Founded in 1961 by Colorado River rafting pioneer Jack Currey, Western
River Expeditions is the largest licensed outfitter in the Grand Canyon
with 13,000 user-days, and the largest single tour provider in Moab, UT. Western River offers trips
through the natural wonders of Utah, Idaho and Colorado for adventurers
of all ages and levels.
Office Locations
Western River Expeditions is a nationally recognized outfitter headquartered
in Salt Lake City, Utah with operations and offices in Moab, Utah and
Fredonia, Arizona.
Annual Guests
Western services over 30,000 guests on trips each year through river vacations and the Moab Adventure Center.
Points of Departure
Western River currently has seven points of departure for its trips, depending
on which adventure you choose. They include:
Salt Lake City, Utah
Moab, Utah
Las Vegas, Nevada
Marble Canyon, Arizona
Stanley, Idaho
Boise, Idaho
Grand Junction, Colorado
Vacation Variety
Everything from day trips to week-long escapes, from everyday adventurer
to first-time fun-seekers, from extreme thrills to tame chills, from roughing
it in the elements to pampering at four-star resorts and spas.
Price Range and Duration
Fully-equipped, multiple-day expeditions are all inclusive in their prices. Some trips will have optional add-ons (such as flights and shuttles). All multi-day trips include transportation to the river, food (meals and snacks), drinks camping equipment, safety equipment and professional guide service. For a complete list of trips and prices, see our printable summary sheet:
Western’s Guides
Western’s staff includes over 60 licensed and professionally trained
guides, all with their own stories and experiences to share. Each Western
guide experiences nearly 300 hours of training before escorting his or
her first guest down the river. This training includes swift water rescue
certification, CPR and First Aid Certification, a state licensing test,
food handler's education, on-river cooking courses, geology and interpretation
classes, and Western's renowned custom guide-training program.
Western’s Fleet of Vessels
Western uses 4 different types of vessels to navigate the waters, including:
20 J-Rigs
25 Row Rafts
20 Paddle Boats
30 Inflatable kayaks
Western’s Special Hummers®
Western’s professional guides operate custom Hummer® vehicles
with raised seating in the rear for optimum passenger viewing. With 16
inches of ground clearance and an extremely low center of gravity, the
Hummer® can navigate virtually any terrain imaginable.
Moab Adventure Center
At Western's Moab Adventure Center, you can create your own experience
with as many half to full-day activities as you wish, plus stay in a comfortable
hotel each night. The center is your place for all the gear and souvenirs
for your trip too.
Season
Western River offers trips March through October on selected waterways.
Other activities
In addition to the best rafting vacations in the West, Western River offers
tours via Hummer, horseback, jet boat, 4x4, airplane and mountain bike.
Specialty Trips
Western offers trips for everyone and every group, including:
Women’s Adventure
Corporate Retreats
Group Trips
Western’s Culinary Arts
Western’s guides are not only trained in the outdoors and geography
of the area, they are also talented campfire cooks. Expect anything but
your normal camping food on trips with Western River. Look forward to
plates of steaming flapjacks, fresh fruit and scrambled eggs every morning
and tasty chicken and veggie wraps or perhaps chicken salad pitas as part
of Western's mid-day buffet. Dinner every night is different including
grilled chicken breasts, tender steaks, pasta, or fresh fish.
Reservations
Western River Expedition’s helpful reservations specialists are
available Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. MST at (801) 942-6669
or toll free at (866) 904-1160. You can also book
your trip online.