Flaming Gorge Green River Rafting 1-Day

Location Utah Adventure Level Easier Minimum age 4 (7 during high water) River Rating Class II From $129
Book Now Call toll-free 1 (800) 346-6277

Soak up Utah’s incredible red rock scenery from the vantage point of a raft on this family-friendly Flaming Gorge Green River rafting day trip.

Flaming Gorge on the border of Wyoming and Utah is known for its stunning red rock scenery, world-class trout fishing, and abundant outdoor activities, but no visit to the region is complete without a Green River rafting trip. Just below Flaming Gorge Dam, the crystal-clear waters of the Green offer paddlers a popular 7-mile stretch of splashy Class II rapids, interspersed with calm sections perfect for swimming, watching for wildlife, and gazing at the dramatic geology and unique landscape the region has to offer. It’s a laid-back adventure that’s ideal for families, or any traveler, looking for the perfect addition to their Flaming Gorge vacation.

Trip Highlights
  • Family-friendly Green River rafting day trip ideal for kids as young as 4
  • Fun Class II rapids like Roller Coaster, Mother-in-Law, and Can of Worms
  • Delicious guide-prepared lunch, including fruit, cookies, cold water, and lemonade
  • An ideal day trip add-on to any Flaming Gorge vacation itinerary

What to Expect

Itinerary & Map

Itinerary at a Glance

We pride ourselves in running a relaxed and flexible schedule. Every Flaming Gorge Green River rafting trip is different depending upon the group, other trips on the water, camp locations, and sometimes the weather. The following is a sample of what your trip might be like:

The Day of Your Trip

  • Our Flaming Gorge 1-day rafting trip starts with a scenic 1 ½-hour shuttle ride from Vernal to our put-in below the Flaming Gorge Dam. At the put-in, our guides will give a thorough safety talk and orientation to the equipment we will be using. Then, we’re off!
  • This section of river is host to many Class II rapids, and with names like Roller Coaster, Mother-in-Law, and Can of Worms, they are sure to please. We’ll run about half of the trip in the morning before stopping along the river for our famous “build-your-own-masterpiece” deli-style lunch. Maybe we’ll play a quick game of Frisbee or just relax and soak in the summer sun. After lunch, we’ll continue the remaining 3-4 miles of Flaming Gorge, taking in more rapids and breathtaking scenery.
  • The expedition ends at the Little Hole Boat Ramp where we’ll board our shuttle and contemplate our memories of a great day during the 2-hour bus ride back to the OARS Warehouse in Vernal.

Meeting Time & Place

Location

Vernal, UT

Meeting time

8:30 AM

Return

Approximately 3 – 5 PM to Vernal

Trip Map

Dates & Prices

2023 DeparturesAdult PriceYouth Price
June – August (by group request)$139$129

Full payment is required at the time of booking.

Book Now

Ways to Save

To book with one of our special offers, call 1-800-346-6277 or contact us today.

The Need-to-Know Info

Trip Details

Included in Your Trip Cost

  • Skilled professional guide service
  • Delicious picnic lunch and snacks
  • High-quality rafts and related river equipment including small dry bag, paddle, helmet, and personal flotation device
  • Transfers from Vernal to the river and back

Not Included in Your Trip Cost

  • Transportation to and from Vernal
  • Pre- and post-trip accommodations and meals
  • Insurance of any kind, including a travel protection plan
  • Items of a personal nature (see suggested packing list)
  • Gratuities

The number and variety of boats on an OARS trip will vary based on water levels, the number of participants, and other factors we take into account when planning your adventure. We don’t assign boats, nor can we guarantee exactly which crafts we bring, but trust us to provide you with the best possible mix for you and others on your trip. 

If you are a group of 1 to 5 people you should expect to have other rafters in the same boat with you. Groups of 6 to 8 will most likely be in one raft, but there may be instances where we have to split into one raft plus a group of 2 or 3 that would share a raft with another small group.

Learn more about the OARS Fleet and the boats that may be a part of your experience: Paddle raft, Oar raft (may be available upon request)

Come lunchtime, we’ll pull over to a beach for a delicious picnic. Your guides will lay out an abundant spread, perhaps chicken caesar wraps or a tasty taco salad for roll-your-own burritos. Lunch is always accompanied by fruit, cookies, cold water, and lemonade. 

Please let us know if you have any dietary needs that we’ll need to consider in planning your trip. More info about Meals & Dietary Restrictions can be found on our Trip Resources page.

Average Air & Water Temperatures

Air (Day) °FAir (Night) °FWater °F
June844845-50
July915550-60
August895250-60

Water Levels & Temperature

The Green River’s headwaters lie in the Wind River Range of Wyoming, and its stream is repeatedly blocked and diverted, most significantly by the Flaming Gorge Reservoir. Thus, its flow is determined by reservoir releases. The Green also will spike in the spring and early summer as the controlling agency at Flaming Gorge Dam releases water to make room for inflow. Peak releases from Flaming Gorge on the Green usually occur between mid-May and mid-June but can vary widely from early May and into July. Water temperatures are coldest during the high water period and rain gear and warm synthetic clothing will be required. In reality, the water is quite cold even in the summer, but lower flows and warmer air temperatures mitigate the risk of hypothermia.

Whitewater

This section of the Green River offers splashy Class II rapids, interspersed with calm sections. Despite these slower stretches, the whitewater is consistent on the Green. You’ll challenge minor rapids plus dozens of smaller waves and riffles. The Green River through Flaming Gorge is ideal for first-time rafters and children as young as four years, but it is not short on excitement for the whole family.

Before booking your trip with OARS, there are a few important considerations we’d like you to know about.

  • Physical Requirements: Your outdoor adventure will be an active participatory trip. Please inform us of any physical limitations you may have as soon as possible. If you exceed 260 pounds, please give us a call. Make sure you are exercising frequently in the months leading up to your trip and can meet our Essential Eligibility Criteria.

  • Whitewater Orientation: To increase your safety, we expect everyone to watch our Whitewater Orientation video before joining us.
  • Trip Forms: Each participant will need to complete the required trip forms within two weeks of making a booking. Refer to your confirmation email for the link to the online forms. If you prefer to fill out paper forms, please let us know right away. If you are reserving within 30 days of departure, your forms must be completed immediately to ensure we can properly plan for your trip.

Reservations and Payments

Full payment is required at the time of booking.

Payments can be made by check, money order, eCheck, wire transfer, Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover. Prices are in US Dollars, and all payments must be made in US Dollars. Payment of the deposit establishes your acceptance of our complete Terms and Conditions. Individual departures and trip capacity are strictly limited by the managing agency. Your payment is fully refundable for 48 hours, less a 3% processing fee, after making a reservation when you reserve a trip 7 days or more prior to departure.

Cancellations and Refunds

Canceling your trip after your deposit is processed will incur cancellation fees because OARS has absorbed costs on your behalf and will turn others away who would like to book the spaces we’re holding for you. If you must cancel your reservation after the rescission period described above, your cancellation fee will be determined according to the schedule below.

We regret that we cannot make exceptions to the cancellation policy for any reason, including foul weather, poor air quality, wildfire activity, acts of terrorism, civil unrest, or personal emergencies. For these reasons, we strongly urge you to consider purchasing a travel protection plan.

Date of CancellationCancellation Fee
30 or more days before your trip$30/person
29 – 7 days before your trip$50/person. The remainder of your trip payment can be transferred to another trip within the same year (or to a credit account for the following year). No refund.
6 days or less before your trip50% of the trip cost can be credited to another trip (within the same year). No refund.
Late arrivals or “no-shows”No refund or credit

Please note that different deposit/cancellation policies may apply for charter groups. Refer to the group organizer’s confirmation email for details.

Canceled Trips

OARS reserves the right to cancel any trip due to insufficient registration or other factors that make the trip impractical to operate. In such instances, we will inform you at least 7 days prior to departure. Do not make non-refundable travel arrangements until you have verified with OARS that your trip is confirmed.

If a trip must be canceled or postponed due to force majeure (factors outside the control of OARS), OARS will provide full credit for payments made toward future travel, or a refund less a $30/person service fee and any non-refundable payments made on your behalf to 3rd-party suppliers. OARS will make good faith efforts to recover deposits made on your behalf to 3rd-party suppliers; however, we cannot guarantee recovery of any or all of the advance payments made. OARS is not responsible for expenses incurred by participants in preparation for a canceled trip.

Transfers

If you need to move your reservation to a different trip during the same year, or to a credit account for the following year, there is a $15/person fee up until 30 days prior to departure for a one-time transfer of your payment. If we are 29-7 days prior to your trip departure, there is a $50/person fee to transfer to another trip, within the same year or to a credit account for the following year. If we are 6 days or less prior to departure, 50% of your trip cost can be credited to another trip within the same year only. 

O.A.R.S. Canyonlands, Inc. operates on the Green River through Flaming Gorge as a permitted outfitter of the Ashley National Forest

Ancestral Lands Acknowledgement

We respect and recognize that many of the river canyons on state and federal lands where we operate are the ancestral homes of indigenous communities. Where we operate on the Green River between Flaming Gorge Dam and Browns Park National Wildlife Refuge, we acknowledge the territories of the Ute and Eastern Shoshone.

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