San Juan River Rafting 6 Days
$1077 adult / $978 youth
Archaeology Trip: $1327(see below for details)Deposit: $250
Additional Costs:
$18 per person BLM Special Area Fee
Sleep Kit/Tent: $40/Included
River Rating  | Minimum Age |
|---|---|
| Class II | 4 Yrs (7 during high water) |
Archaeology Trips
Examine this archaeological treasure chest with interpretive discussions facilitated by a guest archaeologist
- 6-Day Archaeology Trip: April 19
View more information on Archaeology trips >>
- Legend
- Directions
Enter your starting city
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San Juan River Rafting & Utah Family Vacation - Overview
Rafting the San Juan River in southeastern Utah offers the ultimate in fun on a southwest outdoor family vacation offering paddling on easy Class II rapids, side hikes up nearby canyons and learning about local archeology, geology and plant and wildlife.
The San Juan River in southeastern Utah is a place of surreal beauty and vibrancy, hundreds of millions of years in the making. A calm, congenial river, paddling the San Juan is combines a relaxing float trip livened up by fun Class II rapids. Kids and adults love the terrific hiking opportunities nearby and Utah's warm weather and water. A bottomless archeological treasure chest, this area in southeastern Utah encases numerous remnants of ancient civilizations. Lined with vivid pictographs, ancient art, cave dwellings and ruins including the Moki Stairs, carved by the region’s Native American tribes over 800 years ago, the San Juan River basin is an enormous natural museum locked within a labyrinth of dramatic red rock canyons. Twisting and turning through one of the most convoluted canyons in the Colorado Plateau, the Goosenecks of the San Juan zigzag over seven miles in an airline distance of just two miles. End your day relaxing in warm pools and beach camping under the desert stars.
San Juan River Rafting - 6 Day Itinerary at a Glance
- Gather at Recapture Lodge in Bluff, Utah and meet your guides for a scenic drive to Sand Island
- Hike at Butler Wash to view petroglyphs and Moki Stairs carved into the cliffs 800 years ago
- Spend some time getting to know the river in a raft or a playful inflatable kayak
- Camp on pristine sand beaches with riverside feasting beneath the stars
- Campfires, music, stories and jokes, swimming, Frisbee or a nature walk
- Hike to River House, one of the most impressive Native American cliff dwellings found on any river in North America
- Travel over the famous Mormon Trail and cross the Comb Ridge monocline
- Hike to the Mule Ear diatreme before our whitewater descent of Four-Foot Rapid, Eight-Foot and Ledge Rapids
- Enjoy views of Monument Valley, float past Mexican Hat and enter the Mendenhall Loop
- Pass exquisite works of water and rock like the Tabernacle and Second Narrows
- Testimonials
- Reviews
- Write a Review
“I thought the landscape was breathtaking, and very well described in your brochure. From the description, I had a sense of the pace, and the type of the scenery, and I thought you captured it very well. The guides were amazing- very competent at all of their jobs- from boatmen/ women to naturalist guides to cooks to entertainment leaders. I felt both safe and comfortable, and their enthusiasm for the out of doors was contagious. I am not an outdoors type person as a rule, and I felt they were very patient with us all- laid back without being uninvolved. Kudos to all of them. I wish the trip had lasted longer!”
Gwendolyn Parker ~Norwalk, VA
“We were so impressed with the San Juan raft trip and your employees that we felt you definitely needed to know about it. First of all, we cannot imagine anything the four guides could have done to make the trip any more enjoyable.They were friendly, fun, and entertaining. Group dynamics helped to make this trip enjoyable. The hikes were great. Meals were outstanding.”
Joe and Sharon Wylie ~Ione, CA
- Weather
- Packing List
- Trip Planner
- Recommended Reads
| Average Temperatures | |||
| Month | High | Low | Water |
| March | 61° | 30° | 50° |
| April | 71° | 38° | 52° |
| May | 81° | 46° | 55° |
| June | 91° | 54° | 62° |
| July | 96° | 61° | 70° |
Current Conditions
What to bring on the San Juan River Rafting 6 Days trip
This is a sample list. Please refer to your trip planner for a detailed list for your particular trip. If you do not already own any of the items on the suggested packing list feel free to call our office for suggestions. However, many of the items listed are available for purchase online in the OARStore. Please be mindful of the natural environment when purchasing items for your trip. Whenever possible, consider recyclable containers, rechargeable batteries, natural (non-toxic) sunscreens, lotions, biodegradable soaps, and so on.
Equipment:
- Duffel bag
- Sleeping bag, sleeping pad, ground cloth, sheet and small pillow – (early and late season trips require a synthetic-fill bag rated to 20 degrees Fahrenheit)
- Backpack/Daypack for day hikes. It should be large enough to carry water, lunch and camera, as well as a warm layer of clothing for spring & fall trips (750 – 2000 cu. in)
- Water bottles: 2 heavy-duty and minimum 1-liter capacity each with a carabiner to attach it to the boat. For day hikes, hydration systems like a CamelBak® are great, but you will still want 1 water bottle while in the boat
- Headlamp or flashlight, extra batteries and bulb
- Camera w/extra media cards and batteries
Personal Items:
- Sunglasses (preferably polarized) with securing strap and a spare
- Towel: small, quick-drying and washcloth
- Toiletries including biodegradable soap and shampoo with moisturizer (Nature's Gate is recommended by our guides)
- Sunscreen: waterproof & SPF 30 or higher
- Lip protection: SPF 30 or higher
- Moisturizing lotion or cream: 1 bottle (Skin tends to get REALLY DRY – this is a VERY important item!)
- Insect repellent (with deet)*
- Spare pair of glasses and/or contacts (Blowing sand can cause problems for contact wearers)
- Cash for gratuities and goodies
*During certain months, mosquitoes can be a bothersome problem. Please make sure you bring an adequate supply of insect repellent.
Clothing:
- Long-sleeved shirt: 2-3 lightweight and light color for sun protection (UPF rated shirts are great)
- Long pants: lightweight and light color for sun protection (No jeans while on the river)
- Shade hat or visor with securing strap and a spare
- Bandana
- Rain jacket & pants: waterproof (not water resistant) to protect you from the wind and splash from rapids, as well as rain. A hooded jacket is recommended as well as good secure closures around your head, neck, wrists and ankles to prevent water from seeping in
- Swimsuits: 2 (two piece suits recommended for women). Tankinis are a great option
- Underwear: quick-drying
- Shorts: 2 pair lightweight, and quick-drying
- Hiking shorts: 2 pair (some people prefer different shorts for the river and hiking)
- T-shirts or lightweight quick-drying tops: 3-4
- River sandals: 1 pair to wear in the boat and for short wet hikes (such as Teva)
- Athletic shoes or lightweight hiking boots: 1 pair, comfortable and with good tread
- Hiking socks: 3-4 pair mid-weight
- Synthetic long underwear top & bottom: 1 set light to mid-weight
- Fleece top & bottom: 1 set light to mid-weight
Additional Essentials for spring & fall:
- Extra pair of dry shoes for camp
- Wetsuit booties and/or neoprene socks
- Additional fleece top & bottom
- Warm hat and gloves: synthetic or wool
- Fleece vest
Optional Items:
- Solar shower: small “solo” showers heat up faster and are easier to use
- Bathing towels/wipes: pre-moistened disposable wipes such as Coleman Swash Cloths
- Binoculars: small
- Whisk broom: small (no long handle). To sweep wet sand off of tent and ground cloth
- Paddling gloves
- Splash jacket and pants
- Lightweight cord and clothespins for drying clothes in camp
- Notebook and pen
- Sketchbook, paperback book
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Download our travel planner here:
San_Juan_River_Trip_Planner.pdf
Trip planner is in PDF format and requires Acrobat Reader.
