The Moab Daily float
The short answer
The Moab Daily is the most booked river trip in Moab. A half day Class I to II float on the Colorado, launching minutes from Main Street, with a few small rapids and long calm stretches. Most outfitters take children from around 4 or 5, and no experience is needed.
Book it for convenience. If you can spare a 25 minute drive, Fisher Towers is the same easy water beneath far better scenery, and most people find it the more memorable trip.
Easy enough for a five year old, scenic enough that nobody minds the flat water in between. If you are only doing one river trip on this holiday and you are short on time, this is usually the one.
At a glance
| Difficulty | Class I to II. Small waves, long calm stretches, nothing technical asked of guests |
|---|---|
| Duration | 3 to 4 hours typical, roughly 2 to 2.5 hours on the water |
| Departures | Usually morning and afternoon, daily in season |
| Minimum age | Often 4 to 5 with most outfitters, the lowest of any guided run near Moab |
| Distance from Moab | None. Launches on Highway 128 within minutes of Main Street |
| Season | Roughly March through October, the longest season of any Moab trip |
| Typical price | $79 to $120 per person across permitted outfitters |
| Included | Guide, raft, paddles, life jacket and shuttle. Lunch on full day versions only |
| Not ideal for | Anyone specifically wanting whitewater |
Prices, departure times and age minimums are set by individual outfitters and change seasonally. Confirm current details before you book.
Fourteen miles of canyon, right outside town
The Moab Daily runs the stretch of Colorado alongside Highway 128, northeast of town. It is the most convenient river trip in the region by a wide margin: no long shuttle, no early alarm, and you are back with most of the day still ahead of you.
The water is genuinely easy. A handful of Class II riffles with names like Rocky Rapid and Ida Gulch break up long quiet stretches where the current does the work and the guide mostly talks. Expect to get splashed. Do not expect to be thrown around.
The canyon is what you are really here for. Depending on the section you will pass petroglyph panels and, if the day is kind, bighorn on the bank. It is a remarkably good way to see country that reads completely differently from the water.
Half day or full day?
Most outfitters run this stretch as both. The half day covers roughly half the mileage in about three hours. The full day runs the whole fourteen miles, adds a riverside lunch and usually a swim stop, and raises the minimum age to around 8. It is worth the extra hours if you are travelling with children who will happily spend the afternoon in and out of the water.
If your schedule is tight and you also want Arches, take the half day. It pairs neatly with a late afternoon in the park.
The one that actually works for young children
Age minimums
Most Moab Daily operators take children from around 4 or 5, the lowest minimum of any guided trip in the area. Compare that with 12 for Westwater and 12 to 15 for Cataract. If you have small children this is effectively the only option, and happily it is also a genuinely good trip.
Do they need to swim?
Not for this stretch. Everyone wears a properly fitted Coast Guard approved life jacket and guides are swiftwater rescue trained. Falling out is uncommon on Class I to II water. Tell the outfitter if a child is a non swimmer so they can fit the jacket carefully and seat them accordingly.
Will they be bored?
The calm stretches are long. That is the honest answer. Good guides handle it with swim stops, letting children paddle, and stories about the canyon, and most children are delighted. If yours needs constant motion, the full day with a proper swim break is the better booking.
Practical things
Sun is the real hazard, not the water. High SPF before you launch and again mid trip, a hat with a strap, sunglasses with a retainer, and shoes that stay on. Bring a change of clothes for the drive back, because everyone gets wet.
How it compares
| Feature | Moab Daily | Fisher Towers | Full day trips |
|---|---|---|---|
| Difficulty | Class I to II | Class I to II | Class II to III |
| Duration | 3 to 4 hrs | 3 to 4 hrs | 6 to 8 hrs |
| Drive from Moab | None | About 25 miles | Varies |
| Minimum age | Often 4 to 5 | Often 4 to 5 | Usually 8 and up |
| Scenery | Excellent canyon walls | Exceptional, the towers | More river, more variety |
| Lunch | Full day only | Full day only | Included |
| Best for | Convenience, young families, tight schedules | Photography, best scenery for the same effort | A proper day out with more water |
| Trip page | You are here | Fisher Towers | Full day trips |
Our honest take: if convenience matters most, book the Daily. If you can spare the 25 minute drive, Fisher Towers is the same easy water beneath considerably more dramatic scenery, and most people find it the more memorable trip.
Common questions
Is the Moab Daily actually exciting, or just a float?
Mostly a float, with a few genuinely fun Class II riffles. That is the honest answer. If you are hoping to be thrown around by whitewater you will be disappointed, so book Westwater instead. If you want a beautiful, relaxed half day that works for everyone in the group, this is exactly right.
How young can children be?
Most outfitters running this stretch take children from around 4 or 5, the lowest minimum of any guided trip near Moab. Confirm with your specific operator, since it varies slightly and some raise it during spring high water.
How long is the trip really?
Budget 3 to 4 hours door to door for a half day, of which roughly 2 to 2.5 hours are on the water. The rest is check in, the safety briefing, the short shuttle and getting off the river. Full day versions run 6 to 8 hours with lunch included.
What should I bring?
A swimsuit under quick dry clothes, shoes that stay on your feet, high SPF sunscreen, a hat with a strap, sunglasses with a retainer and a water bottle. Leave cotton, phones and anything you would hate to lose. Bring a dry change of clothes for the drive back.
When is the best time to go?
This has the longest season of any Moab trip, roughly March through October. Summer is warmest, busiest and best for swimming. Spring runs higher and faster with more push. September and October bring the best light and far fewer people, though the water turns cold.
Can I do this and Arches in the same day?
Yes, and plenty of people do. A morning half day float leaves the whole afternoon for Arches, or take the afternoon departure after an early park visit. The trip launches minutes from town, which is what makes the pairing work.
Book the easy one
The Moab Daily runs twice daily through the season and has the most availability of any trip here. Morning slots still fill in spring and autumn, so a week or two ahead is sensible.