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 from our regular blog contributors, Peta Owens-Liston, Joe Ballent, Derek Farr & Julie Trevelyan.

Category Archives: John Wesley Powell

River Currents Blog: Fun and Fabulous Boat Names: A History, Part I

by Julie K. Trevelyan Holiday River Expeditions’ boats have some great names.  You might wonder where they all come from. After all, what exactly is an Unktehila? Who was The Major, and why does he rate having a boat named in his honor? All of these questions are exactly the reason founder Dee Holladay decided … Read more

River Currents Blog: A Little History Lesson on Lodore Canyon

By Kenzie Comstock The History of Lodore Canyon During the summer of 1869, John Wesley Powell led the Powell Geographic Expedition into the areas of the Green and Colorado rivers. This was a groundbreaking expedition and the first known passage into the Grand Canyon. The expedition endured great hardships and grave dangers during their three-month trek in … Read more

Disconnecting from the Screens And Connecting by Finding Family Time on the River

By Peta Owens-Liston So did you miss it? I asked my son Jackson as his thumbs worked his IPad in some video micro-world made for short attention spans. “No, not really,” replied my 11-year-old. “Actually, I didn’t even think about my IPad when we were on the river.” It was the morning after our Cataract … Read more

Our Commitment to the Environment

Holiday River Expeditions from the beginning has been active in promoting environmentally sensitive business practices. We are constantly striving to raise the bar on what we expect from ourselves as expedition operators in the wilderness as well as in our operations at the office and in the warehouse. Our commitment to the environment has been … Read more

Top 5 Exciting Rafting Adventures for Families

By Kenzie Comstock Holiday River Expeditions lists the top 5  family river rafting vacations.  We all know that kids love to go to Disneyland but if they’ll love going on a family rafting trip just as much if not more.  You’ll get to spend all of your time together instead of having to branch off … 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 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

Trip of the Week: The Colorado River through Westwater Canyon

by Julie Trevelyan Colorado River Rafting through Westwater Canyon Rafting the Colorado River through Utah’s Westwater Canyon is a short but super memorable rafting vacation of a lifetime. Big water, gorgeous desert canyon walls, possible wildlife sightings such as bald eagles and ravens and maybe even river otters, and a tight three-day schedule all make … 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

Things to Do Around Green River, Utah

by Julie Trevelyan You’re heading to our Green River headquarters to embark on a sweet river rafting vacation—maybe Desolation Canyon, or Westwater Canyon. Or you just finished up your Utah whitewater rafting adventure and have some more vacation days at your disposal. Either way, you’re looking for a little more to do and want to … Read more