Rafts running Pistol Creek (IV). Photo: Zachary Collier @ NWRC The Middle Fork of the Salmon is a breathtaking 7-8 day trip through Idaho’s Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness. Unlike desert rivers, the water here is clear and the fishing is world class. There are also a myriad of hot springs along the river […]
Pine Creek Rapids on a beautiful section of the Main The Main Salmon is a 6-day float through seriously scenic country in central Idaho. The Salmon River is the longest free-flowing river in the lower 48 and covers almost 7,000 feet of vertical by the time it reaches the Snake River. The permitted section of […]
Gates of Lodore take-out near steamboat rock The Gates of the Lodore is a fun river that is great for families. The biggest rapid is Hell’s Half Mile (which can be up to class IV depending on the flows), but otherwise, there isn’t much whitewater until Split Mountain Canyon. The beaches are sandy and the […]
The end of the Yampa River trip at the confluence with the Green The Yampa River is a 5 day trip through some amazing canyon country with great hikes. Echo Park, at the confluence of the Yampa and the Green River, has some scenic opportunities to look at petroglyphs, admire the massive nature of Steamboat […]
The final day on the Desolation and Gray Canyon stretch of the Green River. Photo: Utah BLM, Flickr A trip through Desolation Gray Canyon is 5-7 days and covers 84 miles. Of the 84-mile long river segment, 66 miles are within the Desolation Canyon Wilderness Study Area –the largest in the lower 48 states. The […]
The colors of the San Juan River near Mexican Hat, Utah The San Juan river is a fun desert float in Southern Utah that can be run in 2 to 7 days depending on where you put in and take out. Most trips launch at either Sand Island or Mexican Hat and take-out at Mexican […]
The desert beauty of the Rio Chama The Rio Chama is a major tributary of the Rio Grande and it was designated as a Wild and Scenic River in 1988. The Rio Chama flows through a canyon of colorful siltstone and sandstone surrounded by gently rolling sagebrush-covered plains. Piñon woodlands cover the hills, and forests […]
The Salt River is a fairly technical desert river (class III to IV) that runs through the Salt River Canyon Wilderness. It is a scenic float through the Sonoran Desert that is one of the only river that runs through Saguaro forests. From its source in eastern Arizona to its confluence with the Gila River […]
The Grand Canyon in all its glory. Truly is the trip of a lifetime. Photo: Josiah Failing The Colorado River through the Grand Canyon does not need much introduction. It is a 16-28 day trip depending on the time of year. Peak season is in the spring and summer, but there is a 16 day […]
The time has come. January 31 is right around the corner. Getting a permit for one of these 13 rivers requires winning the lottery. Sure the odds are a bit more favorable than the Powerball, but that doesn’t mean your dreams will come true. On the most coveted trips, like the Grand Canyon and Middle […]
