Journey Into the Great Unknown
A secret world of hidden canyons awaits for you to make your descent. Discover spectacular scenery. Disconnect from daily life as you know it. Embrace the splashing rapids as you paddle through America’s canyons less traveled at the heart of the Colorado Plateau. Live and breathe the legacy of John Wesley Powell, one of America’s greatest canyoneers of all time. This time around, the expedition is yours. What will you uncover there?
FLAMING GORGE
GATES OF LODORE
DESOLATION CANYON
CATARACT CANYON
GRAND CANYON
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FLAMING GORGE, UT
“It enters the range by a flaring, brilliant red gorge, that may be seen from the north a score of miles away.”
–J.W. Powell
This impressive sight—named Flaming Gorge by Powell and his crew on the 1869 expedition—was the first of the mysterious canyons the explorers faced on their journey along the Green River.
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GATES OF LODORE
In Lodore Canyon the Powell expedition first encountered unruly whitewater, losing a boat (and almost some of its crew) in Disaster Falls.
“No quiet in all that time; but its walls and cliffs, its peaks and crags, its amphitheaters and alcoves told a story…of beauty and grandeur.”
–J.W. Powell
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DESOLATION CANYON
Powell called it a “region of the wildest desolation,” but this dramatic and remote canyon is full of beauty. Towering terraced walls, talus slopes and colorful crags rise from the river, as thrilling whitewater beckons the constant attention of its explorers.
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CATARACT CANYON
Venturing down the Colorado River into what is now Canyonlands, the Powell crew sees the biggest whitewater yet, while the landscape mesmerizes.
“At this great depth the river rolls in solemn majesty. The cliffs are reflected from the more quiet river, and we seem to be in the depths of the earth…”
–J.W. Powell
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GRAND CANYON
“The walls now are more than a mile in height—a vertical distance difficult to appreciate.”
–J.W. Powell
Powell named this majestic chasm Grand Canyon, unlocking a national treasure. But the rapids here challenged the crew to its core and three men would never see the historic expedition to its completion.
Five Magical Destinations
In the spirit of exploration, OARS is proud to offer its Hidden Canyons collection. But unlike early expeditions, these adventures include top-notch guides and equipment, impressive meals, and hassle-free camping.
