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Whitewater & Calmwater Rafting

The river shows you what the road can't.

Most of the impressive canyon views in the Moab region were carved over millions of years by two rivers: the Colorado River, which cuts through the town of Moab, and the Green River, which meets the Colorado in Canyonlands National Park. The rivers here define the views — and often become the highlight of a hot summer day, when the only thing you want to do to cool off is get on the water. 

There are a few different levels of river trips accessible from Moab, from easy, half-day flatwater floats you could take a paddleboard on, to multi-day, guided whitewater-focused rafting trips. Go with a guide: rafting guides know the water better than anyone, and have funny stories to boot.

If you’re organizing a private trip, you will need a permit. Permitting regulations can be found on the BLM and National Park Service websites.

 

 

Recommended Whitewater Trips

Riverrafting Moab Daily - Colorado River

The Daily

A morning or afternoon trip on the popular 13-mile Moab Daily section of the Colorado River offers an experience suitable for everyone from children to seniors willing to get their feet wet. These relaxing trips are perfect for photographers, families or a group of friends looking to move at a slow pace and take in some of the most spectacular scenery in the United States. Everyone needs to see this area at least once in their lives.

Depending on water levels, rapids on this section range from easy, fast-moving water with small waves and easily avoidable obstacles to an advanced beginner level that requires rowing skills and maneuvering.

Westwater Canyon

For more of a challenge, consider dedicating one or more days to rafting through Westwater Canyon. Westwater is the first whitewater stretch on the Colorado River in Utah and, at 17-miles long, includes the famous Skull and other Class IV rapids, early western outlaw history and the oldest exposed rock on earth. The pink and black Precambrian rock you’ll pass is more than 1.2 billion years old and can only be seen in just a few places on Earth

 

Cataract Canyon

If you’re ready for high adventure, head to Cataract Canyon for a multi-day trip. This 100-mile stretch features stunning canyons, challenging whitewater rapids, and endless opportunities for hiking and exploring. Here, you’ll sleep on pristine beaches as if you’re the only person in the world. The canyon is formed after the Green and Colorado rivers combine, doubling in force and carving a deep chasm through Canyonlands National Park, including 14 miles of rapids and the three, world-famous Big Drops.

 

Go With a Guide!

We don't recommend self-led trips on the river unless you own your own gear and you've been here before. But anyone can get on the river with a local guide, who will take care of all the logistics, keep you safe, and point out true hidden gems.

Colorado River

The Best Time of Year to Raft in Moab

The seasons influence the water level in the rivers, but rafting in Moab is fantastic at any water level. If you’re looking for big water, you’ll find it from late May to early June, when winter snow starts melting off. If you’re looking for more relaxed floats with opportunities to swim, consider later summer. CFS-enthusiasts (cubic feet per second — the volume of water passing a fixed point each second), can look at the USGS water gauge 09180500, “Colorado River Near Cisco, UT.”