Whitewater Rafting Trips

Multi-day Whitewater Rafting Trips

River rafting trips through the canyons of the Colorado Plateau are the ultimate experience. The rivers of the West are ribbons of green, slowly carving their way through ancient rock. They bring life to everything they touch—and that means you, too!

The moment your boat pushes off from shore you are entering a world unseen by most humans. This is wilderness at its best – inaccessible except for a few rugged trails and, of course, the river. Holiday takes you into the best river canyons in the West, and does it without motors. We’ll row you downstream, moving at the pace of the river, preserving the peace and quiet of these wilderness areas.

Explore the upper Green River where it flows through Dinosaur National Monument. Experience the wild Yampa River or visit old homesteads deep within Desolation Canyon. Camp among Westwater Canyon’s billion-year-old black rocks. Face the power of the Colorado River through Cataract Canyon in the heart of Canyonlands National Park. Marvel at ancient ruins while floating the San Juan River. Our guides are the best-trained interpreters in the business. They’ll regale you with the stories that bring these places to life. They’ll also prepare three delicious meals a day: steak and salmon on a sandy beach in the middle of nowhere? You betcha!

River rafting trips don’t get any better than this. Below you’ll find a list of the trips we offer. With so many amazing trips, it can be hard to know where to start – feel free to call our office for advice on choosing the perfect trip for you.

Whitewater Rafting Yampa Overlook
Desolation Canyon Inflatable Kayakers in Whitewater Rapids

5–6 Day Desolation Canyon

UTAH: The Tavaputs Plateau and the Green River through Desolation Canyon are among the most remote areas of the continental United States, but a river rafting trip reveals a landscape that is anything but desolate. Teeming with wildlife, Desolation Canyon is also a riparian oasis with groves of cottonwood trees shading white, sandy beaches. With playful, intermediate whitewater, Desolation Canyon is a perfect place to try out inflatable kayaking; it’s where we hold our whitewater kayaking workshop in late summer. Meet for this trip at our headquarters in the town of Green River, Utah, where you’ll board a small plane for the flight to the put in: an added airborne adventure before the river adventure!

Cataract Canyon Boat on Colorado River

5–6 Day Cataract Canyon

UTAH: The legendary Colorado River flows through Utah’s Canyonlands National Park via the infamous Cataract Canyon. Our motor-less rafts offer a relaxing way to visit stunning side canyons, grottos, waterfalls, and Ancestral Puebloan ruins that are otherwise inaccessible. With a mellow start to the trip, the opportunity to use a stand-up paddle board or inflatable kayak for the first few days is a highlight - and a great way to stay cool! This river rafting vacation provides the most vivid contrast between serene tranquility and all-out adventure. Spend your first few days soaking in the supreme peace and quiet of the river, then hold on for 30+ big ones! The Big Drops and the rest of the whitewater rapids of this notorious Colorado River canyon never disappoint! Meet us for this trip at our headquarters in the town of Green River, Utah.

Colorado River Rafting through Westwater Canyon

2–3 Day Westwater Canyon

COLORADO–UTAH: Floating the Colorado River through Westwater Canyon is a perfect introduction to a multi-day rafting trip. Choose a two- or three-day trip for a fast getaway. Calm water early in the trip provides a scenic playground for stand-up paddle boards and inflatable kayaks; enter an ancient black rock canyon on day three for Class III–IV whitewater excitement! Meet for this trip at our headquarters in Green River, Utah.

Lodore Canyon Boats at Camp Scenery

4 Day Lodore Canyon

COLORADO–UTAH: Lodore Canyon is the jewel of the Green River: narrow red walls encase lush vegetation, secret waterfalls, white sandy beaches, and archaeological sites. Navigate legendary rapids such as Disaster Falls and Hell’s Half Mile, and sleep under the stars of an International Dark Sky Park. Hiking is a highlight of this trip. Begin in northwestern Colorado and cross into Utah on day three. Meet at our Vernal, Utah, headquarters.

Green River Split Mountain Geology Yampa River Trip

4–5 Day Yampa River

COLORADO–UTAH: The Yampa is WILD. The last un-dammed river in the Colorado River system, the Yampa remains the standard bearer for an authentic wilderness experience. Natural flood cycles contribute to a robust ecosystem and provide some of the best early season white water rafting in the Intermountain West. The Yampa River begins in Colorado and flows into Utah’s Green River in the heart of Dinosaur National Monument. Meet for this trip at our headquarters in Vernal, Utah.

San Juan Whitewater Rapids Doc Sarvis Raft

3–5 Day San Juan River

UTAH: The San Juan River is one of the fastest-moving rivers in the United States, dropping an average of eight feet per mile. Sandstone and limestone walls frame the narrow canyon as the river snakes through the countless goosenecks for which it is famous. The river forms much of the northern border of the present day Navajo Nation; archaeological artifacts, rock art, and other sacred sites testify to the presence of human beings in the river corridor and the greater Four Corners area for thousands of years. Experience the San Juan River in one of three ways: see the upper canyon in three days, the lower canyon in four days, or the whole thing in five. Longer trips are available for custom private charter groups for maximum exploring! San Juan trips meet in either Blanding or Bluff, Utah.

Colorado River Fisher Towers Slideshow 2

2 Day Fisher Towers Youth Trip

UTAH: Situated close to Moab, our Fisher Towers trips are ideal for daily or single night youth trips. These trips are available June-August to book as private, charter youth trips for groups of 12 or more. Offering predominantly gentle class I and II whitewater and delightful scenery, this trip is well suited for inflatable kayaks for kids to play in!

Main Salmon Music on the River Camping Trip

5–6 Day Main Salmon River

IDAHO: The Main Salmon River is The River of No Return! Despite the ominous name, this premier whitewater rafting trip is a great choice for the active family or adventure seeker. The Main Salmon River trip offers great whitewater in late June, July, and August. Sleep out on big, sandy, beach campsites and visit historic homesteads that once belonged to the likes of Polly Bemis and Buckskin Bill. Camping, hiking, wildlife viewing, paddle rafts, and stand-up paddleboards just add to the experience. Meet for this trip in Salmon, Idaho.

Middle Fork Salmon River Paddle Boat Under Rock Inflatable kayak

5–6 Middle Fork of the Salmon River

IDAHO: The Middle Fork of the Salmon River in Idaho is one of the foremost whitewater rafting trips in the U.S.. The Middle Fork trip offers 100 miles of Wild and Scenic, free-flowing river magic, smack in the middle of the largest wilderness area in the contiguous United States. It has natural hot springs, blue ribbon trout fishing, and too many rapids to count! The Middle Fork of the Salmon is unspoiled, remote, and roadless, a sure bet if you want to get away from it all. This Idaho adventure sells out fast so, plan ahead. Choose a trip in late June, July, or August for the best whitewater. Jump on a September trip for steelhead trout fishing. Guests meet for this trip in the town of Stanley, Idaho.

Grand Canyon Hiking

5–9 Day Grand Canyon

ARIZONA: Travel over a mile into the surface of the earth, into the most famous river canyon of them all, Grand Canyon. The Colorado River crosses into Arizona and begins its descent through some of the most mind-boggling geology and spectacular scenery on earth. Experience the magic of Redwall Cavern, or one of the dozens of springs and waterfalls that turn side canyons into oases of cattails and watercress. Feel the power of nearly 150 rapids, including those of the inner gorge, and the most famous, Crystal and Lava Falls. We offer non-motorized trips through Grand Canyon. Choose from a 5–6 day ride through the upper canyon or an 8–9 day lower canyon. You need to plan almost a year in advance to secure space on this bucket list trip.