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Utah’s Canyonlands River Recreation – Moab Area Travel Council - 10/21/13 Page 1 information on private trips, contact the River outfitters in southeast Utah operate appropriate agency office. Utah’s Canyonlands under permits issued by either the Bureau River Recreation of Land Management or the National Park UTAH BOATING LAWS AND RULES Service. River guides carrying passengers for hire are licensed by Utah State Parks. The Utah Division of Parks and All guides have first-aid and CPR Recreation has the primary responsibility training. for boating safety and enforcement on Utah waters under the Utah Boating Act. Moab Area Travel Council Reservations and Fees: Reservations for On Utah rivers every person on board a Internet Brochure Series river trips with an outfitter should be vessel must wear a personal flotation Available from: made as far ahead as possible, especially device (life jacket) of proper size and of for multi-day trips. Trip prices vary by an approved type; except on designated discovermoab.com factors such as length, services provided, flat water areas where they may be group size, and river segment. loosened or removed. Persons under 12 years of age must wear personal flotation INTRODUCTION Equipment Provided: Outfitters devices at all times while on Utah rivers. generally provide boats, boating Utah law also requires that an extra oar or Southeastern Utah is blessed with an equipment, safety equipment such as life paddle be on board, as well as a bailing abundance of river recreation jackets and first-aid kits, waterproof bags device. All motor powered craft must be opportunities. Visitors may select river for storing equipment, watertight boxes registered in Utah or in the boater's home environments that range from the for cameras, food, nonalcoholic state. wilderness settings of Cataract and beverages, ice chests, and return Desolation-Gray canyons to the more transportation from their office or a Colorado River: easily accessible sections of the Colorado, prearranged meeting place to the river. Daily Section - Hittle Bottom to Green and San Juan rivers. While the Takeout Beach area is known for its whitewater float Recommended Gear and Clothing: trips, there are also several scenic flat- Passengers embarking upon a one day water segments suitable for canoes, jet summertime river trip with an outfitter Agency Office: BLM, Moab Field Office boats, and small powerboats. should bring a sun hat, sun screen, lip Private Permit Requirement: no gloss, sunglasses with a retention strap, a Length: 13 miles from Hittle Bottom to The river areas described in this brochure pair of old sport shoes (they will get wet), Takeout Beach. are rated according to a six point a T-shirt, quick drying shorts, a Float Time: 1 or 2 days international scale. For example, rivers lightweight long sleeve cotton shirt, and a Notes: Special regulations apply for rated as Class I have small, easy to wind breaker. For multiday trips, overnight use. negotiate waves, Class III areas have passengers will need in addition to the difficult rapids that require maneuvering above items, extra clothing for use around The "Daily," located northeast of Moab and Class VI areas are not considered camp (evenings can be cool along the along Utah highway 128, is also known as navigable. Rapids vary greatly by river river), rain gear, personal care items, and the Fisher Towers' section. The Daily is flow. Some rapids are more difficult to walking shoes for hikes. Passengers may Utah's most popular river trip and is ideal negotiate at high water while others are bring their own sleeping bag, ground for a short adventure, a group outing, an more difficult at lower water levels. The cloth, and tent or rent these items from the overnight camping trip, or a first river ratings should only be used to make rough outfitter. Consult with the outfitter for trip. comparisons. more specific information about clothing, camping gear, and personal use items The Colorado River Daily is a whitewater RIVER TRIPS WITH OUTFITTERS because requirements vary by trip and trip. Six named rapids are located season. between Hittle Bottom and Takeout Outfitters take passengers down all of Beach. The rapids may range in difficulty Southeastern Utah's rivers. River PRIVATE RIVER TRIPS up to Class III. The daily can be Outfitters offer part-day, one-day, and challenging at high water levels. multi-day trips. Most outfitters conduct Private river trips are organized by trips in more than one river area and individuals on a noncommercial, share Boaters will be able to view striking red provide a wide variety of tours. Some cost basis. On private trips, boaters use rock scenery that includes Fisher Towers, outfitters conduct specialty tours such as their own equipment or rent boats and Castle Rock, and the Priest and Nuns. self-paddle trips, jet boat tours, executive gear and share trip expenses. Government The area has been the setting of a number training sessions, women's trips, and regulations prohibit individuals utilizing of western-style movies and many kayak instruction. Many outfitters will private permits from charging for guide television commercials. also provide shuttle and pick-up service. services, trip arrangements, or A complete list of all area outfitters is amortization of equipment. For additional located in our Tour Operator section. Utah’s Canyonlands River Recreation – Moab Area Travel Council - 10/21/13 Page 2 Colorado River: Cataract Canyon is a wild whitewater trip Green River: Westwater Canyon but the sections above the confluence of Lower Gray Canyon - Nefertiti the Colorado and Green rivers consist of Rapid to Swaseys Rapid scenic stretches of flatwater. There are 26 Agency Office: BLM, Moab Field Office rapids within Cataract Canyon with Private Permit Requirement: yes several that may range in difficulty up to Agency Office: BLM, Price River Length: 17 miles from the Westwater Class V. Resource Area Ranger Station to the Cisco Landing take Private Permit Requirement: no out Visitors may hike to view the rock art and Length: 8 miles from the launch point at Float Time: 1 or 2 days cliff dwellings; left by Indians who once Nefertiti Rapid to the take out at Swaseys lived in the canyon or just enjoy the Rapid Westwater Canyon is located northeast of massive red rock walls and pinnacles that Float Time: 1 or 2 days Moab and is the first canyon along the tower above the river. Cataract Canyon is Colorado River within Utah. The last one of the most isolated and starkly Lower Gray Canyon (the Green River section of the Colorado River to be beautiful areas of the 48 contiguous states. Daily) is located to the north of Green navigated, it is many boaters' first choice River, Utah, below Desolation-Gray for a short challenging adventure. canyons. The Daily is ideal for a short Westwater is a whitewater trip with 11 Green River: adventure or a first river trip. The area is rapids that may range in difficulty up to Desolation-Gray Canyons popular with organized groups. The Class IV. launch point is a short drive from Interstate 70, making it ideal for those Visitors to Westwater will view the oldest Agency Office: BLM, Price River with limited time. exposed rock in Utah, the Precambrian Resource Area "black rock", which forms the walls of a Private Permit Requirement: yes The Green River Daily is a whitewater 200 foot deep inner canyon. Sheer walls Length: 75 miles from the Sand Wash trip. There are seven rapids, some of of rust-colored Wingate sandstone tower Ranger Station launch to the first take out which may range in difficulty up to Class above the inner canyon. Historic features point at Nefertiti Rapid or 84 miles to the III. within the canyon include the miners second take out point at Swaseys Rapid at cabin and the outlaw cave. the end of Gray Canyon. Green River: Float Time: 4 to 7 days Labyrinth Canyon/Stillwater Colorado River: Canyon - Green River City to Desolation-Gray canyons are located Cataract Canyon Mineral Bottom or Spanish along the Green River north of Green River, Utah. Desolation Canyon is the Bottom Agency Office: National Park Service, Canyonlands deepest canyon in Utah. At Rock Creek, the river is over 5,000 feet below the Agency Office: BLM, San Rafael NPS Private Permit Requirement: yes Resource Area for Labyrinth Canyon and Length: 112 miles from Moab to Hite canyon rim. Canyonlands National Park for Stillwater Float Time: 3 to 7 days Canyon The trip through Desolation-Gray canyons is a whitewater trip. Of the 67 rapids, Private Permit Requirement: yes for Cataract Canyon, located in the heart of Labyrinth Canyon; yes from NPS for Canyonlands National Park, is the best most are Class 11, but several may be as difficult as Class IV. Stillwater Canyon known of southeast Utah's river areas. Length: 68 miles from the launch point at "Cat" trips may be initiated by floating Visitors to Desolation-Gray canyons will Green River State Park in Green River down either the Colorado River from City to the take out at Mineral Bottom or Moab or the Green River from Green have the opportunity to view rock art created by Indians of the Fremont culture 120 miles to the confluence of the Green River State Park or Mineral Bottom. The and Colorado Rivers. Cataract Canyon stretch of the Colorado and the ancestors of the Ute Indians. The area was also used by outlaws such as Float Time: 3 to 8 days River extends from the Colorado's confluence with the Green River to Lake "Butch Cassidy" and "Flat-Nose George" as a refuge. Desolation-Gray canyons Labyrinth and Stillwater canyons are Powell at Hite.
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