Moab rafting FAQ.
The short answer
Most people arrive with the same five questions. No, you do not need experience. Yes, you will get wet. Children can come from around 4 or 5 on the right trip. Half day floats run $79 to $125 and full days $130 to $240. And the season runs roughly March through October.
Everything below goes deeper. If you just want to pick a trip, the comparison page is faster.
Picking the right trip.
Do I need experience to go rafting near Moab?
No. Every trip listed on this site is fully guided and the guide handles navigation. On calm floats you barely paddle. On Class III and above you paddle on command and need to be reasonably fit, but prior rafting experience is not required for anything except Cataract Canyon, where it is strongly recommended rather than mandatory.
Which trip should I book if it is my first time?
The Moab Daily or Fisher Towers if you want easy and scenic, and Fisher Towers is the better of the two if you can spare the 25 minute drive. If you want genuine whitewater on your first trip, Westwater Canyon is manageable for a fit adult with no experience.
What is the difference between half day and full day?
Time and water. Half day floats run three to four hours at Class I to II and leave most of your day free for Arches or Canyonlands. Full days run six to ten hours, include lunch, and cover Class II to IV depending on which you book. A full day consumes your whole day once shuttle time is counted.
Is a multi day trip worth it?
If you have the time, yes, and most guests say the camping rather than the rapids is what they remember. Desolation Canyon is the one we would put a first timer on. It is a genuine commitment though: five nights on sand, no showers, no phone signal.
How do I know which whitewater class suits me?
Book for the least confident person in your group rather than the most enthusiastic. Class I to II is genuinely relaxed. Class II to III is exciting without being frightening. Class III to IV involves real consequence and briefings about swimming. The safety guide describes each range in detail.
Money and timing.
How much does a Moab rafting trip cost?
Half day floats typically run $79 to $125 per person, full days $130 to $240, and multi day expeditions from about $300 for a one day motorised Cataract trip up to $2,000 for a long paddle expedition. Outfitters set their own rates and adjust them seasonally, so treat these as orientation and confirm current pricing when you book.
How far in advance should I book?
Half day floats have good availability and a week or two is usually fine. Westwater and Cataract are capped by federal launch permits and need two to four weeks minimum in peak season. Multi day expeditions often sell out several months ahead, particularly for high water dates in late May and June.
Are there discounts or deals?
Sometimes. Shoulder season, midweek departures and larger groups are where genuine savings exist. We list current offers on the deals page when outfitters are running them, and say so plainly when they are not rather than manufacturing urgency.
What happens if the weather is bad?
Rain rarely cancels a trip, since you are getting wet anyway. Lightning, flash flood risk and dangerously high flows do. Cancellation and refund terms are set by each outfitter and vary considerably, so read them before booking. Our policies page covers how these generally work.
Do you charge a booking fee?
No. This site is an independent comparison guide. We do not take bookings or handle payment. Your reservation and your contract are with the outfitter directly. See how we work for how the site is funded.
What actually happens.
Will I get wet?
Yes, on every trip. Even calm floats involve splash, and on Class III and above you will be thoroughly soaked. Wear quick drying synthetics, leave cotton behind because it holds water and gets cold fast, and put a dry change of clothes in the vehicle for the drive back.
What should I wear and bring?
A swimsuit under quick dry clothing, shoes that stay on your feet, high SPF sunscreen, a hat with a strap, sunglasses with a retainer and a water bottle. Leave flip flops and anything you would hate to lose. The safety guide has the full list including multi day trips.
Is lunch included?
On full day and multi day trips, yes, and it is generally a proper riverside spread rather than a packed sandwich. Half day trips do not include lunch, though outfitters provide drinking water. Tell them about dietary requirements when booking and most will accommodate them.
Can I bring my phone or a camera?
At your own risk. Outfitters supply dry bags, but bags get opened and phones get dropped. A cheap waterproof case with a lanyard is the sensible answer. On whitewater runs, consider leaving it in the vehicle entirely, since you will want both hands.
Should I tip my guide?
Gratuity is customary and is not included in the trip price. Guides work long physical days and much of their income comes from tips. Amounts vary, but a rough guide used across the industry is around 10 to 20 percent of the trip cost, adjusted for how good the day was.
Rafting with children.
How young can children go rafting near Moab?
Around 4 or 5 on the Moab Daily and Fisher Towers floats, which are the only trips with minimums that low. Full day trips generally start at 8, Westwater at 12 and Cataract between 12 and 15. Minimums often rise during spring high water.
Do children need to be able to swim?
Not on Class I to II floats. Everyone wears a properly fitted Coast Guard approved life jacket and guides are trained in swiftwater rescue. Tell the outfitter in advance if a child is a non swimmer so they can fit the jacket carefully and seat them where a guide can reach them quickly.
Will children be bored on a calm float?
Possibly, on the long flat stretches. Good guides handle it with swim stops, by letting children paddle, and with stories about the canyon. If your child needs constant motion, the full day version with a proper swim break is the better booking than the half day.
Can we take a multi day trip with kids?
Yes, on the right one. Labyrinth Canyon takes children from around 5 because there are no rapids, and Desolation from around 8. Be realistic about whether a young child will enjoy several nights of camping with no showers and no signal.
When to come.
When is the best time to raft near Moab?
Depends what you want. April to June brings the snowmelt peak: the biggest water, the most powerful rapids and the coldest temperatures. July and August are warm, reliable and busiest, and best for families and swimming. September and October run lower and more technical, with the best light and far fewer people.
Can you raft near Moab year round?
Not commercially. The season runs roughly March or April through October, with the Moab Daily having the longest window. Most operations shut down from November through February, though a few run occasional winter floats when weather permits. Contact operators directly for off season availability.
How hot does it get?
Summer air temperatures in Moab regularly exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit, and there is very little shade on the water. Sun and heat cause more problems for rafting guests than rapids do. Drink steadily, reapply sunscreen mid trip, and tell your guide immediately if you feel unwell.
Does water level really change the trip?
Substantially. A run rated Class III in August can be a serious Class IV during the May peak, and that difference is larger than the gap between two neighbouring runs. It also affects age minimums, which many outfitters raise at high water. Ask what the river is doing the week you are going.
Who we are.
Do you operate these rafting trips?
No. We are an independent comparison guide. Every trip is run by a third party outfitter holding current federal and state permits, and your booking contract is with them. We do not own boats or employ guides, which is exactly why we can compare operators without a stake in which one you pick.
How do you decide which outfitters to list?
We only list operators holding current commercial use authorisation from the Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service or Forest Service for the stretch they run, and carrying commercial liability insurance. Permit status is public record and we check it each season.
Do you have reviews from guests?
No, because we do not run trips and collecting reviews for experiences we did not provide would be misleading. Where we describe what guests say about a run, we summarise themes from public reviews and link to the source. We would rather have no reviews than invented ones.
How is this site funded?
Full details are on the disclosure page. In short, we intend to earn affiliate commission on bookings made through the site, at no extra cost to you. We will name every programme before a single link goes live.
Still deciding?
The comparison page puts every trip side by side with difficulty, minimum age and typical price. It is the fastest way to narrow things down.