Multi-Day Rafting Trips in Colorado: Yampa & Gates of Lodore

Short answer: You can book multi-day rafting trips in Colorado on the Yampa River (4 or 5 days) and the Green River through the Gates of Lodore (4 days), both launching from the Colorado side of Dinosaur National Monument. Both routes run Class III-IV rapids and meet at Echo Park, where the free-flowing Yampa joins the dam-regulated Green.

Key Takeaways

• Colorado’s two multi-day rafting trips through Dinosaur National Monument are the Yampa River (4 or 5 days) and the Green River Gates of Lodore (4 days).
• Both trips launch from Colorado put-ins: Deer Lodge Park for the Yampa, the Gates of Lodore for the Green.
• The Yampa is the last major undammed river in the Colorado River system, running free-flowing on a natural spring hydrograph.
• Both routes pass through Echo Park, where the Yampa meets the Green beneath Steamboat Rock.
• All camping gear, meals, and guides are included. Book your 2027 trip now to lock in 2026 rates.

What Multi-Day Rafting Trips Can I Book in Colorado?

Dinosaur River Expeditions runs two multi-day rafting trips that launch in Colorado: the Yampa River and the Green River through the Gates of Lodore. Both routes travel through Dinosaur National Monument, both include camping on sandy river beaches, and both are guided, so you don’t need a private river permit to go.

These are Colorado trips in the sense that matters to paddlers: the put-in. The Yampa launches from Deer Lodge Park near Maybell, Colorado. The Green launches from the Gates of Lodore, just across the state line in Browns Park, Colorado. Both trips then float downstream into Utah, converging at the same place: Echo Park, where the two rivers meet.

Yampa River vs. Gates of Lodore: How Do the Two Trips Compare?

Both are genuine Class III-IV wilderness trips through the same national monument, but the rivers themselves behave differently, and that shapes the experience.

The Yampa is the last major undammed tributary left in the entire Colorado River system, so its flows rise and fall with snowpack rather than a dam schedule. That makes early-season trips bigger and pushier, and it’s why the private permit lottery for the Yampa is one of the most competitive in the country. The National Park Service issues only 300 high-use season permits for the Yampa each year, and Recreation.gov data reported by The Colorado Sun shows more than 18,000 people applied for those permits in 2022, a success rate under 2%. The Gates of Lodore runs on releases from Flaming Gorge Dam upstream, which keeps it consistent from June into September without needing a big spring melt.

What Is Echo Park, and Why Does It Matter?

Echo Park is the spot roughly 19 miles into the Gates of Lodore run where the Green River meets the Yampa, beneath the towering sandstone monolith of Steamboat Rock. It’s the reason these two Colorado trips aren’t really separate experiences. The 4-day Green River trip floats past the confluence heading downstream, and it’s a highlight guides point out on nearly every departure. No other rafting trip in the region combines two major Western rivers into one canyon like this.

What Does Camping Look Like on a Multi-Day Colorado Rafting Trip?

Every night on both trips is spent on a sandy beach camp inside the canyon. Guides handle setup logistics, cook fresh Dutch-oven meals over the fire, and pack out everything, so your job is showing up with a sleeping bag (or renting one from us) and enjoying the canyon. Days combine whitewater stretches with calmer float sections where guides lead side hikes to petroglyphs, waterfalls, and swimming holes.

• Meals: All meals included, cooked fresh on the river by your guide crew.
• Gear: Rafts, PFDs, dry bags, and camp equipment provided. Sleeping kit rental available.
• Wildlife: Bighorn sheep, mule deer, river otters, and raptors are common sightings on both rivers.
• Group size: Both trips need a minimum of 8 reservations to launch.

Do I Need a Permit for a Colorado Rafting Trip Through Dinosaur National Monument?

Not if you go with an outfitter. Private boaters apply through a single NPS lottery covering both rivers, with applications accepted December 1 through January 31 at Recreation.gov. Guests on a guided trip travel under Dinosaur River Expeditions’ concession permit, so there’s no lottery to enter and no odds to beat.

2027 Dates and 2026 Rates

2026 rate, locked in for 2027 departures. See our 2027 Yampa River pricing for the 4-day and 5-day trip rates. Prices exclude taxes, guide gratuity, sleeping kit rental, NPS entrance fee, and online booking fee.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better, the Yampa or the Gates of Lodore?

Neither is objectively better, they’re different experiences. The Yampa is free-flowing and gives you a spring-fed, natural river with an extra day of options (4 or 5 days). The Gates of Lodore is dam-regulated, so it runs reliably all summer and is the more consistent choice if your dates are fixed.

Can I do both the Yampa and the Green River in one trip?

The 4-day Gates of Lodore trip floats past the Yampa confluence at Echo Park, so you’ll see where the two rivers meet, but you won’t paddle the Yampa itself unless you book that trip separately.

How many days off work do I need for a Colorado multi-day trip?

Plan for the trip length plus a travel day on each end. A 4-day trip typically needs about 5-6 days total including drive time to and from Vernal, Utah.

What should I pack for a multi-day rafting trip in Colorado?

Quick-dry clothing, a warm layer for camp, sun protection, and a sleeping bag (or rent one from us). See our full Colorado packing list for the complete rundown.

Questions? Call 1.800.345.7238 or browse all our rafting trips.