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. . launch at Echo Park, taking a day or two to float 26 miles to Split Mountain. Vehicular access to this launch site is limited by a steep, primitive road leading into Echo Park from the Blue Mountain highland. Rainbow Park through Split Mountain Gorge is a very popular day use activity. River use, as it occurs in the monument, is actually a complex collection of visitor activities and experiences. The primary activity, recreational boating, varies according to the type of boats used and the nature of the group. Boats approved for use in th~ monument range from kavaks. soortvaks and dories to inflatable rafts up to 33 feet in length. Trips may be either commercial, organized and conducted by authorized National Park Service con- cessioners, or noncommercial, for people with the necessary skills and equipment to undertake a whitewater trip on their own. On most river trips, a few experienced individuals or commercial guides assume responsibility for organizing the trip and rowing the boats, while the remaining participants enjoy a more leisurely role. Other groups seek a participatory experience,with everyone sharing in rowing or paddling the boats and planning the day's activities. While traveling down the river, the visitor has an unexcelled oppor- tunity to observe and photograph outstanding scenery, wildlife, and historic and archeological sites. Hiking, fishing and swimming are also popular activities. Many trips have educational objectives and programs. A river trip offers an ideal setting for learning about and appreciating the environment and man's role within it. Overnight camping in the river canyons is an integral part of the river experience. Designated campsite~ with primitive facilities have been established along the rivers for use by boating parties. During the primary use season, each group is assigned to specific campsites. The designated campsites concentrate off-river activities within defined areas, limiting the amount of the canyon environment that is subject to adverse impacts from human use. The monument's boating season generally extends from April to October, although trips can be taken year-round. The most popular period is from mid-May through Labor Day weekend. The distribution of use through the week, the season and the canyons is uneven, causing crowding and congestion at certain periods and locations. Crowded conditions not only threaten the natural environment but diminish intangible values such as silence, solitude and wilderness. PLANNING INFLUENCES Legislation The most significant legislative mandate guiding the management of river use in the monument is the Act of 1916 establishing the " 4