Fisher Towers rafting
The short answer
Fisher Towers is the most scenic easy rafting trip near Moab. It is a half day Class I to II float on the Colorado River beneath 900 foot sandstone spires, with no whitewater to speak of and no experience required. Most outfitters take children from around 4 or 5.
Choose it over the Moab Daily if you can spare the 25 minute drive, because the scenery is substantially better for the same effort, time and money. Choose the Daily instead if you want to launch from town.
- Difficulty
- Class I to II
- Duration
- 3 to 4 hours
- Minimum age
- Often 4 or 5
- From Moab
- 25 miles
- Typical price
- $85 to $125
At a glance
| Difficulty | Class I to II. Gentle riffles and long flat stretches. No paddling skill required |
|---|---|
| Duration | 3 to 4 hours door to door, roughly 2 to 2.5 hours on the water |
| Departures | Usually morning and afternoon through the season |
| Minimum age | Often 4 or 5, among the lowest of any guided trip in the area |
| Distance from Moab | About 25 miles northeast along Highway 128, roughly 25 minutes |
| Season | Roughly April through October |
| Typical price | $85 to $125 per person across permitted outfitters |
| Included | Guide, raft, paddles, life jacket, shuttle. Lunch on full day versions only |
| Best for | Photography, families with young children, anyone who wants scenery over adrenaline |
| Not ideal for | Anyone specifically after whitewater. Try Westwater Canyon instead |
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.
The best scenery on the river, for the least effort
Fisher Towers are a cluster of dark red Cutler sandstone spires standing several hundred feet above the Colorado River, capped with harder Moenkopi rock that has protected them while the softer stone around them eroded away. The tallest, the Titan, rises roughly 900 feet from its base and is among the tallest freestanding natural towers in the United States.
From the road they are impressive. From the water, with the river carrying you slowly past and the towers changing shape as your angle shifts, they are something else entirely. This is the trip people photograph.
The water itself asks nothing of you. A handful of Class I to II riffles, long calm pools, and a guide who spends most of the trip talking about the geology, the westerns filmed here, and the bighorn that come down to drink. If you want your pulse raised, this is the wrong trip and we would point you at Westwater Canyon.
When the light is best
The towers face roughly west, so late afternoon trips catch them lit directly and glowing. Morning departures put them in partial shadow, which is cooler and quieter but less dramatic in photographs. If the pictures matter to you, book the afternoon slot and accept the heat.
Half day or full day
Most outfitters run this stretch as a half day. Some offer a full day that continues downstream toward the Moab Daily section with a riverside lunch and a swim stop. The full day is better value per hour and better for children who want time in the water, but the towers themselves are all in the first half either way.
One of two trips that works for small children
Age minimums
Fisher Towers and the Moab Daily are the only guided trips near Moab that routinely take children as young as 4 or 5. Everything else starts at 8, and the whitewater runs start at 12. If you are travelling with young children, your choice is effectively between these two.
Do they need to swim?
Not on this stretch. Everyone wears a properly fitted Coast Guard approved life jacket and guides are trained in swiftwater rescue. Coming out of the boat is uncommon on Class I to II water. Tell the outfitter in advance if a child is a non swimmer so they can fit the jacket carefully.
Will they be bored?
Possibly, on the flat stretches. Honest answer. Good guides handle it with swim stops, letting children paddle, and stories about the towers. If your child needs constant motion, the full day with a proper swim break is the better booking.
The real hazard is sun
Not the water. High SPF before launch and again mid trip, a hat with a strap, sunglasses with a retainer, and shoes that stay on. Bring dry clothes for the drive back. See the safety guide for the full list.
How it compares
| Feature | Fisher Towers | Moab Daily | 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 | 25 miles | None | Varies |
| Minimum age | Often 4 or 5 | Often 4 or 5 | Usually 8 and up |
| Scenery | Exceptional, the towers | Very good canyon walls | More river, more variety |
| Whitewater | Minimal | Minimal | Moderate |
| Lunch | Full day only | Full day only | Included |
| Best for | Photography and scenery | Convenience and tight schedules | A full day with some excitement |
| Trip page | You are here | Moab Daily | Full day trips |
Our take: these two trips cost about the same and take about the same time, and Fisher Towers gives you noticeably better scenery for a 25 minute drive. Unless you are tight on time or carsick children are a factor, this is the better booking of the two.
Who books Fisher Towers
Book it if
You want the best scenery available from a raft near Moab. You are travelling with young children. Photography matters to you. Or someone in the group is nervous about water and you need a trip that will not frighten them.
Skip it if
You came for whitewater. This is a float, and people who expected rapids leave disappointed. Book Westwater Canyon for real Class IV, or a full day trip for something in between.
Related trips
Common questions
Are there any rapids on the Fisher Towers float?
A few small Class I to II riffles, and that is genuinely all. You will get splashed and the boat will bounce, but nobody is holding on for dear life. This is a scenic float, and the honest reason to book it is the towers rather than the water. For real rapids see Westwater Canyon.
How young can children be on the Fisher Towers trip?
Most outfitters running this stretch take children from around 4 or 5. That makes Fisher Towers and the Moab Daily the two most family accessible guided trips in the area. Confirm with your specific operator, as some raise the minimum during spring high water.
Is Fisher Towers better than the Moab Daily?
For scenery, clearly yes. The towers are the most dramatic thing you can see from a raft anywhere near Moab, and the two trips cost and last about the same. The Daily wins only on convenience, because it launches minutes from town while Fisher Towers involves a 25 minute drive up Highway 128.
What time of day should I book the Fisher Towers float?
Afternoon, if photographs matter to you. The towers face roughly west, so they are lit directly and glowing late in the day. Morning trips are cooler and quieter but put the rock in partial shadow. In July and August the morning slot is considerably more comfortable, so decide which you care about more.
What should I bring on the Fisher Towers float?
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 and anything you would hate to drop in the river. Bring dry clothes for the drive back, because everyone gets wet.
Can I combine Fisher Towers rafting with Arches in one day?
Yes, comfortably. A morning float leaves the whole afternoon and evening for Arches, which is about 30 minutes from the Fisher Towers area. Doing Arches first and rafting in the afternoon works too, and gives you the better light on the towers.
Book the pretty one
Fisher Towers runs through the season with good availability, though afternoon slots go first in spring and autumn because of the light. A week or two ahead is sensible.