River Currents Blog

River Currents is a blog open to many voices that have had a connection with the river and our trips. You’ll hear the voice of veteran river-runner and Holiday founder Dee Holladay, the voice of guides whose lives have been shaped by their time on the river, and guests who bring the perspectives that remind us why we’re still making these trips happen 45 plus years later. You’ll also hear the voice of and stories through our regular blog contributors, Peta Owens-Liston and Julie Trevelyan.

Category Archives: Geology

Take a Family Rafting Trip Through Desolation Canyon This Year

Desolation Canyon on the Green River in Utah is the kind of place you read about in great literature. Spectacularly deep–deeper than the Grand Canyon in some places– and surrounded by more than a million acres of wilderness, “Deso” is isolated, but not desolate. For centuries, many cultures like the Ute Indians and Fremont Culture … Read more

Fisher Towers: A Unique Geological Structure That Awes Children

Holiday River offers a two and three day trip on the Colorado just upstream of Moab that takes rafters by the towering red rock Fisher Towers formation set against the green hues of the La Sal Mountains.  Children especially enjoy this trip with exhilarating Class I to Class III rapids set against a dramatic backdrop … Read more

One Step In Front of the Other—Hiking Your Way Through A River Trip

By  Peta Owens-Liston While cradled in a raft riding the flow of the river is not a bad way to commute through life’s natural wonders, at some point restlessness kicks in. If you are like me, the “active” part of a trip is as important as the company, the food, and the weather. That’s why … Read more

Trip of the Week: The Green River through Desolation Canyon, Where the Adventure Runs Deep

by Julie Trevelyan The Green River through Desolation Canyon “Desolation” usually conjures images of loneliness. However, Desolation Canyon is lonely in the best sense of the word: remote, uncrowded, and still untouched by the world. We think it’s a sweet river to run; so much so, in fact, that we have five great reasons river … Read more

Trip of the Week: The Family Friendly, San Juan River 3 & 4 days

by Julie Trevelyan San Juan River Rafting Floating down the San Juan River is a river rafting vacation made from sheer bliss. Family friendly rapids that are perfect for inflatable kayaking. Easy and accessible hiking to natural swimming pools and grottos. Follow the blue heron as you float through the famed Goosenecks. Explore and interpret … Read more

Trip of the Week: The Colorado River through Cataract Canyon

by Julie Trevelyan Rafting the Colorado River through Utah’s famous Cataract Canyon is the river rafting adventure of a lifetime for many people. Cataract Canyon, which swirls its way through the heart of beautiful Canyonlands National Park, is renowned for its tremendous whitewater rapids, gorgeous canyon walls that tower up to the incredible blue sky, … Read more

2012 Specialty Trip Line up: One-of-a-kind Rafting Adventures

Specialty, One-of-a-kind Rafting Adventures By Kenzie Comstock Holiday River Expeditions and their expert guides spun their knowledge about the best white water rafting into five specialty expeditions designed to awaken the senses and recharge the body. The Birding Field Trip starts the season off with and extended journey through Dinosuar National Monument down the Yampa … Read more

GREEN RIVER JOURNEY: DESOLATION AND GRAY CANYONS with CloudRidge Naturalists

GREEN RIVER JOURNEY: DESOLATION AND GRAY CANYONS May 27-June 2, 2012 7 Days/6 Nights Drs. Geoff Hammerson, Emmett Evanoff, Mike Scott, Ed Wick, and Steve Cassells Cutting a series of chasms in the 10,000-foot-high Tavaputs Plateau, the Green River forms a gorge deeper than the Grand Canyon at Bright Angel Creek. Desolation Canyon, first named … Read more

The Green River: Behold Its Majestic, Powerful Beauty

By Kenzie Comstock The Green River rafting trip is an ideal outdoor adventure for children ages five and up. This one-day trip spans a length of 12 miles, making it perfect for beginners. The Green River in Utah has ancient roots that stem to the Shoshone Indians. Once called the Prairie Hen River by the … Read more

Naturalist Corner : Stream Orchids

By Tim Sattelmeier Epipactis gigantean, sometimes called “stream orchid” is not really that big. Each bloom would fit nicely in the palm of my hand. This orchid would normally be found in very wet habitats rather than in the high desert of North Western Colorado in Dinosaur National Monument along the Yampa River. This particular … Read more