Green River Rafting and History through Desolation and Gray Canyons, Utah

The Trip

Fly into the heart of Utah’s canyon country and raft through spectacular slickrock canyons for an unforgettable rafting adventure. Abundant wildlife, ancient petroglyphs, broad white-sand beaches, and more than 60 rapids await you on this incredible 84-mile stretch of the Green River that runs through Desolation and Gray canyons. Great for those passionate about redrock wilderness and those new to rafting. Minimum age 8.

The Green River splits the 10,000-foot-high Tavaputs Plateau of east-central Utah and forms a gorge deeper than the Grand Canyon. More than one million uninhabited acres surround this holdout of the Old West. Remote and inaccessible, this area is rich in adventure history, including exploration by John Wesley Powell and French trapper Denis Julien. In addition, Butch Cassidy, the Sundance Kid, and the rest of the Wild Bunch rode and camped here while evading the law. We can still escape to "outlaw country," because the Green River through Desolation Canyon remains unsettled and difficult to reach. Off-river, abandoned homesteads mark the end of some frontier dreams, and prehistoric rock art left by the Fremont Indians demonstrates evidence of longstanding habitation. Desolation and Gray canyons are on the National Register of Historic Places. However, our current administration is promoting the sale of gas and oil leases in this region, threatening these Native American and pioneer artifacts.

Despite the name Desolation Canyon, the river corridor is home to an array of fauna and flora. As we float, we will watch for bighorn sheep and great blue heron while listening to the call of the canyon wren. We will camp under groves of box elder, cottonwood, or juniper.

Three or four 18-foot, oar-powered rafts will carry us down the river, each navigated by an experienced, licensed river guide. If a sufficient number of trip members wish to participate in the paddling, an all-paddle boat will be added. Also, several inflatable kayaks will be included, so you can take turns playing in the river on your own. Let the leader know your preferences in advance.

Once in camp each day, you will have a chance to walk the side canyons, join in camp games, or simply find a quiet place to read, nap, fish, or absorb the beauty of the canyon and the sounds of the river.

Our trip starts in the afternoon in Green River, Utah, at the John Wesley Powell River Museum for a river orientation meeting. At this meeting we will give you your waterproof gear bag and day bag, answer all last-minute questions, and finalize arrangements for our departure the next morning.

On Day 2, we have an early morning departure to the airport where we’ll board 10-passenger, single-engine planes for our 45-minute flight up the Green River to Sand Wash, our launch point (flight included in the trip price). This remarkable, scenic flight -- at the most beautiful time of day -- will give us a bird’s-eye view of our route. The guides will drive our gear down to the river while we hike the approximately 2-mile trail down to the put-in.

Each day, we float through the vividly colored canyon. We'll stop for activities such as exploring the rich native history of ruins and rock art, swimming in a side-canyon stream, wildlife watching, and building sandcastles or playing on the beach. Our selection of nightly camps and midday stops will enhance the opportunity to enjoy the astounding features the river has to offer. The day-to-day itinerary is flexible and will depend upon river levels, weather conditions, and the inclination of trip members.

On our final day, we will return to Green River after a 30-minute van ride from our take-out point at Swasey's Rapid. Our arrival time is usually mid- to late-afternoon. Plan to stay in Green River that evening for our no-host farewell dinner. 

Getting There

Participants are responsible for travel arrangements to our meeting place in Green River, Utah. (Not Green River, Wyoming!)

You can fly to Salt Lake City, Utah, 180 miles northwest of Green River. From there you can rent a car, take a bus, or charter a flight to Green River or to Moab, Utah. Airport pick-up arrangements can be made. Some families fly to Salt Lake City then take the Bighorn Express Airport Shuttle van to Green River. You can also fly to Grand Junction, Colorado, about 100 miles east of Green River, and rent a car. Flying into one of these regional airports, renting a car, and enjoying the drive to Green River appears to be the most popular format for members who can afford the time. Canyonlands Field, 21 NE of Moab has more limited service with private shuttles available from Moab to drive the 34 miles from this airport to Green River. As always, carpooling among participants is strongly encouraged.

Please do not make non-refundable travel arrangements until notified to do so by the trip leader.

Accommodations and Food

Reserve your accommodations for the nights before and after the trip (not included in the trip price); as soon as you are notified by your trip leader you can do so. The leader will provide a list of recommended motels and campgrounds, as well as additional travel tips.

All meals are included while on the river, from lunch on the day we put in through lunch on the last day. Remember to eat breakfast and bring a snack before you arrive at our meeting place the first morning. Please indicate any dietary issues on your application form; the outfitter can accommodate some (but not all) special diets.

Water, juice, and sodas are provided, but alcoholic beverages are not. You may bring a limited supply of your own (there's not much space in the coolers) in aluminum cans or plastic bottles. Transfer any wine or liquor to plastic containers to avoid any chance of broken glass. No liquor is sold in Utah after 7:00 p.m. or before 11:00 a.m., or on Sundays and holidays.

If you feel the guides have been instrumental in your enjoyment of the trip, you may choose to provide a gratuity. The Sierra Club leader will collect this and distribute it evenly to the outfitter’s crew members. An average tip is $10-$25 per guest per day (total $50-$125 per person for the trip).

Trip Difficulty

The rapids on this family-friendly stretch of the Green River are considered Class I-III. The pace of the trip will be leisurely, allowing plenty of time for swimming, hiking, photography, and exploring. It is a great trip for new river runners and experienced canyon country aficionados alike. No previous rafting experience is necessary. However, this trip is a day or two longer than other raft trips, so we advise that families who choose to participate have already "tested" their children's endurance in the outdoors with multi-day camping experiences.

Daytime temperatures may be in the 80s-90s, offset by the refreshing water and lots of swimming. Night time lows will be in the 60s-70s. Thunderstorms with hail are possible, but rare, in July.

We have an excellent safety record and make every effort to ensure a safe trip. However, whitewater boating, hiking, and wilderness travel involve some risks. Physical challenges are inherent in rafting. You must be in good health and willing to participate in trip chores and activities. Trip members are expected to assist in loading and unloading the rafts. Participants must be able to take care of their personal needs and attend to their own tent sites.

We will provide life jackets sized to fit youngsters and adults, and run the rapids in oar-powered rafts to provide the safest possible experience. Our side-canyon explorations will range from easy walks to more difficult hikes that require some scrambling. Although these hikes will be optional, good physical condition is important in any wilderness outing. For maximum enjoyment of the river canyon experience, we strongly recommend that you engage in a program of regular exercise prior to the trip.

Equipment and Clothing

If you wish, you can rent a two-person dome tent, or "sleep kit" -- including sleeping bag, liner, inflatable pad, tent, and rain gear -- from our outfitter’s warehouse in Green River. Rental fees are nominal. You won't need much else beyond your personal items. We'll send an itemized equipment list to you upon acceptance to the trip.

References

Even a rudimentary grasp of the natural and human history of canyon country will greatly enhance your experience. The following books are especially recommended:

• Trimble, Stephen, and Terry Tempest Williams, Testimony: Writers of the West Speak Out on Behalf of Utah Wilderness. An extraordinary, historic statement on behalf of wilderness, Testimony is a powerful collection by 21 of today's most prominent writers. Originally created as a limited edition presented to Congress, this book is the result of an effort to communicate through art the urgent need to preserve threatened lands.
• Abbey, Edward, Desert Solitaire. Abbey's classic, poetic description of his seasons as a park ranger in Arches National Monument.
• Wild, Peter, The Desert Reader. A historical cross-section of writing about the desert Southwest, from oral tradition to Abbey.
• Crampton, Gregory C., Standing Up Country: The Canyonlands of Utah and Arizona. By an eminent local historian; perhaps the best human history of the area.
• Powell, John Wesley, The Exploration of the Colorado River and Its Canyons. The historic, heroic 1869 descent of the Green and Colorado rivers.
• Reisner, Marc, Cadillac Desert: The American West and Its Disappearing Water. The story of how the misuse of Western water has wasted a once-beautiful landscape. Though daunting in depth and scope, this book is a "must" for conservationists.
• Norton, Sandra Postel, Last Oasis: Facing Water Scarcity. A concise presentation of approaching global water supply issues, with encouraging proposals for avoiding local and international conflicts.
• Harvey, Mark W. T., A Symbol of Wilderness: Echo Park and the American Conservation Movement. An in-depth account of the battle to save Dinosaur and defeat the Echo Park Dam, and the role this struggle played in the growth of the conservation.
• Wilkinson, Charles F., Crossing The Next Meridian: Land, Water and the Future of the West. A historical overview and critique of the continuing impact of the "lords of yesteryear" in Western mining, ranching, forestry, fisheries and dam building, with sufficient focus on sustainable and viable alternatives.
• La Pierre, Yvette, Native American Rock Art: Messages from the Past. A nicely illustrated, 48-page introduction to Western rock art, geared to 9-12 year olds, but also a rewarding adult read.

Conservation

In addition to enjoying an exhilarating week of river-running, we will take time to consider the canyon country's most pressing conservation issues. We will frame our discussions in ways that the children can draw lessons from them, too. Our trip will take us through or close to several wilderness study areas under proposal, by the Sierra Club and others, for inclusion in the National Wilderness Preservation System. Unfortunately, Utah's congressional delegation has ignored these unique wilderness tracts, and we will show you how to join the fight to preserve them. After seeing this area firsthand, you won't find it difficult to champion it!

We would do well to remember the words of the late Wallace Stegner:

"The Utah deserts and plateaus and canyons are not a country of big returns, but a country of spiritual healing, incomparable for contemplation, meditation, solitude, quiet, awe, peace of mind and body. We were born of wilderness and we respond to it more than we sometimes realize. We depend upon it increasingly for relief from the termite life we have created. Factories, power plants, resorts, we can make anywhere. Wilderness, once we have given it up, is beyond our reconstruction."

Sierra Club National Outings is an equal-opportunity provider and when applicable will operate under permits obtained from U.S. federal land agencies.