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White Water Rafting Myths

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10 Common Whitewater Myths

  1. It’s only for athletic outdoor enthusiasts.

Think again! You don’t have to be in the best shape of your life or be completely in love with the outdoors. Being willing to try something new with a good attitude is much of what is required when taking a trip down a river. 

2. Being an excellent swimmer is required.

Being able to swim is not imperative, we wear personal floatation devices that will create buoyancy. It’s not even required to go swimming. There is definitely a great possibility to go swimming if you want to.  In some cases, there may be more time in the water but that’s something you should check on with the company you sign up for.

3. All we do is paddle.

Well, that’s funny! You would think that is all we do after all we are going rafting. The different rivers run by Dinosaur River Expeditions have various opportunities for paddling but equally offer time to sit back and relax and let the guides do the work. We offer oar rafts where the guides do the work, paddle rafts where you participate and inflatable kayaks and SUP’s (stand up paddle boards) where appropriate. There are also incredible side hikes, chances to relax in the shade and enjoy the solitude and just all around unplug.

4. It’s too dangerous.

There is absolutely a level of danger rafting through the canyons of Dinosaur National Monument or Flaming Gorge. With that said, our trained guides do all they can to mitigate the dangers involved. 

5. It’s the same on every river.

No river is created the same. Our two favorite river sections happen to found in the heart of Dinosaur National Monument. The Green River Gates of Lodore is painted with red walls, narrow canyons, and sporty rapids. While the Yampa River is molded with tall walls of layered sandstone and wide river passages, slow meanders and splashy rapids. You will find that all rivers have something majestic to offer.  

6.You have to camp.

While overnight rafting opportunities with beautiful campsites near the rivers edge are available, you can find serene day stretches that literally require you to show up and go. The Green River section below the Flaming Gorge Dam is one of the most peaceful and beautiful day stretches with world class trout fishing. This is one of Utah’s most popular one day river rafting trips perfect for just about anybody looking for a scenic river adventure. 

7. Camp food; hot dogs on a stick is all we get.

I can assure you that river menus are nothing short of exquisite. You will likely not eat this good again in the outdoors. We provide gourmet meals such as BBQ chicken with all the trimmings followed up with yummy desserts like pineapple upside down cake. A dinner on the shore of the river will leave you with a full belly and happy memories. Its hard to believe we can haul all the goods for a classy meal on the beach. However, it’s true we do!    

8. The guide will make or break your trip.

The guides do provide opportunities for good experiences. If the guide is all you are betting on for a good experience, that may leave you disappointed because having a good experience is also the responsibility of the person. The guides try to put on a good time but even they can’t control all the components of the wilderness. One’s attitude can make or break an experience. Have a positive great attitude and understand you are going out into the wilderness. Bring an expedition mindset, ask questions in advance and have the time of your life.   

9. I have to use the bathroom, it’s weird.

Different for sure, weird nah! You just have to have an open mind. We are in the wilderness. We make the bathroom experience on the river as pleasurable as we can.  In fact, on overnight trips we have beautiful scenery for a relaxing moment away from the rest of camp to reflect and do you know what.  There is always an explanation to help those who are anxious and often a guide will be more than happy to ease some of that stress by talking in confidence about your concerns.  

10. All companies are created equal.

Each company provides a special and unique wilderness experience. Different companies may run different rivers and sections and use a variety of watercrafts from a big pontoon motorized boat, rubber raft to a fiberglass dory. Some companies are locally owned and operated while others are more global or commercially operated. Though this may be the case, finding a good feel for your personal experience and what you are desiring is important. Research the areas you are thinking about rafting, find out what other opportunities are in the area, read reviews and book your adventure of a lifetime.  

Rafting Adventures Rock!

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5 Reasons Green River Gates of Lodore and Yampa River Rafting Adventures Rock

 

  1. QUIET

We live in a world full of noise! That noise comes from all around us, our family schedules, our jobs, societal issues good and bad, worldly news and anything else that adds to the noise in our life. I love my time on the Green and Yampa Rivers. Rafting these canyons of Dinosaur National Monument gives me a chance to sit in a quiet and serene wildness. In a world where we carry one of the noisiest things with us at all times, we get to put the cell phone down and leave the video games at home when we traverse and raft these wild river canyons in Colorado and Utah.  

These two rivers in particular have given me the special time to mediate. I particularly find myself in a rhythm on the raft listening to nature and the repetitive movement of dipping and pulling of the oars. It allows me to be completely present. Being present in this life can be hard with all the daily distractions. Giving myself this space of quiet is a beautiful and very unique experience which I treasure.

  1. UNCROWDED

Wow! This world is becoming ever so crowded, and as good and great as many of those opportunities are in the busyness, the crowds are a major turn off for me. Waiting in the grocery store line or a traffic jam is not a fun and stress-free way to spend time.  

Though we see other folks and groups along these rivers, it is not crowded like the big city. Adventures to our national parks and monuments can be varied depending on the time of year and activities you are seeking out. Springtime in the desert of Utah is a prime example of everyone getting rid of cabin fever and bounding out to see the state’s incredible national parks. The beauty of a river rafting trip through Dinosaur Monument is it is a permitted rafting section with a select number of people allowed to go each day. Alas no crowds!

When I launch on my boat into the vast canyons of The Gates of Lodore or the Yampa River Canyon I know it is going to be my boat, the people I left with and an occasional run in with some other river loving, serenity seeking folks. Avoiding crowds isn’t a problem because just by going on the river the crowds are left behind!

  1. WILD

The Green River and Yampa have some hidden gems that give me moments to experience the wild it has to offer. The very definition of the noun “wild” is a natural state or uncultivated or uninhabited region. I believe these rivers tucked in the deep canyons is the very essence of WILD. The rivers offer wildlife like Big Horn Sheep, Deer, Moose, River Otters, Beavers, Endangered and Unendangered Fish Species, and one of my personal favorites is the birds of prey like Bald and Golden Eagles. I have yet to experience a River trip down these corridors without seeing something wild.  

The Rapids are created by natural causes of rocks moving into the river through states of weathering and erosion.  This has created the exhilarating whitewater that pumps my adrenaline and gives me a feeling of accomplishment when I arrive at the bottom. The Green River has some really fascinating river history involving the infamous John Wesley Powell and other early explorers. Their perspective can really give insight to how WILD it really can be!

Another magnificent way to experience the WILD is hiking off the river to places like waterfalls such as Butt Damn Falls (Ely Creek) or Rippling Brook Falls.

Dinosaur National Monument was established in 1915 by Woodrow Wilson and only had about 80 acres encompassing the Fossil Quarry. In 1938 President Franklin D. Roosevelt enlarged the monument to over 210,000 acres mainly to include the two river corridors. Most of the Monument is actually the Rivers and the surrounding canyons. The majority of which cannot be accessed by car.  Now that’s wild AND ROCKS if I must say so myself.

  1. SCENIC

Fascinating geology means old rocks and ancient rock art both of which are two really amazing reasons to explore these places.  There are over 23 rock layers that can be seen in Dinosaur National Monument.  Many of those layers are exclusively seen by river because they are exposed in those regions.  These layers are from the Precambrian era (1,100 Million Years ago) to the Miocene Era (25-10 Million Years ago.) These layers are part of 1.2 billion years of extinct ecosystems and is one of the most complete stratigraphic displays in one place. Now that’s cool!  

The sunsets and sunrises over the canyons are exemplary.  

The ancient rock art comes from the Ancient Fremont Culture from around 700-1400 A.D.  They were nomadic people and moved around. They had specific places they would return to at different times of the year. The rock art is a bonus to those places and often gives me perspective to what my life is like and what the people of those days experienced. 

  1. UNIQUE  To give some perspective. These rivers are an unique opportunity for folks who are willing to make it a priority and put it on their bucket list of experiences. Why is it unique? For one, these rivers are on a lottery system and only a small number of people with the proper experience and gear are going to be able to traverse these river canyons every summer if they are lucky to draw one of the coveted permits for the Yampa River of Gates of Lodore Green River canyons. The other unique opportunity is the concessionaire system where people without or with experience can hire a professional outfitter to guide them on their adventure.

The chances are limited for folks to be able to make it down there without some help.  

Commercial river companies like Vernal, Utah’s Dinosaur River Expeditions have something for everyone by giving them the chance to experience the world class Wild and Scenic Rivers and their surrounding canyons with lots of kid and adult friendly activities and great food!  The company provides amazing all-inclusive bucket list vacations that will rock your world. I’m IN!

5 Great Restaurants After Your Utah Rafting Trip

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So you just came off an excursion down one of Utah’s gorgeous rivers. You’ve had camp meals for the past several days. Or maybe just a deli lunch on a day float. Maybe even just a granola bar and some trail mix. Yes, you may have been exposed to sun, wind, possibly even rain I could imagine. You’ve packed and unpacked a boat numerous times, even if it was just this morning and just this evening. Anyway you cut it, you’ve likely worked up an appetite – and not an appetite to do more work. You’re returning to civilization, and while that may be hard it certainly comes with some perks. Perks like near limitless meal options, and someone else preparing the food for you to boot. The only hard part of this equation is where to eat?

 

Dinosaur Brewhaus

If you’re coming out of Dinosaur National Monument after a 4 or 5 day trip on the Green River Gates of Lodore or Yampa River, Vernal Utah boasts several great spots to sate your hunger. One simply shouldn’t leave Vernal without trying out the Dinosaur Brewhaus. It’s simple pub fair, but has a down-home and delicious taste, with complimentary peanuts while you wait, and a variety of Utah beers on hand. They’re used to their fare share of river runners, so come in whatever condition you leave the boat ramp in! 

 

Sabaku Sushi

Say you’re enjoying the day float in Moab, or coming off the monstrous waves of Cataract canyon, Moab is well equipped to meet your gastronomic desires. The unbeatable Sabaku Sushi serves up incredible options from our river running friend and amazing chef Alex Borichevsky. Not only does he know great river running he serves up delectable fresh sushi offerings. This is a Moab favorite.

 

Vernal Brewing Company

Maybe you just finished up a classic Utah 1 day Flaming Gorge Green River trip and are looking for a little more flare to your evening meal. For more variety and atmosphere, the Vernal Brewing Company is top notch. They boast a wide selection of entrees and of course have their locally brewed beer on tap. Try the Little Hole Lager or the local favorite the 50 Caliber IPA, and other craft and domestic beers as well. The brewing operation is a sight to behold, but if you’re hoping for a tour I’d recommend cleaning up a tad before asking about a table.

 

Ray’s Tavern

Coming off of a Desolation Canyon/Grays river trip, you end up in the small town of Green River Utah. Good bang for your buck is Ray’s Tavern, a quaint little eatery that’s got its roots in the river running community. Enjoy burgers and sandwiches all the while marveling at some amazing shots of whitewater from the sports’ long and storied history.

 

Taggart’s Grill

Paddling out of Park City will likely put you on the Weber River, a calm stretch of water that runs along train tracks and highway 84. Raft, kayak, or tube this river (pick up your trash!) and enjoy the Taggart’s Grill at the take out. Taggart’s Grill offers exquisitely crafted sandwiches, soups, and pizzas. They’re in house desserts – like their carrot cake – are out of this world, and their beer selection isn’t too bad to boot. Just remember, no shirt, no shoes, no service.

 

 

Protect your Skin: Shining Light on River Guide Wisdom

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Nothing can ruin your dream vacation like a bad sunburn.  Not to mention the long-term effects associated with that kind of skin damage.  If you are going on a river trip, then you will be exposed to the elements for anywhere from a day to a couple of weeks so you should plan accordingly.  Your river guides spend all summer being bombarded by solar radiation, so if you should need advice or an example of how to deal with the elements look no further. Having guided the rivers here in Dinosaur National Monument and the local Vernal, Utah area for many years I have gained some valuable insight into sun protection when out in the elements adventuring on these amazing white water rivers.

The iconic image of a river guide may be a bronzed scantily clad emissary of the sun, and it is true that with so much exposure to the sun you will inevitably brown and get some nice tan lines, but I for one am vigilant with applying and reapplying sunscreen.  I use stronger stuff, usually SPF 30 at least.  Look for the multi spectrum coverage, preferably non-greasy and water resistant.  Since its going on my precious skin I also try to go for natural ingredients and therefor end up spending a little more for what I want, but I’m worth it. Goodhouse Keeping put together a great list of the 11 best natural sunscreens for 2019 take a look at their top choices. Besides nice sunscreen I like to use lip balm with an SPF rating as well.  I keep it close and use it a lot. 

Your vestments are your most reliable protection from the sun.  This is your armor.  I like to wear long sleeves, with a collar I can pop up to keep the sun off my neck, and to look good.  This is a business casual ensemble however, with swim shorts and sandals being the lower half.  Just remember to lotion up the bare legs and feet.  Pants made from quick drying fabrics provide a nice break from the sun, when it’s not too hot.  I have also been known to wear leggings for the same purpose.  Fashion and function.  A sarong is another great clothing option for covering the legs and it can double as a beach blanket, light sheet or a warming layer when it cools down a little bit. Our friends at North West River supply have a great collection of river guide approved clothing for sun protection. 

For the love of your face, don’t forget to take a hat.  Maybe take two or three.  You don’t want to be without a hat, and it is a real bummer to lose your only one to the river.  I like to wear a big straw hat most of the time.  Its full wide brim protects more angles covering my face and neck. Tula Hats make some great wide brimmed sun hats in many styles, they are also tough I have worn my almost daily for several summer now. Besides my Huck Finn topper I also take a baseball cap or two.  You must remember that the sun is also hitting you from below as it reflects off the water, so I might also wear a buff or bandana around my neck pulled over my ears.  Another great tool to have in your box is to have a sun hoodie.  They provide great coverage, work well with ball caps, and they look and feel good. 

Now that our skin is covered let’s not forget to shade the all-important windows.  Sunglasses are crucial to your protected persona.  The list of benefits is long.  They make you look good, they cut down on glare making it easier to see the beautiful landscape that you find yourself in, they reduce eye fatigue and the chance of headaches and they decrease your risk for future vision and eye health issues.  Did I mention they make you look good?  The best part is that you don’t necessarily have to break the bank on nice shades as you can find good polarized lenses almost anywhere.  This is also good because sunglasses are another item that you may want to plan for redundancies, lest you lose or break your first pair. 

Now if you have taken this advice you should be doing well, but there are a couple of other tricks to give you an edge in minimizing your solar exposure.  Seek shade when possible.  Lounge under a tree or prepare lunch beneath an overhung cliff.  If space allows then bring a beach umbrella or a shade canopy.  You could always hide in your tent at a layover camp but in the summer, this could be a place of stifling heat.  Instead, carry in your kit a small sheet or piece of cloth that you can cover up with and wet when it is hot this is where that sarong comes in handy.   

Your skin is precious.  It does well to protect you from threats to your health and comfort, but it needs your help.  You must do your part to take care of it and it will continue to take care of you.  You’ll be able to enjoy your dream vacation down the river without the discomfort of a sun burn and you’ll be able to enjoy the peace of mind that your long-term health will see you through many more adventures down the river and around the sun.

We look forward to seeing you on the river.  

First Year Raft Guiding

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They say there’s more than one way to skin a cat, which is to say there are many ways to accomplish a task. In my first year guiding I heard the same phrase, if only a little differently. It’s your cat, you skin it; which is to say do it however you see fit. Of course, when it came time to actually do the thing I usually did it wrong. So much for the many ways. But a first year of doing anything is a steep learning curve. Eventually you learn that while there are many ways to do something, some ways are easier and more efficient. So here’s a story about learning the best way to skin a cat.

I grew up running rivers with my family. When the time and opportunity arose I applied for a job at Dinosaur River Expeditions. Wouldn’t you know it they hired me. That first year I was nervous, but expected that I knew quite a bit more than someone off the street. Pride comes before the fall. I was a lousy boatman. All that time on the water with my family, I’d never spent any time rowing the raft. I was always in a hardshell kayak. The kayak is a one man craft, made of hard plastic, relatively light and maneuverable. A raft on the other hand is rigid rubber, and depending on the size can fit six to eight people. As a novice I wouldn’t have called them maneuverable boats. So there I am on the day section of Flaming Gorge. A kayak mind in a raft body. Let me be clear, the day stretch is class II whitewater at most. It’s mainly a scenic float. The lines are straight forward: take the tongue, avoid the rocks. I guess that’s not how I wanted to skin my cat. Just about everyday that first summer I’d high side the boat on a rock, or high center the damn thing and be parked in the center of the river for a minute or two. And, just as inevitably, I’d send a couple of my passengers into the water. A coworker quickly nicknamed me danger. “That’s the danger boat, if you’re looking for an exciting ride,” he’d say, and I’d see the uneasiness creep into the smiles of my passengers faces and see the hint of doubt in their eyes, and I’d hope like hell I ran a better line.

When I did get to run multi days (they were hard pressed for help that summer, and so gave me the opportunity to run a boat, god bless em) my lines were little better. And as bad a boatman as I was, I was an even worse kitchen hand. Especially if you ask a coworker, who shall remain nameless. It was as if I’d never lifted a knife and chopped a vegetable. Or greased a pan. To be fair to her I did have trouble distinguishing cabbage from iceberg lettuce in the vegetable cooler. I ran around that kitchen like a headless chicken, and she was on my tail like a hungry fox, making sure I knew every mistake I made and making sure I knew it damn well. Even still, I made brownies with olive oil and forgot to put them in the dutch oven (luckily someone was watching my work, and dessert came out on time, and as I recall no one noticed an odd aftertaste of olives). After doing dishes and cleaning the kitchen, there were nights I’d sit on my boat and think I wasn’t cut out for the job. But morning would inevitably come, and I’d do my damnedest to make sure the scrambled eggs weren’t burned, and people would hop on my boat for the exciting ride, only to be stuck on a rock for a while or sent for an unexpected swim.

Though I was an inept boatman, and a liability in the kitchen, for all that I was – in the writer’s humble opinion – an alright guide. Who knows, maybe it was like watching a train wreck. But people enjoyed being on my boat, risks included. I guess it’s not that surprising. These days your guide is as interesting as the place they’re guiding you through. If wealth was measured in stories in memories, your guides would be some of the wealthiest people on the planet. And believe you me, they’re eager to share that wealth. So, to all the passengers and guides that were there in my first season, thanks.

Thank You

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Thank you seems to small.

Only eight letters to express the rivers of gratitude to each of you. It’s laughable that eight would be enough, for without you our lives as river guides would be undeniably different.  Let me explain.

Each of you that travels down the river, allows us to live and breathe in this amazing national monument. To feel the tug of flowing water on oars every day, to smell like sunscreen and sweat for months on end, and gasp at desert vistas in every moment. By coming on a river trip you allow us to live the way we wish to live.  But more importantly you allow us to feel that we are bigger than ourselves, a part of a history in Dinosaur National Monument while guiding on the Green River and Yampa River.

Each of us become a river guide for a shallow reason, something like: we went on fun vacations with our family as kids, whitewater is a thrill, or even just the novelty of being a river guide.  Every guide will admit it, but the reason we stay river guides is because of you.  As guides grow more sun crusted we learn more about the river and its surroundings; where different petroglyphs are, who the first person to raft the river solo was, where a dam was almost built and how it was stopped, and the story of the Powell expeditions first trip.

Without knowing it, each time we repeat these stories and facts to you, they become part of our personal history.  None of us were on the Powell expedition boating down the Green River Gates of Lodore, but somehow that expedition is as much a part of my history as riding bikes with my brother as a child. Each time we share the river rafting experience of Dinosaur National Monument with you, it becomes our home and its characters our family.

As time goes on, we make our own history:  a upside down boat used as a slip ’n slide at Wild Mountain campsite, a guest that cried because they were so grateful to have their family together, a kid dance party on the boat on the windiest day of the summer. And as John Wesley Powell did, you become part of who we are, a character of the river and part of our family. For you, this river trip may be once in a lifetime, but for us, this trip is life, and you are the reason for it.

Thank you for allowing us to create a home and a family here.  Thank you for allowing us to love our fellow guides and bosses like we do our own parents and families.  Thanks to our families for supporting our unconventional career choices and understanding that the reason we are here, is to connect with a deeper part of ourselves, to become droplets in a massive river system.  Thank you for allowing us to feel simultaneously insignificant and vitality important to the universe.

Thank you for letting us share our home and family with you.

In return for completely changing our lives and the way we view ourselves, we give you eight letters.  Not nearly enough, but perhaps you will feel that the eight letters we give you, are bigger and so much more important than just letters.

 

Thank you.

The Dinosaur River Expedition Guides

 

When you do

Things from

Your soul.

You feel a

River moving

In you, a joy.

 

-Rumi

White Water Rafting For Beginners

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White Water Rafting for Beginners

White water rafting can be intimidating, especially if your only perspective is from the adventure documentary Congo: The Grand Inga Project. You might be thinking to yourself.  “These people are insane! I don’t want to die in crocodile infested waters, with beaches unsafe for camping, where literally everyone dies!”  Well not to worry. Not all white-water trips are the red bull version of a whitewater adventure. There a few levels of starting your rafting adventures ranging from a scenic float trip on the Green River below Flaming Gorge Dam to a four or five-day multi-day trip in Dinosaur National Monument on the Yampa River or Green River through the canyon Gates of Lodore.

The Scenic Float:

This trip is perfect for the beginners with young kids, people looking for a relaxing day out or someone unsure if white water rafting is for them. A scenic float typically involves a little bit of white water splashing in a beautiful place. They offer class I-II rapids, places for kids to swim in the water, a delicious lunch, and the option to use an inflatable kayak depending on the company you are booking through. It’s a great way to get a sense of what it’s like to float on a river raft trip. In Vernal, Utah Dinosaur River Expeditions is the only locally owned and operated outfitter we have a great day trip on the A-section of the Green River it is the ideal place for a scenic river float. It offers views of the beautiful Uinta mountains, a bit of geological and environmental history from your guides, and the potential to see a few bald eagles, great blue herons, mule deer and maybe a pronghorn antelope. This trip is a great activity if you are visiting the vernal area for a few days and want to spend a day on the water. https://dinosaurriverexpeditions.com/expedition/daily-trips-flaming-gorge-river-rafting/

The Mellow Multi Day:

Looking for more than a one day trip but you are still unsure about river trips with bigger rapids. We offer a great multi day option that can be just one night, or three, has class 2 and 3 rapids and will give you a great idea for what river camping is like, or glamping rather. A standard night on the river is going to include a campfire, a gourmet dinner complete with Dutch oven dessert, falling asleep to the sounds of the river, and a pancake or French-toast breakfast. This option is on the Utah section of the Green River from Flaming Gorge Dam to Brown’s Park. It’s a beautiful trip with class II rapids and lots of wildlife. The river tends to be much less populated on these lower sections of the river offering seclusion with your family and a chance to view Utah’s night sparkling sky. https://dinosaurriverexpeditions.com/expedition/green-river-flaming-gorge/

The Thrilling Four Day and Five Day:

If you tried the Splashy day trip and a mellow overnight and want to mash the two together, a thrilling four-day or five day trip is right up your ally. In Dinosaur National Monument, the Gates of Lodore on the Green River and the Yampa River are perfect multi day white water rafting adventures. They are classic white water adventures and will offer all the perks of a mellow overnight: great food, seclusion and wildlife with spicier rapids such as Warm Springs on the Yampa River or Hell’s Half Mile on the Green River through the Gates of Lodore. Your guides will know a lot about the area and be able to give you a fairly detailed history of the environment, and geology around you. If you already know you love camping and are a thrill seeker don’t be afraid to jump straight to either of these trips. They are  great trips for a first timer or experienced river rafter a like!

https://dinosaurriverexpeditions.com/expedition/green-river-gates-lodore/

The Congo:

After a four day Lodore you are ready for the Congo. Just kidding. This is not a river for beginners in any sense, unless you are beginning the late stages of a professional kayaking career.

Any of these style trips are a great place to start! A few tips: remember a water bottle, sunscreen and a rain jacket (YES A RAIN JACKET). Nothing ruins a trip fast than a sunburn and an angry dehydration headache. Listen to your guides and have fun! The river is a great place to let yourself have a little fun and embrace your inner child. Your amazing guides will make it as safe and fun of an experience as possible.

Flaming Gorge Green River Rafting One Day Trips

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Flaming Gorge One Day River Rafting On Utah’s Green River

Looking for an adventure that has great scenery, fun rapids and you are only out for a day? Try a guided float trip on Utah’s Green River below Flaming Gorge Dam. This is the most popular stretch of the Green River with people rafting and floating it on a daily basis from April through October. Our one day raft trip begins in Vernal, Utah meeting at our warehouse at 8:30 a.m. We depart for the river by 9:00 a.m., the shuttle drive is approximately 50 minutes to the put in point at the base of the Flaming Gorge Dam. At the put in point the guide staff will assist you with life jackets, safety orientation and how to ride in the rafts for the day. Once on the river you will experience an incredible 7 mile float trip with spectacular scenery, peaceful stretches of calm water interspersed with fun class 2 white water.

The guides will provide you with interpretation about the region, pointing out geology, fauna, plant life and human history. This corner of Utah has some unbelievable rock formations, the Uinta Mountain Group is the predominant geological formation along the river. This rock is approximately 700 to 800 millions year old. The river itself is one of the top cold water trout fisheries. There is an estimated 8,000 brown, rainbow and cutthroat trout per mile along this section of the Green River. With the crystal clear waters you can see the fish swimming beneath the rafts as you float past. A highlight for young kids. Mule deer, big horn sheep are another common site along the way. Along with a large variety of bird life.

Rapids on this section of the Green River are rated at Class 2 on a scale of 1 to 6. Class 6 rapids being unrunnable and class 1 water being very calm and peaceful. The class 2 rapids are perfect for beginners, young children fun but not scary. A couple of our favorite rapids are Bridge Rapid, Mother In Law and Dripping Springs. Splashy, great waves and lots of fun for everyone.

A deli sandwich buffet lunch served with all of the fixings will be served up mid way on the trip. The lunch spread has a little of something for everyone. Fresh fruits and vegetables, variety of lunch meats and deli sliced cheeses. Treats such as licorice and cookies, lemonade and ice water. Lunch is always a hit after paddling 3 or 4 miles along the river.

The one day raft trip from Flaming Gorge Dam to Little Hole is very popular and fills up quickly. It is highly recommended that you reserve your space in advance to secure a date that works best for your travel plans. Calling our office at 1-800-345-7238 is the best way to find out what dates have space available on them. We do need to have 6 or more people reserved to take a day trip out on the river.

If you are looking for a rafting trip longer than a one day trip we offer 2 and 3 day trips from Flaming Gorge Dam to Browns Park. We also offer 4 and 5 day rafting trips through Dinosaur National Monument on the Green River through Gates of Lodore Canyon and the Yampa River through the Yampa Canyon. All of our trips are all inclusive with the necessary river gear, transportation, guides and food. Not included would be state sales tax and guide gratuity (each trip varies a little on what you need on the trip sleep kit rentals are available for multi day adventures).

If you are looking for a one day river rafting trip in Utah give us a call. Offering incredible river rafting trips in Utah and Colorado since 1979 we are Vernal, Utah’s only locally owned and operated river rafting outfitter.

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