Utah River Rafting Adventures
Once only famous for winter attractions such as skiing, Utah is becoming increasingly popular as a summer travel destination as well. With a number of lakes and miles of river, all types of water activities are available to fill the spring and summer months. Some rivers flow peacefully through the beautiful Utah landscape and are perfect for relaxing rafting trips, while others feature turbulent white water rapids that are sure to get people’s hearts pumping. Whether you are looking for a lazy day on the river or a fast-paced trip through the rapids, some of the most popular rivers in Utah are the Colorado, the Green, and the San Juan.
The section of the Colorado River that flows through Utah travels through the beautiful Westwater and Cataract Canyons. The Westwater Canyon is the perfect spot for a one day river rafting trip. During the trip you have the opportunity to pull onto the beach and enjoy a quick hike to see historic cabins, mysterious caves, and amazing Indian petroglyphs. This seventeen mile stretch of the Colorado River features exciting Class III and IV rapids and is an exciting and challenging adventure the entire family will love. The trip through Cataract Canyon is perfect for a multi-day adventure and is loved by experienced rafters. This one hundred and twelve mile stretch of the Colorado River boasts Class III, IV, and IV+ rapids and it is most popular from late May through June.
The Green River begins its journey at the Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area and travels through some of Utah’s most remote and rugged landscape before joining the Colorado River at Canyonlands National Park. With several sections of the Green River available for rafting, adventurers of all levels and ages are sure to find what they are looking for. The Green River Daily is a nine mile stretch perfect for beginning rafters or those looking for a quick trip down the river. Trips can take anywhere from half a day to a full day and the rapids only reach Class III when the river is at its highest. Rafting trips through Labyrinth and Stillwater Canyons are perfect for those who wish to skip the rapids entirely and explore the beautiful red rock canyons. The section of the Green River that runs through Desolation Canyon is ideal for families with young children. This section features over sixty rapids most of which are Class I and Class II. During months with high rainfall, there can be one or two Class III rapids as well. While passing through the canyon you are able to stop at inviting white sand beaches and take time to explore homesteads abandoned long ago by early settlers.
The San Juan River in Utah offers exciting one and multi-day trips. The one day section of the San Juan River is twenty seven miles long and features mild rapids. More exciting than the rapids, however, are the random sand waves that are sure to add thrills to any trip. Multi-day trips down the San Juan River can last anywhere from two to seven days and are customizable based on the interests of each particular group. During the day you will raft and hike and at night you will pull onto one of the river’s sandy beaches to camp.