Writing Workshop on the Green River

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Formerly planned for the Yampa River, this trip will now be on the Green River through the Gates of Lodore over the same dates

On this specialty Green River rafting trip, science journalist Melissa L. Sevigny (award-winning author of Brave the Wild River) will lead nature writing workshops designed to help you tap into your creative side and connect more deeply with wild places. Open to writers of all levels and genres, we’ll explore the power of storytelling together as we delve into the extraordinary beauty of Lodore Canyon.

We’ll take a playful approach to writing while honing our observation skills. Every morning, Melissa will offer a new writing prompt to help you tap into your “wild mind.” Every evening the group will have a chance to write, read, and reflect together on the joys and challenges of the day. You’ll come away inspired, and with a handy toolbox (or ammo can) full of practical writing tips. We’ll close the five-day trip with a celebratory sharing of poems, stories, and essays. Bring a notebook and a sense of adventure! No prior writing experience required.

About Melissa:

Melissa L. Sevigny grew up in Tucson, Arizona, where she fell in love with the Sonoran Desert’s ecology, geology, and dark desert skies. Her lyrical nonfiction and poetry explore the intersections of science, nature, and history, with a focus on the American West. She has bylines in the New York Times, High Country News, Sierra Magazine, and elsewhere.

Her third book, Brave the Wild River, tells the story of two botanists who rafted the Grand Canyon in 1938. It won a Reading the West Award and a National Outdoor Book Award. Melissa has degrees in creative writing and environmental science, and has an asteroid named after her.

Book This Trip

Trip Overview

Type:

Specialty
Location:

Dinosaur National Monument
Length:

5 Days
Dates:

June 22-26, 2026
Meet at:

Vernal, UT @ 7:00 PM (night before the trip)
Difficulty:

Intermediate
Min. Age:

12
Prices:

$1,545 + $12 campsite fee
Deposit:

400

Highlights

Hone in your writing skills while floating through an amazing river canyon
Find inspiration in the breathtaking views, incredible hikes, and meandering waters of the Green
Let our guides take care of the hard work while you flex your creative muscles
Experience thrilling whitewater each day, including Hells Half Mile
Enjoy gourmet meals, interpretive talks, and river stories from our guides

VIEW TRIP GALLERY

Insider’s Guide to the Gates of Lodore Vernal, Utah: Things to Do and Places to Explore FAQs Getting Here Before You Go Packing List

Rates & Dates

Itinerary

The Green River emerges from the Wind River Mountains of Wyoming. After collecting itself behind the Flaming Gorge Dam, it flows southwest into the wild recesses of Dinosaur National Monument in northwestern Colorado. It winds through a spectacular canyon and countless rapids before meeting with the Yampa River in Echo Park. From there, the rivers flow together across the state line into Utah and through the unique landscapes of Whirlpool and Split Mountain canyons.

Sample Itinerary

Night Before

Plan to arrive at Holiday’s headquarters in Vernal, Utah, at 7:00 p.m., Mountain Time for a brief pre-trip orientation meeting. You’ll pick up your waterproof bags and learn how to pack them. The pre-trip meeting is also the time to buy any last minute items from our on-site store (see our packing checklist for items you can find at our store).

Day 1

Meet back our Vernal operation center early in the morning, packed and ready to go! We’ll load your bags up, and then it’s off to the river. From Vernal, it’s a three hour van ride to the put-in. After preparing the rafts and getting you oriented, we’ll push off and begin to move on river time.

We’ll pass through the Gates almost immediately, and encounter several fun, splashy rapids. Lunch will likely be on a beach soon after entering the canyon. After some more fun river miles, including Disaster Falls, we’ll pull over for camp.

Sharpen your pencils and settle in for the first evening’s writing activity.

Day 2

River mornings start early! But don’t worry, the guides will have coffee, tea, or hot chocolate to help you get moving. Before packing up camp, we’ll enjoy a hot breakfast and learn the itinerary for the day. Once the boats are loaded up, we’ll begin our journey downstream.

We will likely run two more named rapids on this day, Triplet Falls and Hells Half Mile. We may take an afternoon hike to the waterfall at Rippling Brook, or choose to lounge on the beach and relax with a good book. The guides will cook up another gourmet feast before we all settle in for an evening of writing and stargazing.

Day 3

At this point in the trip, we have embraced “river time”. The scenery changes dramatically today, with ever-shifting geology and the impressive Mitten Park Fault showing its rainbow of colors.

We will pass the confluence with the Yampa River and may get out to stretch our legs as we mosey to the Whispering Cave at Echo Park. Our next canyon, Whirlpool, brings more fun whitewater on our way to camp.

Day 4

Logistics permitting, we may have a casual morning at camp with another writing activity. The afternoon will likely be spent at Jones Hole Creek: fishing, hiking, petroglyphs, big horn sheep, and waterfalls are all possibilities!

Downstream, we’ll make camp for one last time together. Tonight is a time to reflect, celebrate, and embrace the last evening on the river.

Day 5

Choose to paddle an inflatable kayak through the last several miles of calm water in Island Park. We’ll follow the river as it makes a sharp left turn and cuts its way into the aptly named Split Mountain. The river drops an average of almost 20 feet per mile for the last eight miles.

Enjoy your last several rapids before we pause for lunch and finally arrive at the boat ramp. We’ll load the boats and then transport you the final 25 minutes back to our warehouse in Vernal. We typically plan to arrive back at our headquarters by approximately 4:00 p.m.

Please remember that this is a sample itinerary, not an exact description of your trip. Our goal is simply to give you an overview of what the trip may entail. We invite you to embrace the inherent changeability of a wilderness river trip and come prepared to have fun and go with the flow!

Each trip will be different depending on weather, the interests of our passengers, assigned campsites, and the need to be considerate of other river users.

F.A.Q.

Weather & Water

Late June on the Green will see highs in the mid-80’s and lows into the 60’s at night.

Interspersed with flat water stretches, the whitewater on this river is Class II-III with one Class IV rapid.

Boat Options

We run this trip with oar boats, but will consider a paddle boat with a group of six or more committed paddlers. We will also bring along inflatable kayaks.

Meals & Camping

All of the meals on the trip, from the first lunch on Day 1 to the final day’s lunch, are prepared fresh on the river by your guide team.

Our campsites on this trip are assigned to us by the park service. Each site on this stretch is scenic, pristine, and spacious, with most sites featuring a sandy beach and lush vegetation.