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Overnight Rafting Trips
Steamboat Rock rising above a river bend at Echo Park, with sandbars, cottonwoods and layered canyon walls under clouds.
Steamboat Rock above Echo Park, where the Yampa joins the Green in Dinosaur National Monument.

Colorado and Utah ยท Dinosaur National Monument

Yampa River rafting trips

The only free flowing tributary left in the Colorado River system, with a season that ends when the spring runoff does. Every authorized outfitter we could reach, side by side.

4 to 5 days / 3 to 4 nights
States
Colorado and Utah
Trip length
4 days, 3 nights to 5 days, 4 nights
Whitewater
Up to Class IV, per the Park Service
Season
May to early July, by outfitter
River miles
71, Deerlodge Park to Split Mountain
Permit
Lottery for private trips only
Compare outfittersGuided trip or lottery?

Quick answer

Guided Yampa River rafting trips run 4 days, 3 nights to 5 days, 4 nights, and only from May to early July, while spring runoff lasts. We list 7 Park Service authorized outfitters. Booking a seat skips the Dinosaur lottery. Listed prices start at $1,279 per person (checked September 2026).

The route

Deerlodge Park to Split Mountain

The Yampa runs 46 miles through Yampa Canyon to Echo Park, where it joins the Green. Trips finish on the Green through Whirlpool Canyon and Split Mountain.

  1. Mile 0Deerlodge ParkLaunch, Colorado
  2. Mile 9.5Tepee RapidClass II+
  3. Mile 21.9Big JoeClass II+
  4. Mile 41.6Warm SpringsClass IV
  5. Mile 46Echo ParkJoins the Green
  6. Mile 71Split MountainTake out, Utah
  1. Day 1
  2. Day 2
  3. Day 3
  4. Day 4
  5. Day 5

Rapid miles and classes from American Whitewater; Echo Park from Park Service camp distances; 71 miles overall from the Park Service. Shown for a 5 day, 4 night trip. Camps are assigned by the Park Service before launch.

Compare outfitters

Every Yampa River outfitter, side by side

Dinosaur National Monument publishes its list of authorized river outfitters. This table covers the ones running Yampa trips, with details from each outfitter's own site, listed alphabetically.

Yampa River rafting outfitters with trip lengths in days and nights, boats, season, minimum age and lowest listed price
OutfitterTrip lengthsBoatsSeasonMin ageFrom, per adultBook
Adrift Dinosaur5 days, 4 nights; specialty and charter trips onlyOar, paddle, inflatable kayakMay and June7 (or 50 pounds); 16 on specialty trips$1,499Women's trip, June 2026; 2027 is charter only. Checked Sep 2026See dates with Adrift
ARTA5 days, 4 nightsOar, paddle, inflatable kayakMay to early July7$1,7495 day, 4 night trip; year not clear. Checked Sep 2026See dates with ARTA
Dinosaur River Expeditions4 days, 3 nights to 5 days, 4 nightsOarMid May to early July8 (7 at some water levels)$1,2794 day, 3 night trip; 2026 rate held for 2027; 8 guest minimum. Checked Sep 2026See dates with Dinosaur River Exp.
Holiday River Expeditions4 days, 3 nights to 5 days, 4 nightsOar; paddle on request; inflatable kayakMay to June8$1,4354 day, 3 night trip, 2026, plus a $12 campsite fee. Checked Sep 2026See dates with Holiday
Mild to Wild Rafting4 days, 3 nights to 5 days, 4 nightsOar; inflatable kayak at suitable water levelsMay to July7 at low water; 12 at high water$1,3994 day, 3 night trip; year not shown; about 9% fees extra. Checked Sep 2026See dates with Mild to Wild
OARS4 days, 3 nights to 5 days, 4 nightsOar, paddle, inflatable kayak, paddle boardMay to late June7 (10 to 12 at high water)$1,5994 day, 3 night trip, May 2027; 5 day $1,899. Checked Sep 2026See dates with OARS
Sheri Griffith River Expeditions4 days, 3 nights to 5 days, 4 nightsOar, paddle, inflatable kayakMay to June10$1,8964 day, 3 night trip, 2026, government fees included. Checked Sep 2026See 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 Saturday of July, private Yampa trips need a permit from Dinosaur National Monument's high use lottery. That window covers nearly the whole runnable season. 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
4 days, 3 nights to 5 days, 4 nights on the trips we checked.
Where you meet
Most outfitters meet in Vernal, Utah, the night before or that morning.
Boats and food
The outfitter brings the boats, guides, meals and camp.
Compare Yampa outfitters

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.
See the lottery calendar

Sources: Dinosaur boating and rafting page, the Park Service river permit FAQ and the Park Service 2025 boating guide.

On the river

What a day on a Yampa River rafting trip looks like

The river moves fast on spring runoff. The Park Service assigns camps, so every night has a spot waiting.

  1. Morning

    Breakfast in camp, then pack up. The Park Service asks groups to leave camp by noon.

  2. Midday

    Rapids and fast water through Yampa Canyon, with lunch on a beach.

  3. Afternoon

    A side hike, then on to the night's assigned camp.

  4. Evening

    Dinner cooked by the guides, the night in the canyon.

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 Mild to Wild about 9% in fees; Sheri Griffith's price includes government fees. Check each outfitter's list.

Worth checking before you book

  • Campsite and access 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 Yampa River rafting season

The Park Service says high flow from spring runoff generally lasts only a few weeks in late May and June, and the river is too low for rafts around 1,000 cfs, which in most years comes in mid July. Outfitters schedule trips from May to early July.

Several outfitters raise minimum ages at high water. Book early; with trips only from May to early July, dates are limited. See when to go rafting for how seasons compare.

Mid July is when the Yampa usually drops too low for rafts, according to the Park Service.

Who it suits

Which Yampa trip fits you

Whitewater seekers

Late May and June bring the highest water, when OARS and Mild to Wild raise minimum ages. See whitewater camping trips and the whitewater classes guide.

Families

ARTA takes kids from 7, and later dates bring lower minimums at Mild to Wild and OARS. See family rafting trips.

Planners

The short season means booking early. Every Yampa trip also finishes on the Green below Echo Park. See week long rafting trips for longer options.

Questions

Yampa River rafting trip questions

How much does a Yampa River rafting trip cost?

On the outfitters' own sites, checked in September 2026, the lowest listed rate is $1,279 per person for a 4 day, 3 night trip with Dinosaur River Expeditions. Most 5 day, 4 night trips list from $1,429 to $2,004. Every price in the table is dated. Confirm when booking.

Why is the Yampa season so short?

The Park Service calls the Yampa the only remaining free flowing tributary in the Colorado River system. With no dam upstream, high flow from spring runoff generally lasts only a few weeks in late May and June. The Park Service says the river gets too low for rafts around 1,000 cfs, which in most years happens in mid July.

How long is a Yampa River trip?

The Park Service's standard high use trip is 5 days and 4 nights. Outfitters run 4 days, 3 nights to 5 days, 4 nights. The float runs 71 miles from Deerlodge Park to Split Mountain, according to the Park Service.

Do I need a permit to raft the Yampa?

Not on a guided trip. Private trips from the second Monday of May to the second Saturday of July need a permit from the Dinosaur lottery. Outfitters are authorized by the Park Service, so you book a seat directly.

How hard is Warm Springs Rapid?

American Whitewater rates Warm Springs Class IV, and the Park Service says some Yampa rapids reach Class IV depending on water level. Most other rapids on the run are Class II to III.

What is the minimum age?

ARTA, Mild to Wild and OARS list 7, with Mild to Wild and OARS raising it at high water. Holiday and Dinosaur River Expeditions list 8, and Sheri Griffith lists 10.

Where do Yampa trips start and end?

Trips launch at Deerlodge Park in Colorado and end at the Split Mountain boat ramp in Utah, after the Yampa joins the Green at Echo Park. Most outfitters meet in Vernal, Utah.

Yampa or Gates of Lodore?

Both end at Split Mountain and share the same lottery. The Yampa's standard trip is a day longer, its season is shorter, and it runs only in spring and early summer. Lodore runs into September. See our Gates of Lodore page to compare.

When should I book a Yampa trip?

Early. Outfitters run only from May to early July, so dates are limited. OARS lists 2027 Yampa dates from May 10 to June 25.

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 on the Green or the Yampa.

Keep planning

Ready to book

Pick your Yampa outfitter

Compare trip lengths, boats and minimum ages, then check dates directly with the outfitter.

Compare Yampa outfittersCompare Gates of Lodore

Written by a Moab river guide and Wilderness First Responder.Last checked