Fall Canyonlands National Park Stargazing & Hiking Trip

Sample Itinerary

Day 1–5: Labyrinth Canyon

We’ll start at our warehouse in Green River, Utah. Please arrive promptly at 8:00 a.m., Mountain Time, to pack your dry bags and purchase any last-minute items at our store (see our packing checklist for items we stock). We’ll aim to be in the vans by 9:00. Our journey could begin in one of two places, depending on the river’s flow and other variables. We could put in at the Green River State Park, which is a five-minute drive from our warehouse, and adds 24 river miles to our journey. Or, we could drive an hour and a half south to Ruby Ranch and the confluence with the San Rafael River.

Either way, the canyon rises up slowly, closing in around us as we transition from the purple and gray badlands of the Green River Desert to breathtaking red canyon walls. Enjoy swimming alongside the rafts, or some solo time on a stand-up paddleboard. Side hikes and excursions could include the exquisite side canyon at Trin-alcove Bend, the River Register and other historic inscriptions, the overlook at Bowknot Bend, and Hey Joe Canyon. Every day brings new culinary treats, too, as your professional guides pamper you with the best “camping” food you’ve ever had, in the most scenic restaurant imaginable! Around lunchtime on the fifth day, we’ll arrive at Mineral Bottom, the last place to put in or take out until below Cataract.

Day 5–8: Stillwater Canyon

Below Mineral Bottom, the character of the canyon changes. It widens, grows taller, then narrows again, encasing us in even more spectacular rock layers. The White Rim Sandstone appears and rises quickly above us. The river continues to move quietly, lulling us into a divine sense of relaxation. We’ll stop and hike to Ancestral Puebloan cultural sites: towers, granaries, and rock art dot the landscape. Hike over Turk’s Head, a future abandoned meander. We’ll explore side canyons, examine native plant species, and watch for great blue herons, big horn sheep, and peregrine falcons. In camp, choose to participate in an optional yoga session. And as night falls, let the rods in your eyes tune in to the starry world above us.

Days 8–11: Cataract Canyon

Enter the heart of Canyonlands National Park at the confluence of the Green and the Colorado rivers. This auspicious place marks the beginning of Cataract Canyon. We’ll float a few short miles of flat water before an ominous thunder starts to grow from downstream; the fated “cataracts” (old-fashioned word for waterfalls) are soon to come! Thirty plus rapids will quickly wake us up from our week of river meditation. Splash through huge wave-trains and dodge churning holes: Cataract’s rapids are worth the wait.

Day 12: Narrow & Glen Canyons

After the excitement of the rapids, we’ll spend our final day decompressing through Narrow Canyon, aptly named for the incredibly straight and austere walls that hug the river below. We’ll see the river begin to slow as its current is swallowed up by Lake Powell. If the reservoir is high, we’ll get an assist from our “Seldom Seen” motorboat. We’ll finish the trip near the former Hite Marina. A two-hour drive brings us back to Green River. Our expected time of arrival back at our headquarters is between 4:00 and 5:00 p.m.