Explore the rivers and canyons of Utah and you'll come away transformed. That's what whitewater rafting in Utah is all about. There are not that many places in the world where you can drift on a river for days on end between seemingly endless canyon walls and experience whitewater rapids, hikes to lofty vistas and homestead hideouts abandoned by early settlers. It's not easy to cover all that territory unless of course you take the river route!
Moab, Utah is a breathtaking location where the Green and Colorado Rivers unite at "The Confluence," marking the start of Cataract Canyon. This area is situated in Canyonlands National Park and spans over 100 miles, with the Colorado River's power amplified by the Green River. The Cataract Classic 4-day expedition offers an exciting experience with class III-V whitewater rapids on the Colorado River, along with serene stretches of river winding through stunning canyons and awe-inspiring geological formations.
River Trip Length
100 miles
Meets/Returns
Moab, Utah
Minimum Age
12 years
Brace yourself for an exhilarating ride as you travel through the heart of Canyonlands National Park, surrounded by postcard-perfect vistas that will leave you dazzled around every bend in the river. The legendary Colorado River's 100-mile-long Cataract Canyon can be covered in just two days, perfect for thrill-seekers with a busy schedule. Cataract Canyon is home to nearly 30 world-class whitewater rapids, making it one of the best whitewater rafting trips in America.
River Trip Length
100 miles
Meets/Returns
Moab, Utah
Minimum Age
12 years
Desolation Canyon rafting is perfect for families with younger kids (5+). Enjoy five days of uninterrupted family time camping on broad beaches, surrounded by spectacular canyon scenery. Rafting down the Green River in Desolation Canyon is a natural bonding experience. Start your journey with a scenic flight from Moab, Utah to a dramatic desert plateau. Explore Utah's outlaw hideouts, dinosaur habitats, and Fremont Native American petroglyphs.
River Trip Length
88 miles
Meets/Returns
Moab, Utah
Minimum Age
5 years
Experience the best of Moab with this 4-day hassle-free vacation package! Includes a 2-night stay at Marriott SpringHill Suites with transportation provided from the hotel lobby to all activities. Enjoy the pool and red rock ambiance on day one, and on day two, explore Arches National Park on a guided tour. End the day with a thrilling 4x4 Sunset Hummer Safari. On day three, travel to the Colorado River for an overnight rafting trip. Perfect for families and first-timers, this is a quintessential Moab adventure. Book your ultimate getaway now!
River Trip Length
20 miles
Meets/Returns
Moab, Utah
Minimum Age
5 years
Request your complimentary Expedition Guide download for any rafting adventure. These comprehensive PDF guides include river maps, overview, full itineraries, camping and weather information, details on physical requirements, packing lists and more.
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Two of the West's mightiest rivers wind through dramatic sandstone cliffs of Utah, the Green River and Colorado River, creating the most stunning whitewater rafting destinations in Utah. All rafting trips depart from Moab, Utah, often named "The Adventure Capital of the World."
With Moab, Utah, as your hub, many white water rafting possibilities present themselves.
If you are looking for an introduction to whitewater rafting, the half-day and full-day options on the Colorado River, often referred to as the "Fisher Towers" section or "Castle Valley," are excellent choices. You can even include an overnight rafting experience on this section of the river with our "Southwest Sampler" vacation package- which serves as a great introduction to camping for one of the three nights.
The 5-day Desolation Canyon trip on the Green River is also an excellent introduction to white water rafting. Green River Utah white water rafting is especially popular among families with younger children and teens. The journey begins with a scenic flight over the remote cliffs of eastern Utah and then spend the next five days floating back toward Moab, where more play awaits.
Perhaps the 4-day Cataract Canyon Classic is the most popular Moab raft trip. One hundred miles of Colorado River through Canyonlands National Park - with time to explore petroglyphs, stunning scenery, and some of North America's wildest rapids, this trip is becoming more well-known yearly. This is the very best white water rafting in Utah's National Parks. Your visit to Moab can easily include visiting nearby Arches National Park.
The 2-Day Cataract Express trip offers an overnight camping experience to 100 miles of the Colorado River through Canyonlands National Park.
If you are pressed for time but want a great Utah whitewater rafting thrill, the Westwater Canyon one-day trip is among the best whitewater adventures.
Moab, Utah, offers a surprisingly wide variety of whitewater rafting possibilities. If you are rafting in Utah for the first time, you may want to explore half-day and full-day options on the Colorado River, also known as Fisher Towers or Castle Valley. You can even include an overnight rafting experience on this section of the river with the "Southwest Sampler" vacation package. The Westwater Canyon one-day trip is considered one of the best whitewater romps in the U.S. The 2-day Cataract Express trip offers an overnight camping experience to 100 miles of Colorado River through Canyonlands National Park.
Canyonlands is a popular spot for Moab raft trips, particularly the 4-day Cataract Canyon Classic journey. This covers 100 miles of the Colorado River while allowing travelers time to take in the stunning scenery and explore the petroglyphs along some of North America's wildest rapids. You can even carve out time to visit nearby Arches National Park to take in the majestic red rocks. If you're going whitewater rafting with the family, the 5-day Desolation Canyon trip on the Green River is very popular with families with younger children and teens. This journey begins with a scenic flight over the remote cliffs of Eastern Utah, followed by five days floating back toward Moab.
Park City is the poster child for northern Utah's snow and mountain terrain as Moab is for southern Utah's stunning red-rock majesty. Why not combine both landscapes into your vacation itinerary? A flight to Salt Lake International drops you just an hour from Park City's lofty alpine air, where you can explore ski-town shops with loads of mining history. Recreational opportunities abound nearby in the summer months, but to be frank, the nearby choices for river rafting may leave you feeling less excited about your adventure. The Weber River offers a few Class I-II rapids, and the Provo River will provide nothing more than Class II whitewater. The mountain scenery here is classic Rocky Mountain majesty, but you might enjoy a Fly Fishing excursion here or a day at the world-class Spas more than the rafting in northern Utah.
Our recommendation? Do Park City for a few days, then make the scenic 4-hour drive south to Moab for a few days of world-class white water rafting adventure. Many options are available to you, from one day to half a day or up to five days. Check off two of Utah's five National Parks while in Moab.
Vernal, Utah, is about two-and-a-half hours from Park City and holds a few options, such as the Gates of Lodore on the Green River and a few day-trip options below Flaming Gorge Reservoir.
There is a river that runs through Zion National Park, but it's more for hiking and less for rafting. Rafting the Virgin River is something you might be able to do two weeks out of the year, and even then, not within Zion National Park. Your time in Zion National Park and this part of southern Utah is much better spent hiking the Virgin River Narrows, or overlooking nearby Bryce Canyon National Park. Kanab, Utah and St. George, Utah are roughly an hour to the east and west of Zion and the gateway town of Springdale, respectively. There are no other rafting options in these otherwise charming southern Utah towns.
About two and a half hours north of Zion, in Marysvale, Utah the Sevier river runs flush enough to provide class II-III rapids for a 2 hour jaunt.
