Utah River Rafting
The State of Utah is famous for its wild landscape and Utah river rafting is a sport that makes the most of the setting.
Utah river rafting is one of the major tourist attractions of the State. It is easy to understand this popularity when you consider the landscape of Utah and consider the almost unbelievable vistas. The major rafting rivers of Utah wind their way through the mountains and canyons of the State and provide a variety of different Class level runs. Utah provides something for every age and skill level on its three major rafting rivers.
There are three main rafting rivers in Utah. They are the Green River, the Colorado River, and the San Juan River. The Green River begins in the Flaming Gorge National Park and makes its way across the mountainous terrain until it joins the Colorado River at Canyonlands National Park. This run is through the extremely rugged areas of East Central Utah.
The Colorado River enters Utah at Westwater Canyon. This is a 17 mile run through rugged terrain and past steep black rock cliffs. The Canyon has 10 different areas of Class 3 and Class 4 rapids to make it exciting as well as scenic. The Colorado cuts across the Southeast corner of the State, but is by far the most popular river for rafting trips in the State. After it joins with the Green River in Canyonlands National Park, it shoots through Cataract Canyon which is another stretch of white water featuring Class 3 to Class 4 plus water.
The town of Moab located between the Green and Colorado Rivers is a major headquarters for rafting trips on either river. Its location on the edge of Canyonlands Park makes it an ideal jumping off and lodging spot. The third major Utah river rafting spot is the San Juan River in Southeastern Utah as well. The outfitters in Moab service this more peaceful, mostly flat river. The San Juan does have some areas with Class 1 and Class 2 rapids which make it idea for beginners or family outings.
It is, perhaps, the variety of difficulty and terrain that makes the rivers of Utah famous for river rafting. Southeastern Utah is one of the world’s most scenic areas. A true unspoiled wilderness that makes the perfect backdrop for your rafting adventure. The outfitters in the Moab area feature the best in equipment and the experienced guides that are so essential for a safe and enjoyable rafting trip.