Pompe ‘n Honey on the Green River

The Gates of Lodore emerge from the Earth in dramatic fashion about 50 miles downstream of the Flaming Gorge Dam, guarding the entrance to one of the most beautiful canyons on the Green River. Steep red walls dotted with green pines and tall firs envelope you as you float through riffles and waves, clear water splashing over the sides of your boat. The river weaves its way around large boulders, past beautiful sandy beaches, and through some of the most fun rapids of the West. Bighorn sheep, osprey, eagles, and other wildlife find the lushness of Lodore an ideal home.

Deep in the heart of Dinosaur National Monument in northwestern Colorado and northeastern Utah, Lodore Canyon rafting trips are great for families and first-time river runners. It’s an especially relaxing trip, with easy days on the water and plenty of time for hiking as well as playing and relaxing on the beautiful sandy beach camps. The hikes here are accessible to most and rewarding to all. Spend time reconnecting with your friends and family, or make new friends!

The only thing that could make a trip like this even better would be if the canyon were turned into an amphitheater by a band of professional musicians for a concert just for you. Fortunately, we’re here to make that dream a reality! This year, musical guests, Pompe ‘n Honey, accompany us on a four-day Gates of Lodore trip, Aug 31- September 3. Pack your dancing shoes! Pompe ‘n Honey is a local SLC swing band with a sound that evokes both smoky jazz clubs and dusty Texas hoedowns – perfect for nights on the river.

About Pompe ‘n Honey:

Pompe n’ Honey is a tightly knit acoustic swing band out of Salt Lake City that came together over a love of obscure, early 20th-century swing and folk music. Breaking down the wall between high-brow sophistication and raw artistic expression, they are comfort food for your ears. Specializing in classic country swing and gypsy jazz, Pompe n’ Honey plays a healthy dose of original tunes, American Songbook standards, and quirky pop covers to make a dynamic and positively toe-tapping good time. Be ready for banjos, guitars, dobros, fiddles, basses, salty solos, tasty harmonies, and an irresistible urge to boogie!

listen to Pompe ‘n Honey’s album on Spotify: Desert Moon

Vernal, Utah: Things to Do and Places to Explore

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.

Book This Trip

Trip Overview

Type:
Music
Location:
Green River - Dinosaur National Monument
Length:
4 Days
Dates:
Aug 31 - Sept 3
Meet at:
Vernal, Utah @ 7:00 p.m. the night before the trip
Difficulty:
Intermediate
Min. Age:
8
Deposit:
400

Highlights

Raft through a dramatic & beautiful narrow canyon
Enjoy starlit night skies in this Gold Tier Dark Sky park
Blend a grand adventure with foot stompin' music
Professionally guided trip with delicious meals
Spot wildlife around every bend in the river corridor
Explore and hike in the side canyons

Getting Here Before You Go Packing List FAQs

Rates & Dates

Itinerary

In northwestern Colorado, the Green River passes through the spectacular Gates of Lodore, into the depths of Dinosaur National Monument. After splashy rapids and stunning scenery, the Green meets the Yampa River at Echo Park, then drops into Whirlpool Canyon before crossing the state line into Utah. It meanders through the serene calm of Island Park, and finally drops into Split Mountain for an eight mile grand finale of rapids before finishing up at the Split Mountain boat ramp, our final take out point.

Sample Itinerary

Meet your party at our headquarters in Vernal, Utah, the night before your trip at 7:00 p.m., Mountain Time for a brief pre-trip orientation. Pick up your waterproof bags, drop off personal drinks, and ask any pertinent questions about your trip. You can also purchase any last minute items from our accessories store at that time (see our packing checklist for a list of items you will find at our store).

Day 1:

Meet back at our Vernal headquarters bright and early for the scenic three-hour drive to the put in at Browns Park National Wildlife Refuge. Our trip begins about 50-miles downstream from Flaming Gorge Dam; the water here is crystal clear and inviting. Shortly after we float away from the put in, we’ll pass through the Gates of Lodore – welcome to one of Utah’s hidden gems! You won’t know where to settle your gaze – the green water below you, or the stunning red walls surrounding you. Stop for your first lunch on the river, and then we’ll prepare for our first major rapid of the trip. A brief scout above the rapid, gives way to screams of delight as the waves hit the top of the raft. We’ll pull over shortly afterwards to make camp for the evening. Bask on the soft sand, nap, or take a short exploratory hike before dinner is served. Spend the evening marveling at what live bluegrass sounds like in this slide of paradise.

Day 2:

Wake with the sun as it traces the canyon walls with its light. Enjoy an easy morning and delicious breakfast before setting out for the day. As the canyon narrows, more rapids emerge: Harp Falls, Triplet Falls, and Hell’s Half Mile. Although a shorter river mileage day, adventure beckons at every river bend. From camp, hike at Rippling Brook and discover a secluded waterfall, and possibly a scenic overlook perfect for The Pickpockets next performance!

Day 3:

Take in the spectacular geology, including the Mitten Park Fault, before reaching the confluence of the Green and Yampa rivers at Echo Park. Here, the canyon widens and the river circles around Steamboat Rock and into Whirlpool Canyon. Spend the afternoon hiking Jones Hole Creek, a true desert oasis with a clear stream, lush vegetation, side canyon petroglyphs, and a waterfall. Relax into camp for one final dinner and show.

Day 4:

Enjoy a peaceful morning in Island and Rainbow parks before floating into yet another massive gorge. The Green’s powerful forces cut laterally through Split Mountain’s uplifted and colorful core, exposing more breathtaking geology. Run Moonshine, S.O.B., Schoolboy, and Inglesby rapids, arriving at the take out at approximately 3:00 p.m. Our expected time of arrival back at our headquarters is about 4:00 p.m.

Please keep in mind – this is a sample itinerary and may not match the exact trip you’ll experience. Lodore Canyon offers numerous options and each trip may feature different highlights. This is just one possibility. Keep an open mind, be flexible, go with the flow, and enjoy!

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