Immerse yourself completely in the wilderness, floating leisurely through Canyonlands National Park. Travel in oar-powered silence beneath towering, magnificent canyons, and run the legendary rapids named by the pioneer river runners who first ventured through Cataract Canyon over a century ago. Five days on the Colorado River is the perfect escape to recharge your batteries and renew your appreciation for the natural world.

Trip Details

DURATION: 5 Days

Our journey begins with a brief orientation on the banks of the Colorado, where guides cover safety, boat operations, and the trip agenda. With questions answered, we load the boats, untie the lines, and shove off, heading downstream on the legendary Colorado.

Days aboard the rowboat are wonderfully casual. Listen to canyon wrens whistle a tune as the boatmen expertly dip their oars into the water. This trip offers ample time for optional foot exploration of dramatic side canyons, observation of wildlife, discovery of ancestral Puebloan dwellings, and the wonders of the “Dollhouse” in the Maze district of Canyonlands, this was one of the layover camps for Butch Cassidy and the Wild Bunch as they evaded the law.

As the day concludes, we find a sandy beach to establish our comfortable camp. Relax completely while guides prepare a hearty, western-style meal from fresh ingredients, showcasing the culinary expertise of a campfire cook. Under a vast canopy of stars, the sound of the free-flowing Colorado River creates a perfectly peaceful and meditative mood.

Fifty miles downstream, the Colorado doubles in volume as it magically joins the Green River. Just below this powerful Confluence lies the famed, electrifying whitewater of Cataract Canyon!

The rapids are most challenging and colossal during May and June when Rocky Mountain snowmelt feeds the river. After July, the water level drops, making the rapids smaller but still exciting and thrilling. Our rowboats provide an excellent, classic ride through all the whitewater.

Thirty rapids cascade down the jagged cliffs. Rapid Number One, "Brown Betty," was named after a boat lost during an 1889 expedition. Others like the North Seas, Capsize, and Ben Hurt all hold a piece of river running history, but none are as notorious as the Big Drops. The sheer thrill of shooting these rapids as the boatmen pull hard on the oars is an unforgettable experience.

After an action-packed day of whitewater, we start our scenic journey through the final stretch of the river to arrive at North Wash take out, just at the top of Lake Powell. Here, many of our guests opt for the breathtaking scenic flight back over Canyonlands to Moab, describing the 45-minute journey as the "icing on the cake."