Rules and Regulations:

 
By obtaining a permit for overnight camping, the permitee agrees to read and comply with all permit stipulations. The permittee must allow River Rangers to complete permit checks to determine the validity of the permit, ascertain that the group has required equipment, and orient participants about river etiquette and safety. 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.
 
At the launch and any occupied campsite, all trip participants must:

1.      Abide by all laws, rules and regulations that apply to this area.

2.      Camp in the assigned campsite identified on the permit. You may not change your site from your issued permit.

3.      Limit camping at any Black Rocks campsite to one night per weekend (Friday-Saturday).

4.      Do not collect any firewood.

5.      Launch, travel (stay within visual contact) and camp together as a group.

6.      Use approved portable toilet systems to collect and carry out solid human and dog waste. The system must be adequate for the size of the group and length of the trip. Large groups (15 or more) need more than one.

7.      Capture and carry out all campfire ash and charcoal through the use of a durable, metal fire pan at least 12 inches wide, with at least a 1.5 inch lip around its outer edge. Large groups (15 or more) need more than one.

8.      Limit the group size to no more than 25 heartbeats per site, including the max. of 2 dogs

9.      Keep springs and other non-river water sources free of soap and other contaminants.

10.    Have a working and usable personal flotation device for everyone in the group. Children under the age of 13 are required to wear their personal flotation device at all times on the water.

In addition to these permit stipulations, visitors are also subject to laws to protect cultural and paleontological resources, including the National Historic Preservation Act. Additional information related to cultural resource protection laws is provided below to ensure that Ruby-Horsethief boaters understand legal requirements related to cultural resources:

  • To protect archaeological and historical resources all persons associated with this Ruby-Horsethief permit understand and agree to their legal and stewardship responsibility. You may not injure, destroy, excavate, appropriate or remove any historic or prehistoric ruin, artifact, object of antiquity, Native American remains, Native American cultural item, or archaeological resources.
  • The National Historic Preservation Act protects newly discovered historic or archaeological materials.  If you identify a cultural resource that is threatened by natural or human disturbance during activity at your campsite or during your exploration of the canyon help us protect the resource.  Your activity must not further impact the discovery and the BLM must be notified immediately (or as soon as access to a phone is made).  
  • The Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act requires that if inadvertent discovery of Native American Human Remains or Objects of Cultural Patrimony occurs, any activity must cease in the area of discovery, a reasonable effort made to protect the item(s) discovered, and immediate notice be made to the BLM Authorized Officer.