first sites you will hit after putting in at Loma. The clay and rock landing is workable but not the easiest pull out. The shade makes it one of the more comfortable early stops in the heat of summer.

Beaver Tail 1

Mile 3.5 from Loma | River Right Cobblestone landing. No shade. Maximum group size: 25.

One of the larger capacity sites on the upper stretch and one of the few on river right in this section. No shade so plan accordingly if you are floating in July or August.

Beaver Tail 2

Mile 3.6 from Loma | River Right Grass landing. Shaded. Maximum group size: 25.

Sits just downstream from Beaver Tail 1 with a grass landing and shade, which makes it the more comfortable of the two Beaver Tail sites. Good option for large groups early in the float.

Bull Draw

Mile 3.7 from Loma | River Left Clay and rock landing. No shade. Maximum group size: 25.

Large capacity but exposed. The clay and rock landing can be slippery depending on conditions. Best suited for groups that do not mind full sun.

Banjo Camp

Mile 5.6 from Loma | River Left Grass landing. Shaded. Maximum group size: 25.

A solid mid-upper stretch option with shade and a grass landing. Good stopping point if you want to break up the miles before the Cottonwood cluster.

Miles 5.8 to 6.2: The Cottonwood Cluster

Five campsites sit close together along Cottonwood Bench between miles 5.8 and 6.2. All are on river left with sand or clay beaches and shade. Maximum group size at each is 25.

Dogs must be leashed at all Cottonwood campsites.

• Cottonwood 1

  • Mile 5.8 | Clay beach | Shaded

• Cottonwood 2

  • Mile 5.9 | Cobblestone and sand beach | Shaded

• Cottonwood 3

  • Mile 6.0 | Sand beach | Shaded

• Cottonwood 4

  • Mile 6.1 | Sand beach | Shaded

• Cottonwood 5

  • Mile 6.2 | Sand beach | Shaded

If your group is large or you want options, booking a Cottonwood site gives you four neighboring campsites as backup if conditions at your specific site are not working. The shaded sand beaches here are some of the most comfortable camping on the whole route.

Miles 7.9 to 8.0: Salt Creek

• Salt Creek 1

  • Mile 7.9 from Loma | River Left Grass landing. No shade. Maximum group size: 14.

    • Hug the bank on river left two miles down from Cottonwood Bench. Keep your eyes open for desert bighorn sheep on river left in this stretch. The sheep sightings here are genuinely common and worth slowing down for.

• Salt Creek 2

  • Mile 8.0 from Loma | River Left Grass landing. Shaded. Maximum group size: 14.

    • Sits just downstream from Salt Creek 1 with the added benefit of shade. Same bighorn sheep advisory applies. Smaller capacity than the Cottonwood and Mee sites so book early.

Miles 10.3 to 10.5: Fault Line

• Fault Line 1

  • Mile 10.3 from Loma | River Left Grass landing. Shaded. Maximum group size: 14.

    • This site can be easy to miss, especially at high water. Talk with a ranger at the put-in so you know exactly what to look for. The big cottonwood trees on river left where the river forks are your landmark. Worth the effort to find.

• Fault Line 2

  • Mile 10.5 from Loma | River Left Cobblestone and sand beach. Limited shade. Maximum group size: 14.

    • Landing can be difficult at high water. Approach via the left channel near Fault Line 1. Limited shade so it gets hot in the afternoon. Position your tent accordingly.

Mile 12.7: Mee Corner

• Mee Corner

  • Mile 12.7 from Loma | River Left Cobblestone and sand beach. Shaded. Maximum group size: 25.

    • The entry point to the Mee Bench cluster. Shaded with a cobblestone and sand landing. Good option if you want to be slightly upstream from the main Mee sites.

  
  
  
  

  Miles 13.1 to 13.6: Mee Bench

• The Mee Bench cluster is the most popular overnight stop on the Ruby Horsethief float, and for good reason. It sits right at the halfway point around mile 13, has hiking access into Mee Canyon, and offers five campsites close enough together that groups can book multiple sites if needed.

• Dogs must be leashed at all Mee Bench campsites.

  • Mee 1

    • Mile 13.1 | River Left | Clay and grass beach | Shaded Maximum group size: 25. Access to hiking in Mee Canyon.

  • Mee 2

    • Mile 13.2 | River Left | Clay and grass beach | No shade Maximum group size: 25. Access to hiking in Mee Canyon.

  • Mee 3

    • Mile 13.3 | River Left | Clay and grass beach | No shade Maximum group size: 25. Access to hiking in Mee Canyon.

  • Mee 4

    • Mile 13.4 | River Left | Clay and grass beach | No shade Maximum group size: 25. Access to hiking in Mee Canyon.

    • This is where I camped on my overnight float. Mee 4 sits right at the halfway point of the trip, which makes it a natural stopping point for anyone breaking the float over two days. The landing is sandy and the site is spacious enough to fit a group comfortably. No shade so bring sun protection and plan your camp setup accordingly. The hiking access into Mee Canyon is right there and worth doing if you have energy left after a day on the water. Mee 1 through 3 are close by so if Mee 4 is booked, the neighboring sites are a reasonable backup.

• Mee Canyon

  • Mile 13.6 | River Left | Sand beach | Shaded Maximum group size: 25. Easiest access to hiking in Mee Canyon.

  • If Mee Canyon hiking is your priority, this is the site to book. The BLM notes it has the easiest canyon access of the Mee cluster and it has shade, which the other Mee sites mostly lack.

husky walking around through campsite Mee 4

Mile 14.7: Dog Island

• Dog Island

  • Mile 14.7 from Loma | River Left | Cobblestone beach | Shaded Maximum group size: 25.

    • One of the more unique sites on the float. Stay to river right of the island and the campsite will be on your left about halfway down. The island setting gives it a different feel from the canyon wall sites. Shaded and large capacity.

Mile 15.8: Split Rock

Split Rock

Mile 15.8 from Loma | River Left Cobblestone and sand beach. Shaded. Maximum group size: 25.

The last shaded site before you hit the Black Rocks stretch. The landing can be difficult at high water. Look for the stand of cottonwood trees on river left just before the entrance of Black Rocks and have someone ready with a rope to tie off. If you want shade and a comfortable landing for your last night, Split Rock is the call.

Miles 16.0 to 17.0: Black Rocks

Nine campsites line the Black Rocks section between miles 16 and 17. All are on river left with sand beaches and access to hiking in Moore Canyon, with the exception of Black Rocks 6 which accesses Mee Canyon. All have no shade except Black Rocks 5 which has some.

Black Rocks rules to know before you book: dogs must be leashed at all sites, and there is a one-night limit on Fridays and Saturdays with no layovers permitted.

The landing at Black Rocks 1 is difficult at high water. Hug river left after Split Rock, untie rafts, and leave the oars to one person. Black Rocks 7 has an extremely difficult landing at high water with a strong eddy line, same approach applies.

Black Rocks 1 | Mile 16.0 | Sand | No shade | Moore Canyon access

Black Rocks 2 | Mile 16.1 | Sand | No shade | Moore Canyon access

Black Rocks 3 | Mile 16.2 | Sand | No shade | Moore Canyon access

Black Rocks 4 | Mile 16.4 | Sand | No shade | Moore Canyon access

Black Rocks 5 | Mile 16.5 | Sand | Some shade | Moore Canyon access

Black Rocks 6 | Mile 16.6 | Sand | No shade | Mee Canyon access

Black Rocks 7 | Mile 16.7 | Steep sand | No shade | Moore Canyon access

Black Rocks 8 | Mile 16.8 | Sand | No shade | Moore Canyon access

Black Rocks 9 | Mile 17.0 | Sand | No shade | Moore Canyon access

All Black Rocks sites have a maximum group size of 25.

Mile 18.1: Island Camp

Island Camp

Mile 18.1 from Loma | River Right Cobblestone and sand beach. No shade. Maximum group size: 5.

The smallest capacity site on the entire float at only 5 people. Stay in the left river channel and the campsite will be on the island on river right. Best suited for solo paddlers or small groups who want something off the main flow of traffic. No shade.

Mile 18.3: Knowles Canyon

Knowles 1

Mile 18.3 from Loma | River Left Cobblestone and sand beach. Shaded. Maximum group size: 25.

One of the last good campsites before the takeout with shade and access to hiking in Knowles Canyon. The landing can be difficult at high water so hug river left and look for the gallery of cottonwood trees. A good final night option if you are doing a longer multi-day float.

Mile 20.3: May Flats

May Flats

Mile 20.3 from Loma | River Left Cobblestone beach. No shade. Maximum group size: 25.

The last campsite before the Westwater takeout. The landing is hard to see until you are right on it. Look for the big boulders on river left and the landing will be almost directly across from them on river right. No shade and exposed but a solid option if you need one more night before finishing the float.

Westwater Campground

On the last day after takeout, you can choose if you'd like to camp at Westwater Campground before heading back to Loma, Co for one last night. If so, the first 1-7 sites are first-come first-served which makes for a perfect possible end to your trip. You can also reserve sites 8-11 in advance on Recreation.gov

How to Book

All Ruby Horsethief campsites are booked through recreation.gov. Permits are required for overnight camping and sites fill up fast on weekends between May and September. Book as early as the reservation window opens.

For questions about current water levels, site conditions, or anything else before your trip, contact the BLM Grand Junction Field Office.

Campsite data sourced from BLM recreation.gov listings. Firsthand notes from my overnight at Mee 4. Always check current conditions with BLM before your trip as water levels and site accessibility change seasonally.