Gates of Lodore rafting.
The short answer
Lodore is the trip where river history and real whitewater meet. Three to four days on the Green River through Dinosaur National Monument, running Class III to IV rapids that Powell's 1869 expedition named after they wrecked a boat here. Disaster Falls, Triplet Falls and Hell's Half Mile are the crux.
Fitter and more serious than Desolation Canyon, considerably less committing than Cataract. Permits are among the hardest to get in the West, so book early.
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- Difficulty
- Class III to IV
- Duration
- 3 to 4 days
- Distance
- About 44 miles
- Minimum age
- Often 10 to 12
- Typical price
- $1,300 to $1,800
Lodore at a glance.
| Difficulty | Class III to IV. Hell's Half Mile is the hardest single rapid and gets serious at high water |
|---|---|
| Duration | Typically 3 to 4 days |
| Distance | Around 44 miles from the Lodore launch to Split Mountain |
| Minimum age | Commonly 10 to 12, rising at high water with some outfitters |
| Where | Dinosaur National Monument, on the Colorado and Utah border. A long drive from Moab, roughly 6 hours |
| Season | Roughly May through September, with the biggest water in late May and June |
| Typical price | $1,300 to $1,800 per person. Outfitters set their own rates and adjust them seasonally, so confirm the current price when you book |
| Included | Guides, boats and safety gear, every meal, camping equipment, permits and shuttle |
| Permit | National Park Service. Among the most competitive river permits in the West |
| Not ideal for | Young children, first time rafters, or anyone who cannot make the drive |
Worth being clear about the geography: this is not a Moab day trip. Dinosaur National Monument sits roughly six hours north, so Lodore is a destination in its own right rather than something to slot into a Moab itinerary.
The canyon that wrecked Powell's boat.
In June 1869 John Wesley Powell's expedition entered a gap in the Uinta Mountains where the Green River disappears into a wall of deep red quartzite. Powell named it the Gates of Lodore after a poem. Within a few miles they lost the boat No Name in a rapid they then named Disaster Falls, along with a third of their remaining supplies.
The entrance is genuinely abrupt. The river runs through open sagebrush country, then the canyon simply opens in front of you and closes overhead, and the walls stay high for the next twenty miles. It is one of the most dramatic canyon entrances on any river in the West.
Below the whitewater the canyon opens into Echo Park, where the Yampa River joins the Green beneath Steamboat Rock. This confluence was the focus of a major conservation fight in the 1950s over a proposed dam, and the campaign to stop it is often described as the moment the modern environmental movement found its footing.
Three rapids everyone remembers.
Disaster Falls
Where Powell lost the No Name in 1869. Usually run in two parts, with a scout beforehand. The name does most of the work on guest nerves, and the rapid itself is manageable.
Triplet Falls
Three linked drops requiring the guide to set up early and hold a line through all of them. Technical rather than violent, and one of the more satisfying rapids on the run.
Hell's Half Mile
The crux. A long boulder garden with a substantial drop at the top, almost always scouted. At high water it becomes a serious piece of whitewater and the reason the minimum age exists.
As everywhere, the rating moves with flow. In late May and June these run big and pushy. By August the same rapids become technical rock dodging that many experienced rafters prefer. Ask your outfitter what the river is doing the week you are going.
Lodore versus the other multi day trips.
| Gates of Lodore | Desolation | Cataract | Labyrinth | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class | III to IV | II to III | IV to V | I, flatwater |
| Days | 3 to 4 | 5 to 6 | 1 to 5 | 4 to 6 |
| Minimum age | 10 to 12 | Often 8 | 12 to 15 | Often 5 |
| Drive from Moab | About 6 hours | About 2 hours | About 1 hour | About 1 hour |
| The draw | Powell history and genuine whitewater | Wilderness and moderate rapids | The biggest water in Utah | Silence and night skies |
| Permit difficulty | Among the hardest in the West | Moderate | Hard for peak dates | Easier |
| You are here | Desolation | Cataract | Labyrinth |
Who runs Lodore.
Book it if
You want real whitewater on a multi day trip without going all the way to Class V. River history genuinely interests you. You are fit, comfortable in moving water, and can commit to the drive. Three or four days suits you better than six.
Skip it if
You are travelling with children under 10. This is your first river trip, in which case Desolation is the better start. Or you are based in Moab and the six hour drive does not fit the plan.
Related trips
Desolation Canyon
Milder water, longer trip, easier permits and a shorter drive.
View tripYampa River
The Green's undammed tributary, joining at Echo Park.
Explore the riverAll Multi Day Trips
Every overnight expedition near Moab, side by side.
Compare tripsGates of Lodore FAQs.
How difficult is the Gates of Lodore?
Class III to IV, with Hell's Half Mile the hardest single rapid and the one that gets serious at high water. Guided guests without prior rafting experience do run it, but it is a step up from Desolation Canyon and you should be fit and comfortable in moving water before booking.
How far is Gates of Lodore from Moab?
Roughly six hours by road. Dinosaur National Monument sits on the Colorado and Utah border well north of Moab, so this is a destination trip rather than something to add to a Moab itinerary. Plan travel days either side.
What is the minimum age?
Commonly 10 to 12 depending on the outfitter, and several raise it during the high water weeks in late May and June. If you are close to the limit, ask about your specific dates rather than relying on the published general minimum.
Why are permits so hard to get?
The National Park Service caps launches to protect the canyon, and demand far exceeds what is available. Commercial outfitters hold allocated permits, which is why booking through one is far more practical than entering the private lottery. Even so, popular dates go early.
What is Echo Park?
The confluence where the Yampa River joins the Green beneath Steamboat Rock, below the main whitewater. It was the site of a proposed dam in the 1950s, and the campaign that stopped it is widely regarded as a formative moment for the modern conservation movement. Most trips stop there.
When is the whitewater biggest?
Late May and June, driven by snowmelt out of the Uinta Mountains. That window gives the most powerful water and the highest minimum ages. From July the flow drops and the rapids become more technical, which many experienced rafters prefer.
Run Hell's Half Mile.
Lodore permits are among the most competitive in the West. If you want a specific week, particularly in June, start looking months out.
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