jjj-

My "special place" for backpacking is in the Wasatch-Cache in northeastern Utah.  Lots of nice Alpine lakes (mostly cut-throat trout) up above 8,000 feet and even the passes rarely get above 11,000 ... and compared to other areas, relatively lightly used.  The northern side is called the Ashley National Forest and its my "go to" place when I need to see moose by the hand fulls.  I'll generally camp at about 10,000 feet, since it is mostly below the tree line.

Colorado is my second choice, but you need to generally prepared for more up and down and passes that will sometimes reach 13,000.  New Mexico is closer for me, so I done several trips there.  

I'll bet you rented an aluminum canoe ... they tend to have rounder bottoms and are consequently more "tippy."  You might try sitting in something like a Wenonah Champlain ... very flat bottom and very difficult to tip ... feels a bit like a barge.

dd