Multi day rafting near Moab
The short answer
Four multi day trips run within reach of Moab, and they differ enormously. Desolation Canyon is the best first one. Labyrinth has no rapids at all. Cataract has the biggest water in Utah. Gates of Lodore has the most river history.
All four include every meal, all camping equipment and the permits. Launches are capped by federal agencies, so peak dates sell out months ahead.
- Trips
- Four to choose from
- Length
- 1 to 6 days
- Difficulty
- Class I to V
- Minimum age
- 5 to 15 by trip
- Typical price
- $300 to $2,000
The four trips
One has no whitewater at all and one has the biggest in Utah. Read the age minimums and the day counts before you settle on a favourite.
Desolation Canyon
Five to six days and 84 miles on the Green River. Around 60 moderate rapids, Fremont rock art, outlaw era ranch sites and a flight into the launch. The one we recommend for a first multi day trip.
View the trip
Labyrinth Canyon
Four to six days of flatwater on the Green with no rapids at all, usually taking out at Mineral Bottom. Bowknot Bend, huge sandbar camps and exceptional night skies. Takes children from around 5, the lowest minimum of any multi day trip here.
View the trip
Cataract Canyon
One to five days on the Colorado inside Canyonlands National Park. Twenty six rapids in fourteen miles culminating in the Big Drops. The biggest whitewater in Utah, and not a first river trip.
View the trip
Gates of Lodore
Three to four days through Dinosaur National Monument, running the rapids Powell named in 1869 after wrecking a boat, and passing Steamboat Rock where the Yampa comes in. Roughly six hours drive from Moab, so a destination in its own right.
View the tripThe San Juan River also carries multi day trips, two to five days of calm water past cliff dwellings and rock art in Bears Ears country. It is further south and usually booked as its own trip rather than from Moab.
Compared side by side
| Trip | Class | Days | Min age | Drive from Moab | Typical price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Desolation | II to III | 5 to 6 | Often 8 | About 2 hrs | $1,400 to $1,900 |
| Labyrinth | I | 4 to 6 | Often 5 | About 1 hr | $1,100 to $1,600 |
| Cataract | IV to V | 1 to 5 | 12 to 15 | About 1 hr | $300 to $2,000 |
| Gates of Lodore | III to IV | 3 to 4 | 10 to 12 | About 6 hrs | $1,300 to $1,800 |
Prices are typical ranges across permitted outfitters and generally include every meal, all camping equipment, permits and return transport. Each outfitter sets its own rates and adjusts them seasonally, so confirm the current price when you book.
How to choose
Four questions, asked in this order, will get almost anyone to the right trip.
Have you rafted before?
If not, take Desolation or Labyrinth. Cataract is a poor first river trip and a very expensive way to discover you dislike Class V.
Who is coming?
Children under 8 point you at Labyrinth. Under 12 rules out Cataract and Lodore. A mixed group of ages and abilities is almost always happiest on Labyrinth or Desolation.
Rapids or quiet?
These pull in opposite directions. Labyrinth is the quietest and has no whitewater. Cataract is the loudest and has the most. Desolation and Lodore sit between, in that order.
How many days do you have?
Three or four points at Lodore or a short Cataract trip. Five or six opens up Desolation and Labyrinth, which are the more complete wilderness experiences. Add travel days on either side.
What camping actually involves
Broadly the same on all four trips, and worth knowing before you book, because this is the part people either love or find harder than expected.
| Where you sleep | Sandbar beaches. Tents you pitch yourself, or under the stars if the weather holds. Outfitters supply tents and sleeping kit |
|---|---|
| Toilets | A portable system carried in and carried out. No exceptions and no facilities anywhere on the river |
| Showers | None. The river is the shower |
| Food | Every meal cooked fresh on the beach by the guides, and consistently better than people expect. Dietary requirements accommodated if flagged at booking |
| Signal | None on any of these trips. Guides carry satellite communication for emergencies only |
| Your gear | Packed into dry bags each morning and unpacked each evening. Pack light and expect everything to get sandy |
| A typical day | Breakfast, load boats, four to six hours on the water broken by hikes and lunch, camp by mid afternoon with the rest of the day free |
If sleeping on sand without a shower for five nights sounds intolerable, say so now rather than on day two. Everyone else tends to come off the river wanting to go back.
Why these sell out in January
Every one of these rivers runs through federal land, and the managing agency caps how many boats launch each day. That cap is what preserves the solitude, and it is also why you cannot book these on short notice in peak season.
| Trip | Managed by | Book this far ahead |
|---|---|---|
| Labyrinth Canyon | Bureau of Land Management | A few weeks. The longest season and the easiest dates to find |
| Desolation Canyon | Bureau of Land Management | Two to three months for summer departures |
| Gates of Lodore | National Park Service | Several months. Among the most competitive permits in the West |
| Cataract Canyon | National Park Service | Several months, and longer for the high water weeks in late May and June |
Booking through a permitted outfitter means the permit is their problem rather than yours. Private trips require entering agency lotteries, where demand far exceeds supply on every one of these runs.
Common questions
Which multi day rafting trip is best for a first timer?
Desolation Canyon. The rapids are frequent enough to be fun but rarely intimidating, the camps are comfortable, the hiking is excellent and outfitters run it as a family trip. If you want no rapids at all, Labyrinth Canyon is the alternative.
What is included in a multi day rafting trip?
Guides, all boats and safety equipment, every meal, camping gear including tents and sleeping kit, the permits, and transport to the launch and back from the takeout. Not included: guide gratuity, personal items and anything you want to drink beyond what the outfitter carries.
How much do multi day rafting trips cost?
Roughly $1,100 to $2,000 per person for the four to six day trips, and from about $300 for a one day motorised Cataract Canyon trip. Price tracks length and boat type more than difficulty. Outfitters set their own rates and adjust them seasonally, so confirm the current price when you book.
Can children go on multi day rafting trips?
Yes, on the right one. Labyrinth Canyon takes children from around 5 because there are no rapids, and Desolation from around 8. Cataract and Lodore start at 10 to 15. Be realistic about whether a young child will manage several nights of camping.
Do I need to bring camping gear?
No. Outfitters supply tents, sleeping bags, pads, the kitchen, the toilet system and dry bags for your belongings. You bring clothing, toiletries, sun protection and any personal medication. Most operators send a packing list once you book.
How far in advance should I book?
For peak summer dates, two to three months minimum, and several months for Cataract or Lodore. Federal agencies cap daily launches on all four rivers, so availability is genuinely limited rather than a sales tactic. Labyrinth has the longest season and the most flexibility.
Days on the river, nights on the sand
Launch permits are capped on every one of these rivers. If you have fixed dates, particularly in June, start looking months out.