Smokey Knowlton is a life long recreational boating enthusiast. In the late 1940's Smokey began a love affair with the Colorado River that continues to this day. Generations of residents and visitors on the Lower Colorado River have benefited from Smokey's extensive knowledge of the rivers waterways and history.

Smokey's boating background began with his family in Southern California. Family fishing & boating trips on the inland waters near the family homestead in La Habra Heights were a regular occurrence. When the family discovered the delights of the Lower Colorado River, their explorations were often in boats that had been built by Smokey. Smokey later helped open and then operated the marina at Martinez Lake near Yuma Arizona, living there for several years.

Moving back to Southern California, Smokey worked at various boat shops in the La Habra area. In 1968 he became the owner of Boatland in West Covina. With Boatland, Smokey was able to share his love of boating with thousands of customers at the boat shop and boat shows throughout the area. Family vacations and weekend trips to Martinez Lake and other nearby waterways continued when time away from the boat shop could be found.

In 1974 Smokey decided that he could no longer limit his family adventures to weekends and the occasional vacation. With his children approaching adulthood, he could no longer wait to embark on the trips of his dreams. For the next 6 years, Smokey and his family traveled over 20,000 miles in small boats. Realizing that few would be able to duplicate his journeys, he kept extensive notes of his trips, so that he could later document and publish his stories for others to enjoy.

In early 1975 Smokey started his adventures by exploring the coastal waterways and islands of Southern California in a 9 year old 22 foot patched up cabin cruiser. As a result of the extensive one month long trip, he published a journal with the title of "Patches" to honor the name of their boat.

The following year saw a 3 month trip of the entire 1450 miles of the Colorado River. Three 8 foot long "Sport Yaks" were the watercraft chosen for this trip. Traveling from the headwaters in the Rocky Mountains to the mouth of the river in Mexico, Smokey and his family experienced the glory that is the Colorado River. The publication "River Love" documented this trip of a life time.

In 1977 Smokey decided to visit his brother who lived in Alaska. While most people would fly on a jetliner or drive the Alaska Highway in order to see the "Great State", Smokey had a different plan. "Harbor Hopper", an 18 foot fiberglass pleasure boat powered by a outboard motor was his method of travel. Smokey and his family leisurely explored the waters of the west coast beginning their trip at the U.S./Mexican border and arriving at Haines Alaska two months later.

In 1978 Smokey wanted to continue his travels in "Harbor Hopper" but the boat was still in Alaska. Working against a deadline, Smokey completed the trip from Haines back to Long Beach in less than a month.

With "Harbor Hopper" back at home in La Habra Heights, plans to further voyage the coastal waters of the United States and Mexico began. In 1979 Smokey began another adventure. Traveling south in "Harbor Hopper", including a harrowing crossing of the Sea of Cortez, Smokey and family toured the west coast of Mexico. After a crossing by railway to east coast of Mexico, the journey north began. Following the Intercoastal Waterway north the trip continued to Florida with a side trip to the Bahamas along the Way.

After wintering in Florida, "Harbor Hopper" was again launched in 1980. This time the trip was along the east coast to New York City. Entering the Hudson River the family journeyed to the Erie Canal, continuing west through the Great Lakes to Chicago. They they entered the Illinois River system for the trip to the Mississippi River. Smokey and crew then went up the Missouri River to the Continental Divide. Crossing the mountains on a makeshift trailer, they then entered the Salmon River traveling to the Snake River. From the Snake River they entered the Columbia River for the trip to the Pacific Ocean. This completed the trip in which Smokey has circumnavigated all the Continental United States as well as Mexico.

After years of exploring the waterways and researching the history of the lower Colorado River in 1987 Smokey and his son Ron began Yuma River Tours. As a captain of the many craft operated by the business, Smokey further shared his knowledge and love of the Colorado River with thousands of passengers before retiring.

Smokey has been instrumental in organizing every Yuma to Blythe "Reverse River Run" since the inception in 1989. This event occurs each October and its goal is to remove trash and cleanup that stretch of the Colorado River.