Ultimate River Rafting Experience

Three Canyons, Two Rivers, One National Park = ONE Great Adventure

The multi-faceted "John Wesley Powell Adventure" combines magnificent wonder, spectacular whitewater challenge and triumphant personal achievement. It is the ideal balance of serenity, thrill, and fascination that will transform your life.

The expedition begins in serene Labyrinth Canyon on the Green River with touring kayaks, and then transitions to oarboats and the fantastic Hiking in Canyonlands National Park before we meet the monumental whitewater of the Colorado River in Cataract Canyon. The experience culminates at Lake Powell with a breathtaking scenic flight over Canyonlands National Park back to Moab. This is an unparalleled adventure vacation experience.

This river journey follows Major John Wesley Powell's historic and courageous journey on the Green/Colorado Rivers in 1869. Powell was looking to map the previously unexplored Green River from Wyoming to Mexico. Unlike Major Powell's journey we bring way more amenities, guides who know where they're going, and much, much better food! Click to learn more about the history of the Green and Colorado Rivers.

The first five days are in touring kayaks on the upper section of the Green River in Labyrinth Canyon. This part of the Green River is renowned for its history and shear canyon walls.

After the fifth day you switch into rowboats and Inflatable kayaks and enter Canyonlands National Park through Stillwater Canyon. The next couple of days provide opportunities for extraordinary exploration. On these days you may get a chance to hike to several great features including Turks Head, Anderson Bottom Narrows, Ruins at Fort Bottom, Jasper Canyon Ruins, or Hike up Water Canyon.
The Fremont Indians were a semi-nomadic people who inhabited these canyons (500-1275 A.D.). They left petroglyphs on the rock walls that can be spotted today. Denis Julien was a trapper and fur trader who left inscriptions on the rocks in a number of places. All of his inscriptions are dated 1836. How Julien got into the canyons is still a mystery. It is not known if he came by boat or if he walked in from the rim.

On day 10 the Green River meets the Colorado River at the "Confluence." Today we may get a chance for a "Layover Day". This allows us to hike to the top of the famous Dolls House in the Heart of Canyonlands National Park. This is a very challenging hike with over 1500 feet of vertical gain as you hike from Colorado River to rim of Canyonlands National Park. Once up tops some of the attractions include spectacular views of the La Sal Mountains, Canyonlands and the Colorado River. You will also get a chance to see hidden Native American ruins and petroglyphs.

On day 12 the fun really begins. Here is where the world famous whitewater starts. You will encounter rapids with names like Capsize, North Sea's, Little Niagara, Satan's Gut and Ben Hurt. As you continue downstream the rapids become more intense until you enter the Big Drops--the steepest descent on the Colorado River. You complete the day's run and relax on a sandy beach to recount the excitement. Traditionally, the last night of the river trip is "dress-up" night. Anything goes if you would like to participate. It is up to your imagination! This is a great way to celebrate the trip and near completion of your Mighty Colorado River adventure.

On day 13 you meet Lake Powell and your unforgettable river journey transitions to a scenic plane flight over the canyon and river you just explored.

The John Wesley Powell Adventure features:
• 5 days by touring kayaks
• 5 days by oar boat
• Delightful riverside camping
• Outstanding hikes to Ancient ruins & hidden wonders
• Epic adventure and impressive class III-V whitewater
• Return Scenic Flight over Canyonlands (optional)
• Breathtaking canyons that resembles the Grand Canyon
• Unique exposure to Canyonlands National Park
• Exercise in nature

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Itinerary / Highlights

Orientation
We hold a pre-trip orientation the evening before the trip launches. Here you will meet one of your guides, sign your release forms, receive your dry bags (river luggage), learn what to expect and how to prepare, and ask questions. The orientation is held at our office in Moab

Labyrinth Canyon by touring kayaks
This 60-mile journey begins near the town of Green River, Utah, where the Green River flows gracefully into Labyrinth Canyon, the longest stretch of un-dammed flat water in the Southwest. The river progresses slowly through white, yellow, brown and red canyon walls, with hairpin switchbacks accented by towering buttes and mesas rising 1,500 feet above the river. Labyrinth Canyon's walls are cut with long side canyons, where guests of all skill levels can explore and ponder ancient Indian writings and trappers' inscriptions.
No experience is necessary, as tour kayaks are easy to paddle, comfortable to travel in and very stable. Your guides will be instructing and encouraging you from their own kayak and you'll be maneuvering your sleek craft like a pro in no time.

Cataract Canyon
After the fifth day we switch into rowboats and enter Canyonlands National Park through Stillwater Canyon. On day 7 the Green River meets the Colorado River at the "Confluence." Here is where the world famous whitewater starts. On day 10 you meet Lake Powell and your unforgettable river journey transitions to a scenic plane flight over the canyon and river you just explored.
From the beginning of the trip, you will find yourself seduced by the pace of the river while absorbing beautiful scenery, and enjoying the camaraderie of interesting people. Shortly after the confluence of the Colorado and Green Rivers, a series of steep descents and powerful whitewater known as the Mile-Long Rapid begins. Then come the Big Drops: Little Niagara and Satan's Gut. In high water, the waves are gigantic.

Journey's End
As we leave the whitewater, the Colorado River slides its way into Lake Powell and we start the outboard motor to scoot across the lake to our take-out. The guides escort guests up to the landing strip for the return flight to Moab. This is no ordinary flight back, this is a scenic flight over Canyonlands National Park and the river you just rafted ~ the perfect end to the perfect vacation.

Whitewater
When we reach the Confluence of the Green and Colorado rivers, you will sense the anticipation of the group rising as the rapids near. The guides take time to teach you how to enjoy the rapids safely. Then the fun begins. Everyone has their place, their instructions, and their camera as the guides focus. For the next day or more, you will experience the thrill of a lifetime!

Water Levels
The character of the Colorado River varies with changes in water flow. Depending on snow pack, the river fluctuates dramatically from year to year and month to month. Cataract Canyon presents some of the biggest and most challenging rapids in the United States from mid-May to mid-June. After June, the water flow decreases and the rapids become more moderate.

History
Trappers like Denis Julien roamed these canyon 150 years ago and left a record of their progress. You will see Julien's 1836 inscription on the canyon walls. Thirty years later the Green River was the start of the John Wesley Powell river expedition. The expedition's goal was to be the first to run the largest river system in the southwestern United States in wooden boats specially built for the adventure. Powell named many of the buttes and canyons as he passed through here in July of 1869.
Major John Wesley Powell named Cataract Canyon after his monumental 1869 expedition down the Green and Colorado Rivers. You will get a chance to see inscriptions that he and other early river runners left behind while navigating Cataract's challenging rapids.
You can spend hours meditating on the geologic and human history written in the rock, and leisurely drift along in this captivating environment.

In the 1930's, the Grand Canyon extended 550 miles from Moab to Lake Mead. In the 1960's Glen Canyon Dam formed Lake Powell, and Cataract Canyon was separated from the Grand Canyon. This 100 mile stretch of the Colorado River, south of Moab, has some of the most colorful and interesting river history on the entire Colorado River.
Cataract Canyon became part of Canyonlands National Park in 1964. There are numerous secluded Ancient Pueblo sites along the river. You will get a chance to ponder the disappearance of these ancient peoples while exploring their 800 year old dwellings.
Canyonlands is also home of many legendary outlaw hideouts. One of the most famous is Robber's Roost where Butch Cassidy and the Wild Bunch would lay low between robberies.

Group Size:
We believe in protecting the environment and enhancing your vacation. This is why we rarely do trips larger than 25 people. Most of our trips are 10-15 people in size. On our multi-day trips there will never be more than 5 guests on each oarboat. With small groups you will get the attention you deserve and the chance to know all the guides and other guests.

Our Guides
Our guides are professional, exceptional people with outstanding talents, who are eager to share their knowledge, experience, and enjoyment of life in the outdoors. They continually strive to perfect their understanding of our wilderness and its secrets. This is their way of life, and their passion is to share this adventurous way of life with you.

Our guides' objective is to help you have fun. However, you can rest assured that your safety is their top priority and you will observe this in their behavior as well as their expectations of you. They are Red Cross First Aid and CPR certified, and have completed river rescue training. They are required to complete hours of training on each river stretch before they can “guide” our guests. If you are like most people, you will marvel at the quality of their work, while feeling as if you have just made a new friend.

Other Details

Accommodation Details

Each evening we establish camp on the riverbank. While you explore and relax, the guides set up chairs, and the kitchen, where they prepare fresh, delicious abundant meals. The clean air amplifies a vibrant blue sky, creating a perfect environment for hiking and unparalleled photographic opportunities.

Depending on the length of your trip, time is set aside for hiking to geological and historical sites including Ancient Pueblo ruins and petroglyphs. Each day, as evening yields to night and the sun melts from the sky, it is replaced by a vivid star show that enhances the evolving conversations you will share with the other guests and the guides.
RELAX: In the Comfort of our cozy chairs, sit-down dining and fabulous meals. Your Vacation is our priority: whether you are a novice camper or a great outdoorsman, our goal is to help each guest enjoy their river vacation.

We provide enough civilization for anyone to be comfortable on our river rafting trips. Great meals, cozy sleeping bags, comfortable chairs and professional service-oriented guides create a relaxing and comfortable camp setting, complimenting the relaxed pace of the day's river rafting activities.

From the first call to last meal the SGE team is the friendliest, most competent and fun group of professional travel associates in the business.