A Rafting Trip Through Desolation Canyon Is the West’s Top Family Vacation

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Released on Monday, 13 June 2022 10:18

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:

• Scenic flight -- Airport transfer and 40-minute flight by bush plane from Moab, Utah, to the river. 
• Rafting -- Class II-III whitewater rafting (rapids depend on water levels) with choice of paddling in two-person inflatable kayaks or relaxing in a guide-powered oar boat.
• Hiking -- Short walks to longer, more difficult hikes (all optional).
• Deluxe Camping -- Cots, tents, sleeping bags, chairs and water-resistant bag are comfortably arranged on broad sandy beaches along the river bank.
• Host-prepared adult and children’s meals – The food for all meals prepared for you between departure and return is sourced from local farmers and producers.
• Transfers -- Transportation from Moab to the river and return bus transfer from the river to Moab.
• Taxes and Fees – Any applicable.

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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