Utah · Green and Colorado Rivers
Utah overnight rafting trips
From Class V big water in Canyonlands to trips that take kids from 5. Compare every Utah canyon trip we cover, side by side.
2 to 8 days / 1 to 7 nightsQuick answer
Utah overnight rafting trips run 2 days, 1 night to 8 days, 7 nights on six rivers we compare: Cataract, Desolation, Westwater, the San Juan, the Gates of Lodore and the Yampa. Four use lotteries for private trips and two use reservations; a guided trip skips both. Listed prices start at $450 per person (checked September 2026).
Trips by river
Utah overnight rafting trips by river
Each river page compares every outfitter we found there. The Gates of Lodore and the Yampa start in Colorado and finish in Utah.
Utah · Canyonlands National Park
Cataract Canyon
From $564per person with Adrift Adventures: 2 day Express with a jet boat leg; 3 day motor trip from $900; year not shown; 4% access fee extra. Checked Sep 2026. Confirm when booking.
Utah · Green River
Desolation Canyon
From $995per person with Colorado River & Trail Expeditions: 5 day, 4 night trip; year not shown; plus $315 flight and $40 BLM fee. Checked Sep 2026. Confirm when booking.
Colorado and Utah · Dinosaur
Gates of Lodore
From $1,149per person with Mild to Wild Rafting: 3 day, 2 night trip; year not shown. Checked Sep 2026. Confirm when booking.
Colorado and Utah · Dinosaur
Yampa River
From $1,279per person with Dinosaur River Expeditions: 4 day, 3 night trip; 2026 rate held for 2027; 8 guest minimum. Checked Sep 2026. Confirm when booking.
Utah · Colorado River
Westwater Canyon
From $450per person with NAVTEC Expeditions: 2024 rate, the latest shown; government fee extra. Checked Sep 2026. Confirm when booking.
Utah · San Juan River
San Juan River
From $950per person with Tsé Kooh Outfitters: Upper, 3 day, 2 night trip; year not shown. Checked Sep 2026. Confirm when booking.
Each card shows the lowest listed adult price we found for a public overnight trip on that river, from the outfitter's own site, with the trip and year behind it. Every river page compares all of its outfitters.
Side by side
The six rivers side by side
| River | Trip length | Whitewater | Season | Private permit | Outfitters | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cataract Canyon | 2 days, 1 night to 7 days, 6 nights | Class III to V, per the Park Service | March to November, by outfitter | Reserved, no lottery | 11 | $564 |
| Desolation Canyon | 4 days, 3 nights to 7 days, 6 nights | Class II to III, per American Whitewater | April to September, by outfitter | Lottery for private trips only | 11 | $995 |
| Gates of Lodore | 3 days, 2 nights to 5 days, 4 nights | Class III and IV rapids, per the Park Service | May to September, by outfitter | Lottery for private trips only | 7 | $1,149 |
| Yampa River | 4 days, 3 nights to 5 days, 4 nights | Up to Class IV, per the Park Service | May to early July, by outfitter | Lottery for private trips only | 7 | $1,279 |
| Westwater Canyon | 2 days, 1 night to 3 days, 2 nights | Up to Class IV, per the BLM | April to October, by outfitter | Reserved, no lottery | 9 | $450 |
| San Juan River | 3 days, 2 nights to 8 days, 7 nights | Class II to III, per Recreation.gov | April to October, by outfitter | Lottery April 15 to July 15 | 6 | $950 |
Prices are per person on outfitters' own sites, checked September 2026, and each river page shows the year and trip behind them. Confirm when booking.
The no lottery way in
Four lotteries, two reservation systems
Desolation Canyon's BLM lottery and Dinosaur National Monument's lottery for the Green and Yampa both take applications December 1 to January 31. Desolation results go out February 15; Dinosaur results come by mid February. The San Juan lottery, for April 15 to July 15 launches, uses the same window and sends results February 14.
Cataract Canyon and Westwater Canyon have no lottery. Cataract reservations open December 14 for trips from April 14 to October 15; Westwater permits open two months ahead of each launch date.
Outfitters hold their own permits on all six, so a guided trip needs no lottery or reservation. See the lottery calendar for every window.
Sources: BLM Desolation lottery, Dinosaur boating and rafting and Canyonlands river permits.
How to choose
How to choose a Utah canyon
How much whitewater?
Cataract Canyon has Class III to V rapids, per the Park Service. Desolation is gentler; the BLM says none of its rapids are particularly difficult.
How whitewater classes workWho is coming?
Desolation and San Juan outfitters take kids from 5. Several Cataract outfitters raise minimum ages to 14 or 16 at spring high water.
Family rafting tripsWhen can you go?
The Yampa runs only from May to early July. Cataract runs from March into fall, and Westwater and the San Juan into October.
When to go raftingQuestions
Utah overnight rafting questions
Which Utah rivers have overnight rafting trips?
We compare six: Cataract and Westwater Canyons on the Colorado, Desolation Canyon on the Green, the San Juan, and the Gates of Lodore and the Yampa in Dinosaur National Monument.
Do I need a permit to raft in Utah?
Not on a guided trip. Private trips on Desolation, the San Juan, Lodore and the Yampa need a lottery permit in their high use seasons. Private Cataract and Westwater trips need a reserved permit.
What is the cheapest Utah overnight rafting trip?
On the outfitters' own sites, checked in September 2026, 2 day, 1 night Westwater Canyon trips list from $450 (NAVTEC, 2024 rate), and Adrift's 2 day Cataract Express, which uses a jet boat for part of the trip, lists $564. A 5 day, 4 night Desolation trip with Colorado River & Trail Expeditions lists from $995, before a flight and the BLM fee.
Which Utah river takes the youngest kids?
Desolation Canyon and the San Juan. Five Desolation outfitters list a minimum age of 5, and Holiday lists 5 on the San Juan.
How long are Utah rafting trips?
From 2 days, 1 night in Westwater or Cataract Canyon to 8 days, 7 nights on the San Juan. The Park Service's standard high use trips are 4 days, 3 nights on Lodore and 5 days, 4 nights on the Yampa.
Which Utah trip has the biggest whitewater?
Cataract Canyon. The Park Service counts 14 miles of rapids rated Class III to V, including the Big Drops.
Where do Utah trips start?
Cataract trips mostly meet in Moab, and Holiday meets in Green River. Desolation trips meet in Green River or Moab, and most fly to Sand Wash. Lodore and Yampa trips mostly meet in Vernal, and San Juan trips in Bluff or Blanding.
When is the Utah rafting season?
Cataract runs March to November by outfitter, Desolation April to September, Lodore May to September, Westwater April to October, the San Juan April to October, and the Yampa May to early July.
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Related trips and guides
- Cataract Canyon11 outfitters compared
- Desolation Canyon11 outfitters compared
- Gates of Lodore7 outfitters compared
- Yampa River7 outfitters compared
- Westwater Canyon9 outfitters compared
- San Juan River6 outfitters compared
- Grand CanyonThe Colorado below Lake Powell
- Colorado overnight rafting tripsWhere Lodore and the Yampa begin
- River permit lotteriesEvery lottery window in one calendar
- Family rafting tripsCompare minimum ages
- Motorized rafting tripsMore river in fewer days
- Outfitter directoryEvery outfitter we list, by name
- What to packDesert river clothes
- Plan your tripAll planning guides
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