Lodore Canyon Stargazing Trip
Green River Rafting through Lodore Canyon, Stargazing Trip – About this Trip
Lodore Canyon stargazing and whitewater rafting on the Green River combines the best of the day with the splendors of the night. Running through the heart of Dinosaur National Monument, an International Dark Sky Park, Lodore Canyon provides visitors with the opportunity to see a quality of dark, starry sky that exists only in isolated pockets in remote corners of the United States. During the day, we'll navigate translucent blue-green water through class II–IV whitewater rapids, hike through dark red cliffs, and lounge on white, sandy beaches. At night, we'll watch the sky come alive with the brilliant swath of the Milky Way, spot satellites and meteors, learn the stories of the constellations, and seek out the Andromeda Galaxy, both with binoculars and naked eyes.
Trip Overview
Highlights
Location: Green River—Dinosaur National Monument
Type: Rafting/Naturalist
Length: 4 Days
Date: July 14-17
Meet At: Vernal, UT 7:00 AM
Rating: Intermediate
Age Min: 8
Deposit: $300
- Camp within the darkest reaches of an International Dark Sky Park
- Learn from Holiday's resident astronomy expert
- Exhilarating Class III & IV whitewater rapids
- Brilliantly exposed and highly varied geology
- Many opportunities to view wildlife
- Soft sandy beaches for camping & games
- The perfect family rafting adventure
Trip Price & Departure Date
4 Day Trip
$1,035 per person
*$27 NPS Fees per person.
2020 Trip Date
July 14-17
Map
The Green River carves its way into Lodore Canyon at the north end of Dinosaur National Monument, then flows south toward its confluence with the Yampa River in the aptly named Echo Park. Here it turns west into Whirlpool Canyon, crossing the border into Utah. Island Park is the last mellow stretch before the final eight miles of rapids in Split Mountain.
Itinerary
Every river trip we run is a one-of-a-kind adventure. Our itineraries vary depending on the interests of the group, the campsites we are assigned, weather, and other unpredictable elements. Here's one possible itinerary for a four-day trip through Lodore Canyon.
Day 1: Please arrive at our warehouse in Vernal, Utah at 7:00 a.m., Mountain Time. This is when we'll hand out waterproof bags and give you time to pack and pick up any last minute items from our store (see our packing checklist for a list of items we have available). We then take a three-hour scenic van ride to Brown's Park National Wildlife Refuge, the site of the put-in. Pass through the Gates of Lodore while rafting and encounter John Wesley Powell’s notoriously named Disaster Falls. At camp, after dinner, watch the sun fade from the walls and observe which planetary objects become visible first - is it a star, or a planet?
Day 2: Dark, red walls of billion-year-old rock tower above us as we float deeper into the canyon. Look for big horn sheep and osprey in between rapids. Today we'll run some of the most exciting rapids of the trip, including Harp Falls, the narrowest part of the canyon. After lunch, relax on the beach or hike to the Rippling Brook waterfall, or take a nap, the better to stay up late and watch the rise of the Milky Way and learn about our cosmos.
Day 3: The geology changes this morning as we leave Lodore Canyon and enter the blonde sandstone of Echo Park, where the Green and Yampa rivers meet. Count how many times your voice echos back to you, then enjoy a hike to 800-year-old rock art. We'll pass through the dramatic Mitten Park Fault and camp somewhere within Whirlpool Canyon. Use binoculars or a telescope to hunt for the Andromeda Galaxy or the Beehive Nebula.
Day 4: A few splashy rapids will be our send-off as we exit Whirlpool Canyon and float into Island and Rainbow parks. The river meanders through groves of cottonwood trees and sculpted sandstone before entering yet another colorful gorge. Split Mountain is our grand finale as we follow the Green River through the heart of the mountain, running Moonshine, SOB, School Boy, and Inglesby rapids. We'll have lunch on the river, then make our way to the Split Mountain boat ramp and our take-out point. It's a 35-minute ride back to Vernal. We usually anticipate our return to headquarters at 4:00 p.m.
This is only a sample itinerary, intended to provide a general idea of what to expect from your river trip. It is not an exact description of what you will experience. Holiday's motto is "Go With the Flow", and we invite you to embrace the expeditionary nature of a wilderness river trip. Keep an open mind and enjoy your own unique adventure!
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