Colorado and Utah ยท Dinosaur National Monument
Gates of Lodore rafting trips
The Green River through the Canyon of Lodore, where Powell lost a boat in 1869. Every Park Service authorized outfitter we could reach, side by side.
3 to 5 days / 2 to 4 nightsQuick answer
Guided Gates of Lodore rafting trips on the Green River run 3 days, 2 nights to 5 days, 4 nights, most often 4 days and 3 nights, from May into September. We list 7 Park Service authorized outfitters. Booking a seat skips the Dinosaur lottery. Listed prices start at $1,149 per person (checked September 2026).
The route
Gates of Lodore to Split Mountain
The whitewater is packed into Lodore Canyon above Echo Park, where the Yampa joins. Below it, American Whitewater rates Whirlpool Canyon mostly Class I to II before the rapids of Split Mountain.
- Mile 0Gates of LodoreLaunch, Colorado
- Mile 11.7Hells Half MileClass III
- Mile 19Echo ParkThe Yampa joins
- Mile 44Split MountainTake out, Utah
- Day 1
- Day 2
- Day 3
- Day 4
Miles from the Park Service's 2025 boating guide and American Whitewater; the Park Service's Lodore page gives 45 miles overall. Shown for a 4 day, 3 night trip. Camps are assigned by the Park Service before launch.
Compare outfitters
Every Gates of Lodore outfitter, side by side
Dinosaur National Monument publishes its list of authorized river outfitters. This table covers the ones running public Lodore trips, with details from each outfitter's own site, listed alphabetically.
| Outfitter | Trip lengths | Boats | Season | Min age | From, per adult | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adrift Dinosaur | 4 days, 3 nights | Oar, paddle, inflatable kayak | August (one 2026 date listed) | 6 (or 50 pounds) | $1,3994 day, 3 night trip, 2026. Checked Sep 2026 | See dates with Adrift |
| ARTA | 4 days, 3 nights to 5 days, 4 nights | Oar, paddle, inflatable kayak | May to August | 6 | $1,399Starting price; year not shown. Checked Sep 2026 | See dates with ARTA |
| Dinosaur River Expeditions | 3 days, 2 nights to 4 days, 3 nights | Raft, inflatable kayak | July to September | 6 (varies with water level) | $1,2794 day, 3 night trip, 2026. Checked Sep 2026 | See dates with Dinosaur River Exp. |
| Holiday River Expeditions | 4 days, 3 nights | Oar; paddle on request; inflatable kayak | May to September | 8 | $1,3954 day, 3 night trip, 2027, plus a $12 campsite fee. Checked Sep 2026 | See dates with Holiday |
| Mild to Wild Rafting | 3 days, 2 nights to 4 days, 3 nights | Oar, inflatable kayak | Late May to September | 7 (up to 12 at June high water) | $1,1493 day, 2 night trip; year not shown. Checked Sep 2026 | See dates with Mild to Wild |
| OARS | 3 days, 2 nights to 5 days, 4 nights | Oar, paddle, inflatable kayak, paddle board | Late May to early September | 7 (10 to 12 at high water) | $1,2493 day, 2 night trip, August 2027; 4 day from $1,599. Checked Sep 2026 | See dates with OARS |
| Sheri Griffith River Expeditions | 4 days, 3 nights to 5 days, 4 nights | Oar, paddle, inflatable kayak | June to September | 8 | $1,4994 day, 3 night trip, 2026, plus a 3% fee. Checked Sep 2026 | See dates with Sheri Griffith |
"Not listed" means we could not find it on the outfitter's site in September 2026. Where a site gives days only, nights are days minus one. Prices are the lowest adult rate we found. Confirm when booking.
Also on the Park Service list but not shown: Eagle Outdoor Sports, whose website sent us to an unrelated site in September 2026. Missing an outfitter? Tell us.
The no lottery way in
Guided trip or private permit?
From the second Monday of May to the second Friday of September, private Lodore trips need a permit from Dinosaur National Monument's high use lottery. Outfitters are authorized separately, so a guided trip skips the lottery.
No lottery
Book a guided trip
- How you get a spot
- Pick a date with one of the outfitters above and book it.
- Trip length
- 3 days, 2 nights to 5 days, 4 nights on the trips we checked.
- Where you meet
- Most outfitters meet in Vernal, Utah, the night before.
- Boats and food
- The outfitter brings the boats, guides, meals and camp.
Private permit
Enter the Dinosaur lottery
- When to apply
- December 1 to January 31, with a $15 application fee.
- Results
- Emailed by mid February.
- Leftovers
- Unclaimed high use trips open March 6 at 8 am MST.
- Limits
- Up to 25 people, one high use trip a year, and a $185 permit fee.
Sources: Dinosaur boating and rafting page, the Park Service 2025 boating guide and Recreation.gov.
On the river
What a day on a Gates of Lodore rafting trip looks like
At 44 miles over 4 days, the pace is easy. The Park Service assigns camps, so every night has a spot waiting.
- Morning
Breakfast in camp, then pack up. The Park Service asks groups to leave camp by noon.
- Midday
Rapids in Lodore or calm water below Echo Park, with lunch on a beach.
- Afternoon
A side hike, then on to the night's assigned camp.
- Evening
Dinner cooked by the guides, the night under canyon walls that rise over 2,500 feet.
What outfitters list as included
- Guides, boats and life jackets
- Meals on the river
- Camp gear
- Transportation to the launch
Holiday adds a $12 campsite fee and Sheri Griffith a 3% government fee. Check each outfitter's list.
Worth checking before you book
- Campsite and government fees
- Sleeping bags
- Travel to Vernal
- Guide tips
More on camp life, meals and the toilet in river camping, and on tips in tipping your guides.
When to go
The Gates of Lodore rafting season
The Park Service's high use season on the Green runs from the second Monday of May to the second Friday of September. Outfitters run trips across that window.
Several outfitters raise minimum ages at high water in late May and June. See when to go rafting for how seasons compare.
Who it suits
Which Lodore trip fits you
Families
Three outfitters take kids from 6, and a 4 day, 3 night trip is a manageable first multi day trip. See family rafting trips.
Short on time
Mild to Wild, OARS and Dinosaur River Expeditions run 3 day, 2 night trips. See 3 day rafting trips.
Whitewater seekers
Go in late May or June for higher water, when OARS and Mild to Wild raise minimum ages. See whitewater camping trips and the whitewater classes guide.
Questions
Gates of Lodore rafting trip questions
How much does a Gates of Lodore rafting trip cost?
On the outfitters' own sites, checked in September 2026, the lowest listed rate is $1,149 per person for a 3 day, 2 night trip with Mild to Wild. Most 4 day, 3 night trips list from $1,279 to $1,499. Every price in the table is dated. Confirm when booking.
How long is a Gates of Lodore trip?
The Park Service's standard high use trip is 4 days and 3 nights. Outfitters run 3 days, 2 nights to 5 days, 4 nights. The Park Service puts the float at 44 to 45 miles, from the Gates of Lodore to Split Mountain.
Do I need a permit to raft the Gates of Lodore?
Not on a guided trip. Private trips in the high use season, from the second Monday of May to the second Friday of September, need a permit from the Dinosaur lottery. Outfitters are authorized by the Park Service, so you book a seat directly.
How hard are the rapids in Lodore?
The Park Service says the Green between the Gates of Lodore and Split Mountain has multiple challenging Class III and Class IV rapids. Named rapids include Disaster Falls, Triplet Falls and Hells Half Mile.
What is the minimum age?
Adrift, ARTA and Dinosaur River Expeditions list 6, Mild to Wild and OARS list 7, and Holiday and Sheri Griffith list 8. Some raise the minimum at high water in late May and June.
Where do Gates of Lodore trips start and end?
Trips launch at the Gates of Lodore in northwest Colorado and end at the Split Mountain boat ramp in Utah. Most outfitters meet in Vernal, Utah, the night before; Adrift meets in Jensen.
What is the history of Lodore?
John Wesley Powell's expedition came through in 1869 and named the Gates of Lodore, Whirlpool Canyon and Split Mountain. The Park Service says Disaster Falls got its name when the expedition's boat, the No Name, was destroyed there.
Gates of Lodore or the Yampa?
Both end at Split Mountain and share the same lottery. The Yampa joins the Green at Echo Park, has a shorter season that usually ends in July, and its standard trip is a day longer. See our Yampa page to compare.
When is the best time to raft the Gates of Lodore?
Outfitters run from May to September. Late May and June bring higher water and higher minimum ages at several outfitters; later summer suits younger kids.
How many people can go on a private trip?
Up to 25, according to the Park Service, and each person can hold only one high use trip a year.
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Keep planning
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- YampaJoins the Green at Echo Park
- Utah overnight rafting tripsEvery Utah river in one place
- Colorado overnight rafting tripsEvery Colorado river in one place
- Desolation CanyonThe Green River, downstream
- River permit lotteriesEvery lottery window in one calendar
- 3 day rafting tripsTwo nights on the river
- Family rafting tripsCompare minimum ages
- River campingTents, meals and the toilet
- What to packRiver and camp clothes
- Outfitter directoryEvery outfitter we list, by name
- Rafting trip costHow prices compare across rivers
- Plan your tripAll planning guides
Ready to book
Pick your Gates of Lodore outfitter
Compare trip lengths, boats and minimum ages, then check dates directly with the outfitter.