Desolation Canyon rafting
The short answer
Desolation Canyon is the best first multi day river trip in Utah. Five to six days and roughly 84 miles on the Green River through Desolation and Gray Canyons, with around 60 mostly Class II to III rapids, sandy beach camps, Fremont rock art and outlaw era ranch sites. No previous rafting experience needed.
Choose it over Cataract Canyon if you want the wilderness and the camping more than the whitewater. Choose Labyrinth Canyon instead if you want no rapids at all.
- Difficulty
- Class II to III
- Duration
- 5 to 6 days
- Distance
- About 84 miles
- Minimum age
- Often 8
- Typical price
- $1,400 to $1,900
At a glance
| Difficulty | Class II to III. Around 60 rapids across the trip, none of them intimidating for a guided guest |
|---|---|
| Duration | Typically 5 to 6 days. Some outfitters run a shorter 4 day version |
| Distance | Roughly 84 miles from Sand Wash to Swaseys Beach near the town of Green River |
| Minimum age | Commonly 8, and some outfitters go lower on family departures |
| Getting there | Most trips fly guests into the Sand Wash launch in a small plane, which is part of the experience |
| Season | Roughly May through September |
| Typical price | $1,400 to $1,900 per person |
| Included | Guides, all boats and safety gear, every meal, camping equipment, permits and return transport |
| Permit | Bureau of Land Management. Desolation Canyon is also a National Historic Landmark |
| Not ideal for | Anyone chasing big whitewater, or anyone who cannot spend five nights without a shower |
Outfitters set their own rates and adjust them seasonally, so confirm the current price and the age minimum for your specific dates when you book.
Deeper than you expect, and almost empty
John Wesley Powell named this canyon in 1869 and the name stuck, though it is a poor description. Desolation is green in places, thick with cottonwood and tamarisk along the banks, and full of life. What it genuinely lacks is people. Once you launch at Sand Wash you will not cross a road until the takeout, five or six days later.
The canyon cuts through the Tavaputs Plateau and at its deepest points the rim stands more than a mile above the river, which puts it in the same range as parts of the Grand Canyon. Two canyons make up the trip. Desolation runs first and holds most of the human history. Gray Canyon follows, narrower and darker, with the last cluster of rapids before the takeout.
What you stop for
The hiking is a large part of why this trip takes six days rather than three. Side canyons open off the river regularly, and guides pull over for Fremont culture rock art panels, homestead and ranch remains from the late 1800s, and springs that run clear when the river does not.
This stretch also sits in the country associated with Butch Cassidy and the outlaws who used the surrounding canyons as hideouts, and several of the old ranch sites along the river connect to that history. Your guides will know which stories hold up and which are embellishment, and the good ones will tell you the difference.
The rapids
Around 60 named and unnamed rapids across the trip, almost all Class II with a handful reaching Class III at higher flows. They arrive steadily rather than in a single terrifying sequence, which is exactly what makes this a good first multi day trip. You get the fun of running whitewater without the anxiety that Cataract Canyon produces.
What the days actually look like
The rhythm
Coffee at first light, breakfast cooked by the guides, then everyone packs their own dry bag and loads the boats. Four to six hours on the water broken by a hike and a lunch stop, then camp by mid afternoon with the rest of the day free.
Camp
Sandy beaches, tents you pitch yourself, and a portable toilet system carried in and out. No showers, though the river works. Meals are cooked fresh on the beach and are consistently better than anyone expects, including dietary requirements if you flag them when booking.
Getting to the launch
Most outfitters fly guests into Sand Wash in a small plane, which takes about half an hour and is worth the trip on its own. Some drive in instead. Ask which your operator does, because it changes the first day considerably.
Disconnection
No signal, for six days. Guides carry satellite communication for emergencies, and that is the extent of it. Most people find this is the part they remember, though it is worth telling anyone expecting to reach you.
How it compares
| Feature | Desolation | Labyrinth | Cataract | Gates of Lodore |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class | II to III | I, flatwater | IV to V | III to IV |
| Days | 5 to 6 | 4 to 6 | 1 to 5 | 3 to 4 |
| Minimum age | Often 8 | Often 5 | 12 to 15 | 10 to 12 |
| River | Green | Green | Colorado | Green |
| The draw | Balance of rapids, hiking and history | Total quiet, no rapids | The biggest water in Utah | Powell history and real whitewater |
| First multi day trip? | Best choice | Also excellent | No | Only if fit and confident |
| Trip page | You are here | Labyrinth | Cataract | Lodore |
Who runs Desolation
Book it if
You want a proper wilderness river trip without committing to Class V. You are bringing children old enough to camp. History and rock art interest you as much as the rapids. Or you have a week and want to spend it somewhere with no road access.
Related trips
Common questions
Is Desolation Canyon a good first multi day rafting trip?
It is the one we would recommend first. 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 have never spent nights on a river and want to find out whether you enjoy it, this is the trip that answers the question.
How hard are the rapids in Desolation Canyon?
Around 60 rapids across roughly 84 miles, almost all Class II with a few reaching Class III at higher flows. They come steadily rather than in one frightening sequence. Guided guests with no experience handle them without difficulty, though you will get wet and the boat will bounce.
How do you get to the launch?
Most outfitters fly guests into the Sand Wash launch in a small plane, a flight of roughly half an hour over the Tavaputs Plateau that many people rate among the highlights. Some operators drive in instead. Ask which yours does, because it changes the shape of the first day.
What is the minimum age for Desolation Canyon?
Commonly 8, and some outfitters run family departures with a lower minimum. It is one of the more accessible multi day trips for children, because the rapids are moderate and the camps are comfortable. Confirm for your specific dates, since minimums can rise during high water in early season.
What is the camping like?
Sandy beaches, tents you pitch yourself, a portable toilet system carried in and out, and no showers. Guides cook every meal fresh on the beach and generally accommodate dietary requirements if you tell them at booking. Most guests report the camping is what they remember longest, ahead of the rapids.
Will I have phone signal?
No, for the entire trip. There is no coverage anywhere in the canyon and no road access between the launch and the takeout. Guides carry satellite communication for emergencies. Tell anyone who might expect to reach you before you go.
Six days, no roads
Desolation launches are limited by the Bureau of Land Management and summer departures fill well ahead. If you have fixed dates, book early.