Youth Group Rafting Trips through Desolation Canyon

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Desolation Canyon Youth Group trips are the perfect multi-day rafting trip for kids from 12 to 18. They’ll enjoy the beauty of the colorful canyon walls and natural rock sculptures created by Mother Nature. Many of the rapids on the Green River are perfectly suited for young paddlers to get in the driver’s seat in an inflatable kayak. With over 60 exhilarating but forgiving rapids, kids will have plenty of time to get into their own unique rhythm with the river.

The adventure of a multi-day youth rafting trip allows time for character building, trust, and companionship. With flexible scheduling between four-nine days, we can sculpt a trip to meet your group’s needs! A longer trip allows for more time for exploratory side hikes, as well as time to play on the beaches!

Every camp has options for side hikes – ancient granaries for food storage, Wild West log cabins, and panoramic views are just a few of the possible excursions. Extra time at camp is perfect for youth trips looking to builds camaraderie through song and music or arts and crafts. Kids will work together to help set up camp and learn to feel comfortable camping on the sandy beaches of Desolation Canyon. Nighttime is perfect for stargazing and learning ancient constellation stories!

Desolation Canyon allows kids and adults practice building confidence in the rapids – with so many opportunities to get in and paddle! No matter the length of your youth trip, your kids will emerge feeling accomplished and confident.

Desolation Canyon Youth Group trips are available to book as a private group/charter trip for the 2025 season. Group sizes should be between 14-20 guests; please call us (800-624-6323) for more information on available dates and booking this trip!

Featured Review

“Our guides, Ellie, Lucy and Syd were fantastic: Knowledgeable, experienced, strong and skilled in all they did to guide us through beautiful Desolation Canyon. I trusted them completely. This was definitely a highlight in my life!”

The Green River through Desolation Canyon flows through the traditional homeland of the Núu-agha-tʉvʉ-pʉ̱ (Ute) people. Today, the Uintah and Ouray Reservation borders the east side of Desolation and Gray Canyons, and the Ute people continue to protect the river. Holiday acknowledges and respects the long history of these traditional inhabitants. We appreciate our own long-standing relationship with the modern-day tribe. Learn more about our land acknowledgments here.

Book This Trip

Desolation Canyon Youth Group trips are available to book as a private group/charter trip for the 2025 season. Group sizes should be between 14-20 guests; please call us (800-624-6323) for more information on booking this trip!

Trip Overview

Type:

Rafting
Location:

Green River
Length:

5 or 6 Days
Dates:

May through August
Meet at:

Sand Wash Boat Ramp @ 9:00am
Difficulty:

Beginner
Min. Age:

12
Prices:

5-Day $1,105 + $40 BLM fee

6-Day $1,195 + $40 BLM fee
Deposit:

400

Highlights

Deeper than the Grand Canyon at the Bright Angel Trail
White sandy beaches, shimmering side streams, and abundant wildlife
60 easy rolling rapids make this trip great for kids
Accessible side hikes to interesting historical sites

VIEW TRIP GALLERY

Youth Group Rafting Trips through Desolation Canyon

Itinerary

Our itineraries can vary – it’s never boring out there!

Weather, the interests of our passengers, and campsite availability mean that every trip is unique. Here’s a sample itinerary for a possible five-day youth trip through Desolation Canyon. For trips in later summer, we recommend a minimum of six days to account for lower river levels.

Sample Itinerary

Day 1

The fun starts right at the boat ramp: water fights, inflatable kayaks, and opportunities to swim give the kiddos a wet welcome to river life. Look for the nests of cliff swallows, and crane your necks upward as the canyon walls rise around us. Get in the groove of camp life by helping the guides unload the boats at our campsite, then explore the rich riparian ecosystem around us.

Day 2

Hike to an ancient Fremont cultural site and learn how to be respectful of sacred sites. Take turns in inflatable kayaks as we begin to encounter bigger rapids such as Little Wild Horse and Surprise. Watch the stars come out after dinner and discuss the magic of the Milky Way.

Day 3

Explore a historic homestead at Rock Creek Ranch. Imagine being a pioneer or an outlaw trying to survive in this environment! More rapids keep us cool, and we’ll camp on a giant sandbar or maybe within a shady grove of cottonwood trees.

Day 4

We’ll tackle some of the best waves in the canyon today in Wire Fence, Three Fords, and Coal Creek rapids. We’ll also leave the tall, red walls of Desolation behind and cross into Gray Canyon.

Day 5

One more morning of hot cocoa and sand in your hair as we approach the end of the canyon and our return to civilization. There are plenty more fun rapids on the way to the boat ramp, and we’ll stop for lunch and maybe even swim through a mellow rapid. Last stop is the boat ramp near Swasey’s Beach, where we’ll load up the boats and gear and drive back to our headquarters, just a 20 minute trip down the road. We typically expect to arrive back at our headquarters between 3:00 to 4:00 p.m.

If you opt for a longer trip in Desolation Canyon, the itinerary will naturally expand to include different campsites and more options for off-river excursions as well as more time for playing on the beach and swimming or for educational activities.

Desolation Canyon Youth Splashing in a ducky

Please keep in mind that this is a sample itinerary and not an exact description of your trip. The intent is to give a general idea of what your trip may entail. Rest assured, if you’re not doing these things, it’s because you’re doing other amazing things! It’s why our motto is “Go With the Flow”!

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Holiday River Expeditions

Average rating:

1 reviews

Tracy Thompson

Oct 25, 2016

by Tracy Thompson

AMAZING trip... Everything blew our expectations out of the water. Our guides were professional, fun, energetic and inspiring young women. We loved our trip and it was the time of our lives. Thank you Holiday for everything you did to make it one of our best vacations of all time.