Canyonlands National Park Rafting & Hiking
Canyonlands Tours 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
Cataract Canyon Whitewater Rafting
Location:
Utah
Adventure Level:
Moderately Challenging
Minimum Age:
9 (12 – 16 during high water)
Stillwater & Cataract Canyon Hiker
Location:
Utah
Adventure Level:
Moderately Challenging
Minimum Age:
12
John Wesley Powell Retrace
Location:
Utah & Colorado
Adventure Level:
Moderately Challenging
Minimum Age:
16
Colorado River Rowing Clinic
Location:
Utah
Adventure Level:
Challenging
Minimum Age:
18 (16 with parent/guardian also in the class)
This was our first multi-day rafting trip and it was incredible. The guides were outstanding! These guys worked around the clock to make sure we were well fed and having a blast. Highly recommend booking this trip through OARS. After seeing other outfitters on the river, it was clear that the experience you receive with OARS is second to none. Can't wait to do it again.
2022 OARS Cataract Canyon guest
Map
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 and hiking trips run from spring through summer and into fall.
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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