SALT LAKE CITY, UT, Dec. 12, 2022 – Gifts of toys and clothes and miscellany will doubtless be long forgotten after the feeding frenzy of the 2022 Holidays.
But one gift – ADVENTURE – lingers for a lifetime.
Western River Expeditions makes it easy to put adventure under the Holiday tree through purchases of e-Gift cards.
With over 14 incredible expeditions, all honed to perfection over the past 62 years, Western offers unique experience gifts that your loved ones will never forget.
Here are Western River Expeditions’ top adventure recommendations for Holiday giving:
To accompany an e-Gift card bearing the excitement of a river rafting adventure, Western River Expeditions suggests that rafters-to-be recall the melody of the beloved carol, The Twelve Days of Christmas, and substitute these lyrics while basking on the river.
The Twelve Days of Christmas – Colorado River Style:
On the first day of rafting, my true love sent to me
On the second day of rafting, my true love sent to me
On the third day of rafting, my true love sent to me
On the fourth day of rafting, my true love sent to me
On the fifth day of rafting, my true love sent to me
On the sixth day of rafting, my true love sent to me
On the seventh day of rafting, my true love sent to me
On the eighth day of rafting, my true love sent to me
On the ninth day of rafting, my true love sent to me
On the tenth day of rafting, my true love sent to me
On the eleventh day of rafting, my true love sent to me
On the twelfth day of rafting, my true love sent to me
For more details on trips perfect for families please see https://www.westernriver.com/best-family-adventure-vacations
For a copy of Western River Expeditions’ 2023 catalog, questions, availability and reservations call toll-free: 866.904.1160 (Local: 801.942.6669) or visit the website at: http://www.westernriver.com/.
About Western River Expeditions
Established in 1961, Western River Expeditions is an adventure travel company headquartered in Salt Lake City, with operations and offices in Moab, Utah and Fredonia, Arizona. Annually from March through October it escorts more people down rivers on professionally guided rafting trips in Utah, Idaho and Arizona than any other company. It is the largest licensed outfitter in the Grand Canyon and the largest single tour provider in Moab, UT, through its division Moab Adventure Center (http://www.moabadventurecenter.com/).
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Media Contact:
For inquiries, interviews and photos please contact Widness & Wiggins PR:
Sara Widness: 802.234.6704 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Dave Wiggins: 720.301.3822 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Follow Western River Expeditions:
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SALT LAKE CITY, UT, NOV. 18, 2022 – The gurus of river rafting, Western River Expeditions, want everyone to fulfill their bucket lists with a river rafting vacation in 2023.
But there’s a catch.
The number of people fulfilling their river rafting dreams in the 2022 season exceeded pre-pandemic levels. Next year bookings are looking equally strong.
“Inquiries and bookings for the 2023 season are coming in earlier and heavier than usual. This augurs well for another upward trend in 2023 but underscores how important is for the early bird to make reservations now,” said Brandon Lake, co-owner and CMO.He underscored that family vacation dates are especially popular and are filling fast.
Why are such trips so loved by families? Lake referenced an industry colleague of Western River Expeditions who espouses the benefits that come to families who share a whitewater rafting vacation. Following is a synopsis of points made by Ben Sack, a rafting outfitter in Colorado.
Benefit #1: Family Rafting Increases Family Bonds by teaching kids to value time spent with their family; it strengthens bonds between siblings; and it can also help kids anticipate family time, rather than being dragged along to events or places that they perceive won’t interest them.
Benefit #2: Rafting Gets Kids (and Parents) Active by waking up the physical body. Adrenaline helps you to push your body and get a quality upper-body and core workout, all while enjoying every moment of paddling through exciting whitewater.
Benefit #3: White Water Rafting Connects Kids to Nature while rafting by or hiking through rugged wilderness rife with wildlife and geology.
Benefit #4: Rafting is Doable by Everyone from youngsters to seniors.
Benefit #5: White Water Rafting is FUN! When it comes down to it, the favorite benefit that comes from rafting is pretty simple: it’s a really good time!
“On a multi-day rafting trip, these benefits are accentuated,” says Lake. “Most families rate our rafting trips as one of the best family vacations they have ever experienced. Particularly today, the need for parents and children to disconnect and spend quality time together without distraction is greater than ever before.”
Here’s a sampling of Western River Expeditions’ 2023 rafting vacations with a family focus.
Green River 5-Day Desolation Canyon Adventure: This is one of the few trips anywhere that is as much fun for ages five, as it is for teens, parents and grandparents. The river and rapids on the Green River through Desolation Canyon are more fun than furious while paddling inflatable kayaks or sitting in guide-powered oar boats. There are easy hikes to Moonshiner's Cabin and abandoned ranches. Per person adult rates are from $1,955; rates for ages 5-15 are from $1,255. https://www.westernriver.com/desolation-canyon
Moab, Utah Vacation “Southwest Sampler”: Several things make this a great vacation package for families, perhaps especially for those with younger children. The activities packed into this Sampler trip are perfect for getting familiar with what the Moab area has to offer. But they are also paced in such a way as to avoid feeling pushed. Top off the last two days with a trip down the Colorado River through Castle Valley. Per person adult rates are from $855; rates for ages 5-15 are from $730. https://www.westernriver.com/moab-utah-vacation-sampler
2024 Grand Canyon 4 Day Rafting & Ranch tour: Good ol' cowboy charm is alive and well at the Bar 10 Ranch on the remote northern rim of the Grand Canyon. Delight in a day of ranch activities like skeet shooting, roping, horseback or ATV rides; enjoy meals prepared in the style of the west; and before bunking down in your covered wagon or cabin, enjoy cowboy entertainment. In the morning, ride a helicopter over the edge of the canyon rim and plunge into three days of river rafting on the Colorado River through Grand Canyon. Per person adult rates are from $2,275 for all, minimum age 9. NOTE: 2023 dates are sold out. 2024 season dates open for bookings on Tuesday, November 29, 2022, at 6:00 PM Mountain Time. https://www.westernriver.com/grand-canyon-rafting-tour
Lower Salmon River 5-Day Expedition: Select departures of the Lower Salmon are set apart exclusively for families. That's true dedication to the "Family Magic" that happens on rafting trips! The rapids of the Lower Salmon River are exciting, a little challenging and full of surprising splash - just like kids! Experience these rapids in an inflatable kayak or from the guide-powered oar boat. A simple evening menu, designed especially for kids, is available an hour before the more elaborate meal for the adults. Per person adult rates are from $1,990; rates for ages 5-15 are from $1,860. https://www.westernriver.com/lower-salmon-river
For more details on these trips please see https://www.westernriver.com/best-family-adventure-vacations
For a copy of Western River Expeditions’ 2023 catalog, questions, availability and reservations call toll-free: 866.904.1160 (Local: 801.942.6669) or visit the website at: http://www.westernriver.com/.
About Western River Expeditions
Established in 1961, Western River Expeditions is an adventure travel company headquartered in Salt Lake City, with operations and offices in Moab, Utah and Fredonia, Arizona. Annually from March through October it escorts more people down rivers on professionally guided rafting trips in Utah, Idaho and Arizona than any other company. It is the largest licensed outfitter in the Grand Canyon and the largest single tour provider in Moab, UT, through its division Moab Adventure Center (http://www.moabadventurecenter.com/).
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Media Contact:
For inquiries, interviews and photos please contact Widness & Wiggins PR:
Sara Widness: 802.234.6704 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Dave Wiggins: 720.301.3822 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Follow Western River Expeditions:
On Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/WesternRiverExpeditions
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/WesternRiver
On You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/user/bestraftingvacations?
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SALT LAKE CITY, UT, Nov. 15, 2022 – The date to remember is Tuesday, November 29, 2022. The time is 6:00 PM Mountain Time (that’s 5:00 PM Pacific, 7:00 PM Central, and 8:00 PM Eastern).
The occasion?
This is the day and hour when the public for the first time can access and book Western River Expeditions’ 2024 calendar of Grand Canyon rafting vacations. They can explore the full schedule of 2024 Grand Canyon raft trip departures and have a few dates ready for the evening kickoff on November 29.
This is the annual opportunity to secure reservations now for what many rafting aficionados consider the world’s top river rafting experience. Historically demand outpaces supply and within hours of the reservation window opening, many departures are sold out. For trip details, please see https://www.westernriver.com/grand-canyon-rafting.
“People ask us why we are taking reservations now for 2024; why not just focus on 2023?” said Brandon Lake, co-owner and CMO. “Due to these high-demand trips, we have to look two years ahead. Western’s 6 and 7-Day Grand Canyon trips for 2023 are sold out, and space is very limited in the upcoming season for shorter departures of 3 and 4 days.”
The river rafting season on the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon runs from April into September. The longer 6- and 7-day trips with the thrills of class III-V rapids are open to guests as young as 12. The minimum age is 9 for 3- and 4-day trips that come with class II-III rapids. Western’s exclusive J-Rig raft provides accessibility for first-time rafters on even the largest whitewater rapids in the Grand Canyon. Rafting trips include plenty of hiking in the Grand Canyon that allows access to waterfalls, slot canyons, native ruins and geologic wonders that the 5 million or so casual hikers from the rim will simply never see.
For details on the trips, Western River Expeditions offers complimentary Expedition Guides in PDF format (https://www.westernriver.com/expedition-guide). The comprehensive guides include river maps, overviews, full itineraries, camping and weather information, details on physical requirements, packing lists, and more.
Grand Canyon trips are always in high demand and fill quickly. The National Park Service regulates the number of rafting participants traveling through the Grand Canyon each year, creating space limitations. However, there are comparable (but perhaps lesser known) rafting destinations throughout the West such as Cataract Canyon and Desolation Canyon in Utah. For families wishing to experience a river rafting trip, Desolation Canyon is arguably one of the best family rafting adventures on the planet.
For a copy of Western River Expeditions’ annual catalog, questions, availability and reservations call toll-free: 866.904.1160 (Local: 801.942.6669) or visit the website at: http://www.westernriver.com/.
About Western River Expeditions
Western River Expeditions is an adventure travel company headquartered in Salt Lake City, with operations and offices in Moab, Utah and Fredonia, Arizona. Annually from March through October it escorts more people down rivers on professionally guided rafting trips in Utah, Idaho and Arizona than any other company. It is the largest licensed outfitter in the Grand Canyon and the largest single tour provider in Moab, UT, through its division Moab Adventure Center (http://www.moabadventurecenter.com/).
Western River Expeditions, providing Grand Canyon rafting, Utah and Idaho rafting, and international multi-sport trips, was founded in 1961 by Colorado River rafting pioneer Jack Currey. It has been named one of the “Best Adventure Travel Companies on Earth” by the editors of National Geographic Adventure magazine. The company is the proud recipient of the "Best of State" award through Utah’s Premier Recognition and Awards Program for the past eighteen consecutive years (2004-2021).
# # #
Media Contact:
For inquiries, interviews and photos please contact Widness & Wiggins PR:
Sara Widness: 802.234.6704 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Dave Wiggins: 720.301.3822 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Follow Western River Expeditions:
On Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/WesternRiverExpeditions
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/WesternRiver
On You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/user/bestraftingvacations?
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SALT LAKE CITY, UT, Sept. 13. 2022 – Western River Expeditions reports that 2022 river rafting season numbers are back to pre-pandemic highs.
“Based on our booking trends, we predictthat 2023 reservations will likelysurpass those of 2022. While this is good news for our company, it’s not necessarily good news for people who wait until the last minuteto make a reservation with us,” said Brandon Lake, co-owner and CMO.
To make it easy for early birds, by mid-summer, Western River Expeditions had already posted dates and prices for the 2023 season. See Western River Expedition’s website for details.
“Our most coveted whitewater rafting adventures are our 3, 4, 6, and 7-day departures through the Grand Canyon. As of early September, 95 percent of these 2023 departures are already sold out,” he said.
What does this mean for next year’s wanna-be river rafters?
“Act now,” he advised. “There are still a few dates available on our three and 4-day Grand Canyon expeditions.”
In addition to adventures through the Grand Canyon, Western River Expeditions also brings guests on whitewater adventures through Utah’s Desolation Canyon and Cataract Canyon and onto iconic rivers in Idaho and Oregon. “As these rivers tend to carry less name recognition than Grand Canyon, they have more space available for 2023 and are excellent options for an unforgettable summer adventure,” says Lake.
While the locales differ geographically, the elements of Western River Expeditions’ adventures reflect the company’s 61 years of commitment to pleasure, safety and the environment. Following are a few of the many star-studded predictables that clients have come to enjoy over the decades:
Annually from March through October, Western River Expeditions escorts more people down the Colorado River on professionally guided rafting trips in Utah and Arizona than any other rafting operator in the world. It is one of the largest licensed outfitters for trips in the Grand Canyon and the largest single tour provider in Moab, Utah (think half and full-day trips on the Colorado River), through its division Moab Adventure Center.
However, Western River Expeditions, as with other tour operators, has to operate within the restrictions of its permits through the National Park Service, Forest Service, and Bureau of Land Management. These limits may be adequate in normal times but spots are now being quickly snapped up by an unprecedented surge of demand following pandemic lockdowns, record breaking heat waves that call for water-based recreation and an exploding demand to visit national parks.
For a copy of Western River Expeditions’ 2023 catalog, questions, availability and reservations call toll-free: 866.904.1160 (Local: 801.942.6669) or visit the website at: http://www.westernriver.com/.
About Western River Expeditions
Western River Expeditions, providing Grand Canyon rafting, Utah and Idaho rafting, and international multi-sport trips, was founded in 1961 by Colorado River rafting pioneer Jack Currey. It has been named one of the “Best Adventure Travel Companies on Earth” by the editors of National Geographic Adventure magazine. The company is the proud recipient of the "Best of State" award through Utah’s Premier Recognition and Awards Program for the past eighteen consecutive years (2004-2021).
# # #
Media Contact:
For inquiries, interviews and photos please contact Widness & Wiggins PR:
Sara Widness: 802.234.6704 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Dave Wiggins: 720.301.3822 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Follow Western River Expeditions:
On Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/WesternRiverExpeditions
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/WesternRiver
On You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/user/bestraftingvacations?
On Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/westernriver/
SALT LAKE CITY, UT, Aug. 11, 2022 – Western River Expeditions’ rafting adventures on iconic rivers in the West have been in greater demand than ever this summer.
But as an exceptional rafting season begins to wind down, the good news is that there is still some availabilityin August and September for enjoying the Colorado River through Cataract Canyon in the heart of Canyonlands National Park. You can still book Cataract Canyon 4-Day departures on Aug. 16 and Aug. 23, and Sept. 9 and Sept. 13. Rates from $1,755 for adults and $1,285 ages 10-15 include rafting, hiking, camping, meals transfers and a scenic return flight over Canyonlands National Park.
Although Cataract Canyon may not have the name recognition of the Grand Canyon, it’s a favorite of Western River’s guides. Kam Wixon, Marketing Director for Western River Expeditions, recently hosted a Q&A with his guides. Here’s what they’re telling him.
What makes a Cataract Canyon rafting trip so special?
How big is the whitewater in Cataract Canyon?
If the volume of the waves changes from spring to fall, does this make a difference in the kinds of rafts used?
We also explore the landscapes around the river. What is your favorite hike?
What makes Cataract Canyon unique among river trips?
About Cataract Canyon: Just south of Moab, Utah, where the Green and Colorado Rivers meet in a majestic setting called “The Confluence,” Cataract Canyon begins. Bolstered by the Green River, the Colorado River doubles its force and carves a deep, 100-mile-long chasm through the center of Canyonlands National Park. Over this 100-mile course guests experience class III-V Colorado River whitewater. On land, there are opportunities to explore Native American ruins and fascinating pictographs.
For a copy of Western River Expeditions’ 2022-23 catalog, questions, availability and reservations call toll-free: 866.904.1160 (Local: 801.942.6669) or visit the website at: http://www.westernriver.com/.
About Western River Expeditions
Western River Expeditions is an adventure travel company headquartered in Salt Lake City, with operations and offices in Moab, Utah and Fredonia, Arizona. Annually from March through October it escorts more people down rivers on professionally guided rafting trips in Utah, Idaho and Arizona than any other company. It is the largest licensed outfitter in the Grand Canyon and the largest single tour provider in Moab, UT, through its division Moab Adventure Center (http://www.moabadventurecenter.com/).
Western River Expeditions, providing Grand Canyon rafting, Utah and Idaho rafting, and international multi-sport trips, was founded in 1961 by Colorado River rafting pioneer Jack Currey. It has been named one of the “Best Adventure Travel Companies on Earth” by the editors of National Geographic Adventure magazine. The company is the proud recipient of the "Best of State" award through Utah’s Premier Recognition and Awards Program for the past eighteen consecutive years (2004-2021).
# # #
Media Contact:
For inquiries, interviews and photos please contact Widness & Wiggins PR:
Sara Widness: 802.234.6704 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Dave Wiggins: 720.301.3822 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Follow Western River Expeditions:
On Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/WesternRiverExpeditions
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/WesternRiver
On You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/user/bestraftingvacations?
On Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/westernriver/
SALT LAKE CITY, July 26, 2022 – What a cool thought! River rafting through the evergreen forests in the mountain air during the heat of summer.
Rippling into late summer and fall 2022, Western River Expeditions reports an excellent choice of dates and departures on three mountain rivers in the Pacific Northwest - options for rafting in Idaho and rafting in Oregon. These are the Salmon River in Idaho, the Snake River through Hells Canyon on the Idaho/Oregon border and the Rogue River in southern Oregon.
Along with refreshing, crystal-clear waters, Western River Expeditions underscores six reasons clients are well advised to book adventures this season on these mountain rivers.
About Oregon’s Rogue River: Located in southern Oregonnear Medford and Ashland, home of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, the Rogue remains so remote that boats deliver the mail in some regions where the river is the only road. Wildlife sightings may include otter, deer and black bear. Guests raft this legendary waterway along 45 miles, with whitewater classified Class II-IV. Rainy winters and sun-filled summers create conditions along the Rogue’s course that begins near Crater Lake in the Cascade Mountains and runs westerly through southern Oregon to the Pacific Ocean. Oregon Rafting: Rogue River Lodge to Lodge is a four-day adventure daily on the river with comfortable lodge accommodations at night. The rate from $1,461 for adults and $1,392 for ages 7-16 includes rafting, hiking, meals, lodge accommodations and all applicable taxes and fees. For details, please see https://www.westernriver.com/rogue-river-lodge-trip.
About Idaho’s Middle Fork of the Salmon River: Flowing untamed through a land so rugged that any attempts at settlement have failed, the Middle Fork is truly a legend among the whitewater rivers of the world. This pure, clear, free-flowing river drops 3,000 feet over its 100-mile course through the remote and spectacular River of No Return Wilderness, the largest Wilderness in the lower 48 states. A 5- or 6-Day Middle Fork Salmon adventure draws an international clientele to class III-V Idaho whitewater rapids. The rate from $2,720 for adults and from $2,620 for ages 7-15 includes rafting, hiking, meals and camping. For details, please see https://www.westernriver.com/middle-fork-salmon-river.
About Idaho’s Lower Salmon River: The perfect family trip, this river journey explores the final miles of the Salmon River before it joins the mighty Snake River on the way to the Columbia River. The trip covers 53 miles on the Salmon plus 21 miles on the Snake. The rate for a 5-Day Lower Salmon escape is from $1,890 for adults and from $1,790 for age 5-15 and include Class II-III rafting, hiking, meals and camping. For details, please see https://www.westernriver.com/lower-salmon-river.
About Idaho’s Main Salmon River: Rich in scenic wonders and history, the Main Salmon River drops 1,200 feet in 89 miles. Known as “The River of No Return, the river sports blue-green waters with Class II-IV rapids. The rate for a 5-Day Main Salmon adventure is $1,940 for adults and $1,445 for ages 6-16. This includes rafting, hiking, meals, camping and shuttle service transfers. For details, please see https://www.westernriver.com/main-salmon-river.
About Hells Canyon of the Snake River (Idaho/Oregon border): Cutting the deepest river gorge in North America is Hells Canyon of the Snake River that forms the border of Oregon and Idaho. River travelers journey 79 river miles through the land of the Nez Perce and bounce through Class II-IV rapids, some of the largest found in the Pacific Northwest. The rate for five days is from $1,595 for adults and $1,515 for ages 8 to 15. Included are rafting, hiking, meals and camping. For details, please see https://www.westernriver.com/hells-canyon.
For a copy of Western River Expeditions’ 2022-2023 catalog, questions, availability and reservations call toll-free: 866.904.1160 (Local: 801.942.6669) or visit the website at: http://www.westernriver.com/.
About Western River Expeditions
Western River Expeditions is an adventure travel company headquartered in Salt Lake City, with operations and offices in Moab, Utah and Fredonia, Arizona. Annually from March through October it escorts more people down rivers on professionally guided rafting trips in Utah, Idaho and Arizona than any other company. It is the largest licensed outfitter in the Grand Canyon and the largest single tour provider in Moab, UT, through its division Moab Adventure Center (http://www.moabadventurecenter.com/).
Western River Expeditions, providing Grand Canyon rafting, Utah and Idaho rafting, and international multi-sport trips, was founded in 1961 by Colorado River rafting pioneer Jack Currey. It has been named one of the “Best Adventure Travel Companies on Earth” by the editors of National Geographic Adventure magazine. The company is the proud recipient of the "Best of State" award through Utah’s Premier Recognition and Awards Program for the past eighteen consecutive years (2004-2021).
# # #
Media Contact:
For inquiries, interviews and photos please contact Widness & Wiggins PR:
Sara Widness: 802.234.6704 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Dave Wiggins: 720.301.3822 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Follow Western River Expeditions:
On Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/WesternRiverExpeditions
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/WesternRiver
On You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/user/bestraftingvacations?
On Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/westernriver/
Dear Friends,
Western River Expeditions is coming into its 62nd year of creating river rafting opportunities through the iconic canyons of the Colorado River. In fact, it may be safe to say that we have created more rapid-filled adventures for people from all over the world than just about any other company plying their oars in this region.
Over the years we’ve learned a thing or two. Rivers rise and rivers fall. We adjust our boats and rafting strategies accordingly. At present we’re facing the challenges of decades of drought that have taken their toll on the Colorado River.
Kam Wixom is the Marketing Director for Western River Expeditions. He knows the ebbs and flows of this river better than most. He began guiding in the Grand Canyon in 1991, met and guided with his wife, and now is the proud daddy of five children. I asked him to shed some light on what vacationers can anticipate this year and down the road if the climate-driven drought continues.
Q. Megadrought in the West: Is the Colorado River Really Drying Up?
Over the last sixty-plus years in the river rafting business, we’ve seen low water levels, we’ve seen high water levels. We’ve seen giant hydroelectric dams put in place, and just this year we’ve seen water levels drop low enough to potentially render the hydroelectric turbines of Glen Canyon Dam inert within the next one to two years. But there is still a river flowing despite it all. There are still fish swimming in the river. There are still river guides hoopin’ and hollerin’ as they make the cut to hit the big wave coming off the big rock that’s now just more exposed.
Yes. The effects of the current drought are serious. But with 60+ years under our belt, Western River Expeditions has what it takes to adapt to these changes and the new “normal”. We continue to offer a quality river experience. We’ve been here before!
However, our ability to paddle through doesn’t diminish the effects of such headlines about the drought that are accumulating:
It can be hard to decipher the truth from alarming news stories, especially from their headlines alone. There is a water crisis in the West, and the last twenty years have shown a particular cause for alarm. As GreenBiz concludes accurately, “The Colorado River Basin is the "canary in the mine" for the future of water in the American West.”
Q. What does the West’s trending drought mean to you, to the guides and to the future on the rivers and the broader uses of the West’s water?
While the “Mega drought” of the last two decades has proven to be the driest in the last 1200 years, water has always flowed in the major rivers of the West. We will simply calibrate the size of the craft to match the volume of the river’s flow. Then we will hope and pray for more snow and rain and do our best to maintain our high standards of customer experience. We’ve done it this way in Utah’s Cataract Canyon since 1961. Rivers rarely dry up entirely. As long as there are rivers flowing, we will run them.
Q. What will water flows be like in 2022 and how will the flows affect my river trip?
Despite the drought, man-made water releases from a series of reservoirs will keep 2022 water flows higher than expected. Higher-than-expected water flows like this are rare and could be the last time we will see such flows in the West if the mega drought persists. Flaming Gorge Reservoir, which straddles the Utah-Wyoming border, will release 500,000-acre feet of water over the next twelve months in order to prevent Lake Powell water levels from dipping below hydroelectric capability. Lower Basin (think Lake Mead) will eventually have the use of that water for crops in California. Most of the water will be released during the hottest summer months in order to try to replicate "normal" flows and natural rhythms.
This strategy of replicating “normal” flows is similar to that of a normal winter snowpack melting off and filling the rivers. As of the first part of June, snowpack for the Colorado River Basin was higher than it was in 2021 and at 91% of the past seven-year average.So things are looking near normal for 2022. We also have the added benefit of higher ground water saturation, thanks to a wetter Fall than the year before. This basically means the ground will not be as thirsty and water will shed more directly into the reservoirs and rivers.
This means that water levels in Cataract Canyon and the Grand Canyon will see water flows more typical of non-drought years. In all honesty, if this drought continues, this could be the last year we see "normal" flows for several years to come. Unless we see consecutive higher than normal snowpack that will help fill the reservoirs, we can only project lower than normal flows in the coming years.
Q. What do lower water levels mean for Recreational Rafting?
Is the river half empty or is it half full? More than just a test of whether you're an optimist or a pessimist, there are actual quantifiable reasons why lower water is just fine with Western River Expeditions – and for you:
Q. What can we do?
What can we do now? I say we all do the rain dance, practice conservation and teach others to think in more sustainable ways. But while the rivers are running, we strongly invite folks to come run the rivers and tell their family and friends about the experience. It might be the best kick-start to being an activist for rivers that one could ever hope for!
For more history on why the West’s water predicament is where it is today, please see our blog posthttps://www.westernriver.com/blogs/stories/megadrought-colorado-river-drying-up
And please pick up the phone or email me if you would like more information and resources on this issue.
Kindest regards,
Brian Merrill
CEO of Western River Expeditionsand the Moab Adventure Center.
Note to Media
Brian is available for interviews on this topic and anything rafting related. If interested, please contact him at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
For Photos and Requests Contact Widness & Wiggins PR:
Sara Widness: 802.234.6704 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Dave Wiggins: 720.301.3822 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
SALT LAKE CITY, June 13, 2022 – If they handed out trophies for the Best Family Rafting Trip, Utah’s Desolation Canyon would unanimously take home the Oscar.
This is the staunch opinion of both veteran river guides and the thousands of satisfied families who have experienced the joys of family bonding and the endless wonders of nature surrounding this legendary canyon.
This is the Green River in Utah’s Desolation Canyon, one of the most remote (no roads, no towns, no cell service) destinations in the continental United States. In its journey south through Utah towards the confluence with the Colorado River in Canyonlands National Park, the Green has created such an unforgettable universe that Desolation Canyon has been included on the National Registry of Historic Places.
Katy, a teen from Virginia had this to say about her recent Desolation trip, “I am a 15-year-old girl and I had doubts about doing a rafting trip for five days in the middle of nowhere without the comforts of home. I came out of the trip crying because I had the most fun of my life!”
For over 60 years Western River Expeditions has specialized as Nature’s handmaiden, providing the staff and environment and, yes, the rivers, where transformations occur. Again, this season, Western River Expeditions will host 5-day Rafting Trips through Desolation Canyon on Utah’s Green River that are proven antidotes to our too-often-virtual, over-digitalized world.
Desolation Canyon was carved over millennia by the 730-mile Green River that is spawned by glacial melts on the Continental Divide in the wilds of northern Wyoming. The Green is less strident than the Grand Canyon’s rollicking Colorado River. Instead of the world-class rapids on the Colorado River, whitewater on the Green River is playful, marked by over 60 Class I-III rapids, packed with more than enough splash to elicit excitement for ages 5 and up.
The 2022 trips are scheduled to begin in June and continue through August. The adventures begin and end in Moab, Utah. Guests will experience a trip highlight on Day 1 where a morning flight over the canyons of the Green River lands guests atop a desert plateau. From here the choice is a hike or van ride to the river’s edge, a float down calm waters and majestic canyons, and the first night of camping on the banks of the Green River.
Loading into the river rafts on Day 2 offers a rare opportunity in today’s world to have families sharing adventures and making memories in such close proximity over an extended period of time. This day marks the beginning of an 88-mile expedition over the next four days through Desolation Canyon. While paddling on the Green, guests surrender their senses to twisted mountains, dramatic cliffs and towering plateaus carved by an ancient inland sea.
The sense of fun takes over while splashing through rapids, swimming near the shoreline in sun-kissed water averaging a comfortable 70 degrees F, hiking off river into Native American and Wild West lore (Butch Cassidy and the Wild Bunch found that the rugged terrain here offered a perfect hideaway) that is laced with the persistent remains of dinosaurs. (One of the greatest features of this expedition is that the rapids are spread fairly evenly throughout the length of the trip so the action keeps it exciting all journey long.) The fun continues throughout the day and evening as guests of all ages make new friends among the privileged 25 guests on each trip.
One enthusiastic guest wrote: “The Desolation Canyon rafting trip is probably the best all-around river trip I have ever experienced! It has something for everyone, rapids, calm water, hikes and scenery. I would highly recommend this trip to any and everyone no matter their age.”
Rates from $1,932 (adults 16+) and $1,185 (youth ages 5-15) include:
For a copy of Western River Expeditions’ 2022 catalog, questions, availability and reservations call toll-free: 866.904.1160 (Local: 801.942.6669) or visit the website at: http://www.westernriver.com/.
For more details on this trip please see https://www.westernriver.com/desolation-canyon
About Western River Expeditions
Western River Expeditions is an adventure travel company headquartered in Salt Lake City, with operations and offices in Moab, Utah and Fredonia, Arizona. Annually from March through October it escorts more people down rivers on professionally guided rafting trips in Utah, Idaho and Arizona than any other company. It is the largest licensed outfitter in the Grand Canyon and the largest single tour provider in Moab, UT, through its division Moab Adventure Center (http://www.moabadventurecenter.com/).
Western River Expeditions, providing Grand Canyon rafting, Utah and Idaho rafting, and international multi-sport trips, was founded in 1961 by Colorado River rafting pioneer Jack Currey. It has been named one of the “Best Adventure Travel Companies on Earth” by the editors of National Geographic Adventure magazine. The company is the proud recipient of the "Best of State" award through Utah’s Premier Recognition and Awards Program for the past eighteen consecutive years (2004-2021).
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Media Contact:
For inquiries, interviews and photos please contact Widness & Wiggins PR:
Sara Widness: 802.234.6704 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Dave Wiggins: 720.301.3822 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Follow Western River Expeditions:
On Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/WesternRiverExpeditions
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/WesternRiver
On You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/user/bestraftingvacations?
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SALT LAKE CITY, UT, April 19, 2022 – While DIY often has its charms, do-it-yourself limits can be stressful when organizing and executing a family camping adventure.
FUN is purportedly the goal of such an adventure; however, the following are a few of many challenges that inexperienced campers may encounter:
Western River Expeditions (https://www.westernriver.com/), the Utah-based company that has been conducting outdoor rafting and camping excursions for guests since 1961, has heard the confessions of many clients who at the 11th hour tossed their DIY notions and turned to these experts to manage their outdoor vacation experience.
Western River Expeditions calculates that it has bid “nighty night” to tens of thousands of campers who opted to take the more stress-free trail to camping under the stars. They opted to go with trained and knowledgeable professionals who can not only identify the Big Dipper, spot a big horn sheeponthe cliffs and prepare hearty meals three times per day, but who also have the knowledge and preparation for handling unpredictable weather and creating a spectacular outdoor journey for families, couples and solo travelers.
“We make wilderness adventure easy,” said Brandon Lake, co-owner and company CMO.“All you have to do is show up with your duffle bag of personal belongs (based on a suggested list) and we provide the rest.”
Here’s what “the rest” includes on every Western River Expedition: deluxe tents and cots, comfortable camp chairs, delicious Dutch-oven dinners, buffet breakfasts,and lunches, expertly trainedguides, and top-quality rafts and equipment. While some outfitters impose additional fees for camping gear and rafting equipment, Western River bundles everything together.
After decades of making camping easy for its guests, here are a few of many benefits to families by engaging in The Western River Expeditions Way (see: https://www.westernriver.com/camping)...
The camping locales may vary, but many of the same sensory and magical experiences can be found in all of the regions where Western River Expeditions introduces the secrets of the wilderness – and universe – to active families. (See: https://www.westernriver.com/typical-day). Here are Western River Expeditions’ suggested best trips for families:
For questions, availability and reservations call toll-free: 866.904.1160 (Local: 801.942.6669) or visit the website at: http://www.westernriver.com/.
About Western River Expeditions
Western River Expeditions is an adventure travel company headquartered in Salt Lake City, with operations and offices in Moab, Utah and Fredonia, Arizona. Annually from March through October it escorts more people down rivers on professionally guided rafting trips in Utah, Idaho and Arizona than any other company. It is the largest licensed outfitter in the Grand Canyon and the largest single tour provider in Moab, UT, through its division Moab Adventure Center (http://www.moabadventurecenter.com/).
Western River Expeditions, providing Grand Canyon rafting, Utah and Idaho rafting, and international multi-sport trips, was founded in 1961 by Colorado River rafting pioneer Jack Currey. It has been named one of the “Best Adventure Travel Companies on Earth” by the editors of National Geographic Adventure magazine. The company is the proud recipient of the "Best of State" award through Utah’s Premier Recognition and Awards Program for the past eighteen consecutive years (2004-2021).
# # #
Media Contact:
For inquiries, interviews and photos please contact Widness & Wiggins PR:
Sara Widness: 802.234.6704 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Dave Wiggins: 720.301.3822 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Follow Western River Expeditions:
On Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/WesternRiverExpeditions
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/WesternRiver
On You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/user/bestraftingvacations?
On Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/westernriver/
SALT LAKE CITY, UT, Feb 22, 2022 – Rafting dates are filling fast for Western River Expeditions’ 2023 Grand Canyon Adventures.
The Western River Expeditions’ reservation team is still in awe about what took place when the company made its 2023 Grand Canyon calendar available to the public.
“We had our biggest booking day in history,” notes Brandon Lake, co-owner and CMO. “There is such a strong desire right now to be outdoors with friends and family sharing an epic adventure like rafting the Grand Canyon. When we asked people why they were making reservations now, many cited the need to return to normal, get outside again and plan something they could look forward to.”
“For those who missed the opening booking day, there’s still time to grab a spot on a Grand Canyon rafting trip for 2023 if you are flexible (2022 is sold out),” reports Lake.
While fewer than five, 6 to 7-day trip departures remain with just a few open spots in 2023, there is still some availability for Western’s 3 to 4-day Lower Grand Canyon rafting trips in 2023. These 3 to 4-day Grand Canyon river trips are extremely popular amongst those who have never rafted the Grand Canyon before. “With only two nights of all-inclusive camping on the Colorado River and an optional overnight at a guest ranch, these shorter trips are the perfect introduction to what will likely become your favorite vacation ever,” says Lake.
If running the Grand Canyon isn’t in the cards due to space limitations, Western River Expeditions offers alternatives to rafting Grand Canyon. These alternatives may not carry the same name recognition, but they are similar in expanse and scope and offer whitewater thrills combined with ample off-river hiking. Included are:
For additional details on Grand Canyon rafting adventures and which one might be best for you please watch the short video: https://youtu.be/TR47pWNf4G8. More information and maps can be found at: https://www.westernriver.com/grand-canyon-rafting
For a copy of Western River Expeditions’ 2022/2023 catalog, questions, availability and reservations call toll-free: 866.904.1160 (Local: 801.942.6669) or visit the website at: http://www.westernriver.com/.
About Western River Expeditions
Western River Expeditions is an adventure travel company headquartered in Salt Lake City, with operations and offices in Moab, Utah and Fredonia, Arizona. Annually from March through October it escorts more people down rivers on professionally guided rafting trips in Utah, Idaho and Arizona than any other company. It is the largest licensed outfitter in the Grand Canyon and the largest single tour provider in Moab, UT, through its division Moab Adventure Center (http://www.moabadventurecenter.com/).
Western River Expeditions, providing Grand Canyon rafting, Utah and Idaho rafting, and international multi-sport trips, was founded in 1961 by Colorado River rafting pioneer Jack Currey. It has been named one of the “Best Adventure Travel Companies on Earth” by the editors of National Geographic Adventure magazine. The company is the proud recipient of the "Best of State" award through Utah’s Premier Recognition and Awards Program for the past seventeen consecutive years (2004-2020).
# # #
Media Contact:
For inquiries, interviews and photos please contact Widness & Wiggins PR:
Sara Widness: 802.234.6704 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Dave Wiggins: 720.301.3822 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Follow Western River Expeditions:
On Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/WesternRiverExpeditions
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/WesternRiver
On You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/user/bestraftingvacations?
On Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/westernriver/