Cataract Canyon 3 Day

Class IV to Class V $955 Adult & $855 Youth

On this popular three day Cataract Canyon expedition we travel the Colorado River by row boat. There is a sense of freedom as you hop aboard the raft and let Canyonlands National Park take over. Rafting the Colorado beneath 2000 feet of red rock is an adventure with remote wilderness and outstanding whitewater.

We begin our journey on the tranquil meandering waters just outside of Moab, Utah. Guides introduce you to your new surroundings as we float under Dead Horse Point. Some take photos, while others jump in the river to cool off. Optional interpretive hikes explore archeological ruins and magnificent side canyons. Well versed in the natural and human history of the canyon, guides share stories as you motor along the Colorado River.

As shadows march across the canyon walls we camp on one of the river's sandy beaches. You can relax and enjoy the sunset as your guides cook a hearty western-style meal over an open fire. After dinner look for dessert to be baked in a dutch oven. Enjoy solitude, beauty, and the soothing sound of a living river as day turns to night.

We start day two with a hot cup of coffee and a hearty breakfast. Then it’s time to load the boats and head down stream with the help of our small outboard engine. Peregrine falcons dive from the sheer cliffs, great blue herons fish the eddies, and river otters play in the currents. We pass the confluence of the Green and Colorado Rivers. The volume of the river doubles and the rapids of Cataract Canyon lie ahead. This is the heart of canyon country!

In May and June spring run-off from the Rocky Mountains creates some of the best whitewater in North America. In the summer and fall the rapids are smaller, but still thrilling. Our row boats provide an excellent ride and great fun though the whitewater.

We navigate such legendary rapids as Mile Long, Ben Hurt, and Hell to Pay, before arriving at the granddaddy of them all -- the Big Drops. The boatmen pull hard on the oars as they row past little Niagara and Satan’s Gut, major white water features. After an action-packed day of river running we arrive at our final camp. High fives end the campfire stories that are retold over and over while we eat another delicious meal.

The last day of our journey we finish the rapids and motor across Lake Powell. We spend the day exploring side canyons and lounging around the boat. The canyon opens up at Hite Marina where our river adventure ends. Here many of our guests opt to take the scenic flight back over Canyonlands and Cataract Canyon to Moab, describing their 45-minute journey as the "icing on the cake". Prices and timetables for the return options are listed below.

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Trip Details:

Your three-day Cataract Canyon expedition departs 8:00 AM from the NAVTEC office in Moab. Please arrive at our office 15 minutes early to check-in. We'll shuttle by van to the put in at Potash and hit the Colorado River by 9:00am. We arrive at Hite Marina at about 4:00 pm on day three. Three day Cataract Canyon trips operate March through October. Contact us for charter trips or special dates. Reservations recommended, certain trip minimums apply.