Specialty River Rafting Trips in UT & CO

At Holiday River Expeditions, we believe there’s more than one way to experience the magic of the river. Our specialty rafting trips combine the adventure of whitewater with music, mindfulness, science, and storytelling—led by expert guides, authors, naturalists, and guest facilitators who bring new dimensions to life on the water. You’ll be joined by authors Melissa Sevigny, Craig Childs, listen to the music of Emily Hicks, and be guided in yoga by Jenny Palmer.

Paddle, stargaze, write, or simply be present as the current carries you deep into the wild heart of the backcountry. From kayaking workshops to music, yoga, and stargazing trips, each journey is designed to spark curiosity and connection—with the river, the desert, and yourself.

Looking for more miles on your boots? Join one of our extended hiking or active adventure trips, exploring hidden canyons, rock art panels, and secret side hikes. Or dive into the culture and conservation of the Colorado Plateau with trips that highlight river ecology, Indigenous lands, and the fight to protect these sacred waters.

If you don’t see the exact experience you’re dreaming of on any of our Specialty Rafting Trips, let’s create it together. We specialize in custom charter trips for private groups—perfect for family gatherings, friend reunions, or company retreats.

Specialty Trips with Holiday River Expeditions
Experience Canyonlands

Boats, Buddha, and the Blues with Bad Brad Wheeler

  • May 11-15, 2026
  • Join famed SLC radio DJ, Buddhist monk, and expert blues harpist Bad Brad Wheeler for this one of a kind rafting trip
  • Brad will lead mediation sessions, offer poetry readings, and teach group harmonica lessons in Cataract Canyon
  • Holiday guides will prepare scrumptious meals, lead us on hikes, and navigate the exhilarating whitewater while Brad elevates the rest of the experience
  • Build community, learn a new skill, and find your center while floating through one of the greatest red rock canyons in the world

Yampa Retro Tiger Wall Boat

Writer's Workshop on the Yampa River

Starting Price: $1,545
Minimum Age: 12
Meeting Location: Vernal, UT

  • June 22-26, 2026
  • Strengthen your creative writing muscles with award-winning author Melissa Sevigny on this Yampa River trip
  • Melissa will facilitate an invaluable experience, with writing activities and group discussion as our guides take care of the hard work
  • Find inspiration throughout the wild canyon of the Yampa, with abundant wildlife, sheer cliff walls, and a myriad of hiking options
  • Use your vacation to unwind as well as work on your writing skills

Lodore River Women's Yoga Rafting Group

Women's Yoga and Music Retreat in Lodore Canyon

Starting Price: $1,500
Minimum Age: 12
Meeting Location: Vernal, UT

  • August 13-16, 2026
  • Find your center with a group of like-minded women on this river retreat with yoga and live music
  • Start and end your days with a yoga practice and enjoy live music sprinkled throughout as you float through the magical Lodore Canyon
  • Class II-III+ whitewater that keeps things exciting but never gets too intense
  • Hike to waterfalls, clear streams, indigenous rock art, and hidden grottos

Camp circle in Labyrinth

River Read Author Series with Craig Childs

Starting Price: $1405
Minimum Age: 12
Meeting Location: Green River, UT

  • September 4-8, 2026
  • Experience Craig Childs’ storytelling where canyon walls meet the stars
  • Discover Utah’s Labyrinth Canyon—remote, peaceful, and awe-inspiringly beautiful
  • Learn about desert ecology, night skies, and ancient river landscapes
  • Unplug, slow down, and find inspiration in the wild silence

Labyrinth Canyon

Labyrinth Canyon Hiking Special

Starting Price: $1,395
Minimum Age: 12
Meeting Location: Green River, UT

  • September 14-18, 2026
  • A rare opportunity to experience Labyrinth Canyon, a hidden treasure in the heart of the Colorado Plateau, on a fully outfitted trip
  • Hike the many iconic trails of Labyrinth, including Bowknot Bend, Three Canyon, and the Historic River Register
  • Camp under some of the highest quality dark sky in Utah
  • Easy, calm water for inflatable kayaks and stand-up paddle boards

Hiking in Cataract

Labyrinth & Cataract Canyon 12-Day Raft & Hike Trip

Starting Price: $3,225
Minimum Age: 12
Meeting Location: Green River, UT

  • Sept 14 – 25, 2026 (12 days)
  • Enjoy the best of both extremes: many days of calm water leading up to thrilling class III-IV whitewater with some of the most thrilling whitewater in Utah
  • Gaze into the dark sky and learn all about the solar system from our expert astronomer for the first five days
  • Cooler days and longer nights provide the perfect setting for hiking, rafting and stargazing
  • Float through towering red mesas, hike to prehistoric structures and up intricate side canyons, visit the Doll House, and then run the legendary rapids of Cataract Canyon


Featured Review!

This was our 6th trip with Holiday, but the first in 15 years! It turns out my wonderful memories of those past trips were all true! Our guides were as personable yet professional as I remembered. They went out of their way to accommodate everyone’s needs without losing any patience, ever. They knew the geology, history, and stories as expected. 

The food was as good as I remembered… You guys are the best! We were exceptionally impressed with how well you are carrying on Dee’s legacy and everything he stood for! We hope to return in 2024 to do The Yampa, if all goes as planned. Keep doing what you are doing. Don’t change. You run a great company with values I greatly admire. I only wish more people and companies had the same values! Mahalo!

  • John K., Watercolor Workshop in Lodore Canyon, August 2023

 

Specialty Trips
Michael Onyon

Why Choose Holiday?

Holiday has always strived to be at the forefront of innovation, from our equipment to our practices to our philosophies. One of Dee’s favorite quotes was “Even if it ain’t broke, can we do it better?”

Our Specialty Trips are just a of the few ways we strive to make our river and bike trips even better. We’ve teamed up with talented, knowledgeable facilitators and work to grow those relationships year after year.

Ready to Book?

If you’re ready to reserve your spot today, simply click the red Book This Trip button under your desired trip from the list above! Feel free to give our office a call with any questions you may have!