Canyonlands National Park Rafting & Hiking

Though Moab can be crowded from April through October, the most popular seasons to visit Canyonlands are spring (April through May) and fall (mid-September through October), when daytime highs average 60 to 80 degrees F and lows average 30 to 50 degrees F. For river trips, which offer an escape from the crowds, the most popular season is generally throughout summer. This high-desert region can experience wide temperature fluctuations, sometimes over 40 degrees F in a single day. OARS rafting and hiking trips run from spring through summer and into fall.

Located just outside of Moab, Utah, Canyonlands is found within the geologic region of the Colorado Plateau. The park is essentially composed of five unique areas: the Island in the Sky District in the northern part; the Needles District in the southeastern portion; the Maze District, which is the least accessible district; Horseshoe Canyon, which contains some of the most significant rock art in North America; and the Colorado River and its tributaries, which are corridors providing relatively easy access to some of the park’s most remote backcountry areas.

Canyonlands is generally accessed from airports in Salt Lake City (4 hours), Grand Junction, Colorado (2 hours), and Moab (.5 hour).

Cataract Canyon rafting in between mid-May and mid-June often offers massive Class IV+ rapids. Snowmelt from the Rockies yields big runoff and some of the country’s most renowned whitewater. It’s Canyonlands National Park for the adrenaline junkie, and the minimum age for trips jumps to 16. For the rest of the season, the rapids still offer a major rush, but they’re more suitable for adventurers as young as 9. Though Cataract does offer some of the country’s largest whitewater, all rafting trips through this area begin with 75 miles of flatwater.