Family River Rafting Trips in UT & CO

Whitewater Rafting Trips for Families

Family river rafting trips are an opportunity to spend time with your loved ones in a place where life slows down. Leave the rush of the modern world behind and discover the power of the river to bring people together. It’s amazing what families can learn about each other without the distractions of soccer practice, television, homework, and smart phones. Holiday’s outdoor adventures allow you to get back to the basics.

Whether it’s a long weekend on the Colorado River near Moab, Utah, or a six-day expedition down the Main Salmon River in Idaho, each river and canyon offers a unique experience. On the San Juan River you’ll have the opportunity to marvel over the construction of 1,000-year-old cliff dwellings. If wildlife is your family’s thing, spy on big horn sheep as they graze along the banks of the Green River in Dinosaur National Monument, or look for black bears along Desolation Canyon. Above all, these trips provide the opportunity to feel and share a sense of wonder.

Children and parents alike will encounter new environments, people, and activities. Sharing new experiences together is what builds lifelong memories. Try paddling an inflatable kayak, invent a new beach game, or pick a water fight with your kids. Or maybe you did a river trip as a child, and now get to share the magic with your children or grandchildren! Our guides take care of meals and chores, leaving you free to play, talk, relax, and reconnect. As a family-owned company, Holiday understands what it means to create meaningful and memorable family river rafting trips. Let our family show yours what it means to be on river time.

Family Rafting PP
Ruby Westwater Bocce on the Beach

3 Day Intro to Overnight Rafting

Gorgeous canyon walls. Sandy beach playgrounds. And a gently flowing river. What more could you ask for? This trip eases you into overnight rafting. We were all beginners once; our guides remember this too. This trip is designed for families and young kids to embrace the outdoors together. Laugh and play together as we float through Ruby Horsethief. We’ll make sure you’re well fed and comfortable on the river and at camp, so all you have to worry about is, just how much fun can you have over three days?

Lodore Family Parent Page

4 Day Lodore Canyon

Lodore Canyon offers something for every member of your family: fun rapids, gorgeous scenery, abundant wildlife, fishing, waterfalls, fossils, and sandy beaches for play and relaxation. Four days of floating on the Green River through Lodore Canyon will leave you refreshed and your family bonds renewed.

Desolation Family Parent Page

5–6 Day Desolation Canyon

Desolation Canyon trips begin with a scenic flight to the remote put in, and then continue with five or six days of floating, relaxing, and exploring. Beginner and Intermediate-level whitewater makes this trip ideal for playing with inflatable kayaks. This family friendly river rafting trip in Utah offers plenty of kid-sized hikes, big sandy beaches for camping and sand castle–building, and is appropriate for children as young as 5 years old.

Westwater Kayak Duckys Dad Daughter

2–3 Day Westwater Canyon

An easy weekend trip for families looking for a quick adventure, our two- to three-day Westwater Canyon trips are the perfect outing. Start in Ruby-Horsethief Canyon where you can paddle an inflatable kayak or try out the SUP - can you fit your whole family on one?! Or, make it a two-day trip and get right into Westwater Canyon. Hit some easier rapids, or maybe even swim one. Finish your whirlwind trip strong with exciting class III-IV rapids on the last day! You’re sure to leave refreshed and with new family memories to look back on.

3–5 Day San Juan River

First-time rafters and families with young children will revel in the fast-moving water and fascinating archaeology of the San Juan River. Our three, four, and five-day trips run in May and June and offer endless opportunities for play. Explore side canyons with hidden pictograph panels, hike to a natural swimming pool, or enjoy a little time staring at the steep, limestone walls, making stories out of the shapes carved by the ages. Minimal whitewater makes the San Juan a great place to float and relax, or give an inflatable kayak a try.

Main Salmon River Throwing Rocks

5–6 Day Main Salmon

For families wanting something even more adventurous, the Main Salmon River in Idaho is an excellent option. This beautiful, alpine canyon features clear water and countless intermediate-level whitewater rapids. Stop along the way and soak in Barth Hot springs and visit Buckskin Bill’s cabin and other historic homesteads. Side-canyon hiking, fishing, stand-up paddle boards, and inflatable kayaks provide plenty of action on and off the river. Family rafting trips on the “The River of No Return” will leave you with lifelong memories.