LGBTQ+ Lodore Canyon Rafting Trip

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Holiday is partnering yet again with The Venture Out Project (TVOP) & inviting folks to join us for a LGBTQ+ Lodore Canyon rafting trip. TVOP brings their amazing facilitator staff, and Holiday guides bring their river expertise, including interpretation, trip logistics, food, and just about everything else! Enjoy delicious meals, class 3-4 whitewater & plenty of time to unwind and relax. This 4-day adventure is the perfect length and pace of a trip to disconnect from the “real world” & relax into a deeper sense of yourself and the natural world around you.  

Striking geologic features are layered in intimately narrow canyons throughout Dinosaur National Monument, the home of some of this country’s first and most significant political moments for wilderness preservation. After navigating Lodore Canyon, we’ll arrive at Echo Park, once fated to be underwater during the great dam wars of the 20th century. Floating down river we’ll move through Whirlpool Canyon, Island Park, and Split Mountain Gorge, each with unique character of their own; like all of us! These rivers have rich biodiversity and are are great places to spot big horn sheep, peregrine falcons, osprey, and bald eagles. And if that’s not enough, look up at night into a starry canopy evoking wonder and awe.

If you want to feel the comfort of enjoying such a treasured natural place within the context of a safe-er than usual space, come join us on this 4th round of LGBTQIA+ affinity trips.

*The Lodore LGBTQ+ canyon rafting trip is a trip intended for adults 18 years & older. If you have any questions regarding this or any of our affinity group trips don’t hesitate to call our administrative office & ask for Lauren!

We acknowledge the Indigenous inhabitants of Lodore. In an effort to end the erasure of the traditional inhabitants of the land through which we travel, Holiday acknowledges that Lodore Canyon is the homeland of the Eastern Shoshone people and the Núu-agha-tʉvʉ-pʉ̱ (Ute) people. We honor and respect these people, and continue to develop our land acknowledgment initiative. Read more here.
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Trip Overview

  • Type:

    Rafting

  • Location:

    Green River - Dinosaur National Monument

  • Length:

    4 Days

  • Dates:

    July 17-20, 2026

  • Meet at:

    Vernal, Utah @ 7:00 pm (night before the trip)

  • Difficulty:

    Intermediate

  • Min. Age:

    18

  • Prices:

    Sliding Scale
    + $12 park entrance fee

  • Deposit:

    400

Highlights

  • Intimate canyons lead you through a geologic time warp
  • Thrilling, technical Class III & IV whitewater
  • Fellow queer & trans soon-to-be friends
  • Wilderness rafting trip with fully catered amenities
  • Dive into the heart of Dinosaur National Monument
  • Blue-ribbon trout fishing
VIEW TRIP GALLERY
LGBTQ+ Lodore Canyon Rafting Trip
Insider’s Guide Things to Do FAQs Getting Here Before You Go Packing List

Rates & Dates

Itinerary

The Green River slips through the imposing Gates of Lodore, into the heart of Dinosaur National Monument in northwestern Colorado. The Green meets the Yampa River at Echo Park, then drops into Whirlpool Canyon and across the state line into Utah. It meanders through the idyllic Island Park, and then ducks into Split Mountain Canyon for eight more miles of rapids before washing up at the Split Mountain boat ramp.

 

Gates of Lodore river rafting trips

Sample Itinerary

Night Before

Meet for this affinity trip at our headquarters in Vernal, Utah at 7:00 p.m., Mountain Time, the night before your trip. There, Holiday guides will issue your waterproof bags and you can buy any last minute items from our accessories store at this time (see our packing checklist for a list of items you can find at our store).

Day 1

Get to know other trip participants on the three-hour drive from Vernal to the put in at Browns Park National Wildlife Refuge. Pass through the dramatic Gates of Lodore and watch the natural world transform around you. Winnie’s and Disaster Falls are the first major rapids we’ll navigate: a fun taste of what’s to come.

Day 2

The “Gates” mark the beginning of high desert country—the Colorado Plateau—in what is deemed an ecological transition-zone: a landscape teeming with wildlife. As the canyon narrows, more rapids emerge: Harp Falls, Triplet Falls, and Hell’s Half Mile. Hike at Rippling Brook and discover an intimate grotto waterfall.

Day 3

Converge at the confluence of the Green and Yampa rivers at Echo Park, the canyon widens and the river circles Steamboat Rock. After looping around the ‘boat’s’ nose, the river cuts through the dramatic Mitten Park Fault and enters Whirlpool Canyon. The afternoon may be spent at Jones Hole Creek, a world-class trout hot-spot with side canyon petroglyphs and waterfalls.

Day 4

Catch a few more rapids as you exit Whirlpool then enjoy a peaceful morning in Island and Rainbow parks before entering another massive gorge. The river’s powerful forces cut laterally through Split Mountain’s uplifted and colorful core. Run Moonshine, S.O.B., Schoolboy, and Inglesby rapids and slide into the take out at approximately 2:00 p.m. Our expected return to our headquarters is about 4:00 p.m.

Please remember, that this is a sample itinerary and may not be the exact trip you’ll experience. Lodore Canyon offers many options and each trip may feature different highlights. This is just one possible itinerary. Keep an open mind, go with the flow, and enjoy!

Split Mountain Lodore Trip

One of the best parts of a river trip is its flexibility. Weather, assigned campsites, river conditions, and countless other variables mean that every trip is different. This sample itinerary illustrates one possible four-day trip through Lodore Canyon.

F.A.Q.

Weather & Water

The Gates of Lodore trip is our coolest in terms of temperature. With tall, steep canyon walls and lush vegetation, shade is plentiful during the heat of the summer. For average year-round temperatures, check out Dinosaur National Monument’s website.

This trip features Class II-III whitewater with rapids evenly dispersed throughout each day. Being a dam-released stretch of river, the water here is cool and clear.

Boat Options

We typically run the Gates of Lodore in oar rafts, but a paddle boat could be used upon request for a group of six or more dedicated paddlers.

We bring inflatable kayaks on this stretch but not stand-up paddleboards.

Meals & Camping

All of the meals on the trip, from lunch on Day 1 to lunch on the final day, are prepared fresh on the river by your guides.

Our campsites on this trip are assigned to us by the park service. Each site on this stretch is scenic, pristine, and spacious, with most sites featuring a sandy beach and lush vegetation.

Packing

Check out our packing checklist here!

Trip Rating

This trip is considered to be beginner to intermediate.

Cancellation Policy

To see our full cancellation policy, head to our main FAQs page.

Reviews

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Holiday River Expeditions
Average rating:  
 6 reviews
 by Becker P

Michelle & Tilly were great, took such good care of all of us! I love that Holiday partners with TVOP for a trip experience where I can feel totally comfortable.

 by Jacob S

amazing trip, gorgeous landscape. Guides were incredible, did such a great job engaging with our queer affinity group and making us feel safe and affirmed! They had oodles of knowledge about the river, the history, indigenous peoples, and were specific and direct about sharing this information. Would absolutely come back 100 times!

 by Janet G

This was my second TVOP/Holiday river trip and I enjoyed every moment!

I loved it all~ the scenery, the Holiday Way, the excellent guides and the ways they took care of everything every moment of everyday.

 by Jill

I’ve done long-distance backpacking and several multi-day kayak and canoe trips but never been whitewater rafting or one a guided trip. This experience blew me out of the water (not literally, the guides made sure I stayed in the raft).
The entire trip had the vibe of an awesome summer camp: great activities, amazing scenery, wonderful company, and competent, friendly staff who always made sure you were comfortable and well-fed, and shared incredible knowledge of the Colorado Plateau and it’s’ challenging water management history.
I started the trip as a solo traveler and finished 5 days later with 25 new friends (including all the guides). I can’t wait to go again next year and my experience with Holiday has ignited in me such an interest in whitewater rafting and in exploring the rivers of the Plateau that I’m already planning my own multi-day (flat water) trip on the Green River this fall and a short guided class V trip up here in Alaska this summer to tide me over until I come back.

 by Emily Mearns

The guides were so wonderful and the food was amazing!

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