San Juan River Youth Trips

Due to low water levels, our San Juan River season is limited to early summer. Until we have a better understanding of how much water Mother Nature will give us, 2023 San Juan Youth Trips are on pause. Please call our office to discuss other multi-day youth trip options!

Rafting trips on the San Juan River have so much to offer and delight kids and adults alike! From panoramic vistas, unparalleled educational opportunities, to fast, fun, and forgiving whitewater rapids, there’s endless opportunities to make memories. Spend three, four, or five days visiting unique Ancestral Puebloan cultural sites, splashing through class I-III rapids, watching for big horn sheep, exploring polished limestone side canyons, and sleeping under the stars. From morning to evening, our professional guides handle all the logistics – side hikes, swim time, meals, you name it! We’ll work closely with youth group leaders to build in time to facilitate, teach, or play with their students. Youth come away from these trips with gained confidence in group settings and outdoor skills. 

This whitewater rafting trip takes us through the famous Goosenecks State Park and sites of both historic and prehistoric significance. From the diverse animal and plant life to the extraordinary geological features, the San Juan River is always a favorite whitewater vacation.

Book This Trip

Trip Overview

  • Type:

    Rafting

  • Location:

    San Juan River

  • Length:

    3 - 5 Days

  • Dates:

    May - June

  • Meet at:

    Bluff or Mexican Hat, Utah @ 7:00am

  • Difficulty:

    Beginner

  • Min. Age:

    5

  • Deposit:

    100

Highlights

  • Explore dwellings and rock art from prehistoric cultures
  • Hike to a secluded swimming hole
  • 83 miles of gentle but exciting rafting for children, and inflatable kayaks
Getting Here Before You Go Packing List FAQs

Itinerary

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

Weather, the interests of your group, campsite availability, and seasonal water flows mean that every trip is unique. Here’s a sample itinerary for a possible five-day trip along the San Juan River.

 

Sample Itinerary

Day 1:

Meet in Blanding, Utah, and travel for 45 minutes to the Sand Island boat ramp. The fun starts right at the boat ramp as novice paddlers get an orientation to inflatable kayaks. The first challenge is Tiger Wall, a gorgeously striped sandstone outcrop that forces the river into a sharp right hand bend. Spend the afternoon exploring artifacts and structures left behind by five distinct indigenous cultures. Learn how to respectfully visit these sensitive, sacred places.

Day 2:

Float through Comb Ridge and see who’s the first to spot the dramatic peak of the Mule Ear rock formation. Navigate Eight Foot Rapid and slide under the bridge in the town of Mexican Hat. The river begins to descend quickly here, the sheer walls of the famous Goosenecks of the San Juan rising hundreds of feet above us.

Day 3:

Take advantage of the cool morning air to hike to the rim along the Honaker Trail, a remnant of a late 1800s gold rush. Earn panoramic views of the river canyon before climbing back down to cool off in the river. The water is smooth and fast today, with Ross and Johns Canyon rapids as fun interruptions. Pause for lunch on a beach and see who can submerge themselves the deepest in the famous San Juan mud.

Day 4:

Wake to the song of the canyon wren and get ready to navigate Government Rapid, the most challenging of the trip. The afternoon will give you a chance to meander up Slickhorn Gulch, a long, beautiful side canyon. Scrub off in the river before the hike: there’s a secret swimming hole and we don’t want to pollute it with the chemicals in our sunscreen. We’ll make our last night’s camp at the mouth of Slickhorn Gulch or another side canyon. If you haven’t slept out under the stars yet, tonight’s the night. You’re in one of the best possible places to see a truly dark sky.

Day 5:

Our last day on the water will be short but sweet. This final stretch will take us past Oljeto Wash, and maybe even up into the canyon itself. We’ll navigate through numerous sandbars, remnants of when Lake Powell was high enough to flood this section of river. The canyon walls will gradually fall away as we approach Clay Hills Crossing and our take-out point. Once off the river, we’ll travel in our vans for a scenic two-hour ride back to Blanding, Utah.

*Please note that you may also charter a three-day Upper Canyon, or four-day Lower Canyon youth trip. See our Upper San Juan and Lower San Juan trip pages for sample itineraries of three- and four-day trip

Youth Grey Canyon Kid in helmet with chocolate on face

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”!

Reviews

Still not convinced? See what others are saying.

Submit your review
1
2
3
4
5
Submit
     
Cancel

Create your own review

Holiday River Expeditions
Average rating:  
 3 reviews
 by Jim

We had a great time! The guides were wonderful, and the scenery was amazing.

 by Olivia Jung

The food was mind-blowing. Superlative! Ready to launch again down the rapids in a heartbeat!

 by Julia & Jeff Fetzer

The trip was wonderful, our kids had a great time and they were totally entertained! It was such a wonderful experience and a great trip and we will definitely be back for more trips in the future!