Rafting group camp set up at night in Canyonlands National Park.

Canyonlands National Park Rafting

Group white water rafting in Canyonlands National Park.

Canyonlands Rafting Trips With OARS

If you are considering a national park vacation but don’t have time to deal with all the necessary logistics, or you’re looking for an experienced outfitter, OARS offers all-inclusive guided river trips in Utah’s Canyonlands National Park. Visiting the park with OARS includes multiple days of rafting and hiking through the heart of the Canyonlands on the Green and/or Colorado River, culminating with a wild ride through the rapids of Cataract Canyon. Every multi-day trip through Canyonlands includes the top-notch service of our professional guides, healthy, hearty, and deliciously prepared meals, and snacks, as well as quality equipment.

O.A.R.S. Canyonlands, Inc. is an authorized concessioner of Canyonlands National Park

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Adventures in Canyonlands

Canyonlands Rafting – Map

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Canyonlands Rafting FAQs

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Where is Canyonlands National Park?

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).

When is the best time to visit Canyonlands?

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 Utah rafting trips and hiking trips run from spring through summer and into fall.

Is the water always brown in Cataract Canyon?

Most of the time, yes. Unlike the dam-regulated stretch of the Colorado River below Glen Canyon, Cataract Canyon flows freely through Canyonlands National Park—and with that comes sediment. The river here is usually a rich brown color, especially during spring runoff or after summer storms.

What causes the river to look muddy?
Erosion and runoff from side canyons and desert washes feed into the river, carrying silt, clay, and sand. Spring snowmelt and monsoon rains supercharge this process, turning the water into a churning mix that resembles chocolate milk.

Is it safe to drink?
Yes—once filtered. While the river water isn’t drinkable in its raw form, your guides will filter and treat all drinking water to ensure it’s completely safe throughout the trip. Dishwater is also treated and handled according to backcountry sanitation standards.

Does the murky water affect rafting?
It can make submerged obstacles harder to see, especially in the big-water season when Cataract’s Class III–V rapids are at their most intense. Luckily, OARS guides are trained to read the river—even when it’s fast-moving and visibility is low.

Get the full scoop on our blog: Why is the Colorado River Brown?

What is the whitewater like in Cataract Canyon?

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.

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River running through Canyonlands National Park.

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