river trips moab utah

Sound & Light Show Tour

Sunset Jet Boat with Dinner

On the colorado river.

Imagine rockin' and rollin' on the river with good tunes and great drinks.

Come Enjoy Beautiful Moab, Utah!

Canyonlands by Night and Day has been operating tours in the Moab area for more than 51 years!

Vacations Created Especially for You

Canyonlands by Night & Day is a unique tour operator with a variety of packages for your Moab vacation.

Moab, Utah—An Unforgettable Place

Our neighborhood is filled with some of the most wild and awe-inspiring natural landscapes and canyons in the entire nation.

Canyonlands by Night Tours & Events

Canyonlands by Night and Day is the Best Colorado River Boat Tour as recognized in The Official Best of Travel TV show.

Moab's Premier

Boutique adventure company, now offering, arches and canyonlands national parks tours.

• Arches & Canyonlands National Park Tours
• STAND UP PADDLE

The Wild West Voyages Difference

Wild West Voyages is Moab Utah’s premier boutique Colorado river rafting, kayak, stand up board, and adventure trip company. We are a locally-owned and operated outfitter, and have been called “a small company with a big heart.” Moab river rafting on the Colorado River is a fun and amazing adventure and we offer more intimate guided tours including private charters with customizable details. You can design your raft trip by specifying your preference for an oar raft rowed solely by your guide while you relax (and hang on with both hands)! Or if you prefer you can request a group paddle raft for a more active experience. Often we can bring along a kayak or two for guests to take a turn in their own rig under the guide’s instruction. We offer guided, customized sightseeing and hiking tours into < Arches National Park and < Canyonlands National Park .

In addition to these personalized details, we are proud to feature:

• Smaller group sizes and private charters
• Air-conditioned vans; vehicle interiors cleaned after every use
• First-class customer service
• Professional and caring staff
• Skilled, experienced guides holding a variety of safety, rescue, outdoor leadership, and science certifications
• Plenty of parking in a hidden downtown Moab location
• High-quality and well-maintained river rafting boats, kayaks, SUP boards and equipment. All vessels are thoroughly cleaned with soap and water after every use, including both guided tours and rentals.
• River equipment cleaned and sanitized after every use: PFD’s (flotation vests), wetsuits, booties, splash jackets, coolers, and paddles. This includes equipment from both guided tours and rentals.

Want your adventure TODAY or TOMORROW? Please call (435) 355-0776 for availability.

Our Most Popular Adventures

Come with us and experience canyon country’s most formative and dramatic force: The Colorado River. Our classic Moab river rafting trips offer something for everyone . Raft, paddle an inflatable kayak or a stand-up paddle board. Float the family-friendly mild or moderate rapids, behold the stunning scenery, and let us treat you to a classic adventure of the American West!

Looking to visit Arches National Park? We now offer a fun morning hiking tour or an awe-inspiring evening evening sunset tour .

Let our caring staff and certified guides give you a full service adventure to remember! See our trip options here.

Want your adventure TODAY or TOMORROW? Please call (435) 850-6420 for availability.

Full Day Moab Raft Trip

Half Day AM Moab Raft Trip

Last Call Afternoon Moab Raft Trip

AM Inflatable Kayak Trip

Last Call Half Day Private Charter Inflatable Kayak Trip

Fun times with wild west voyages.

Our guide, Chris, was knowledgeable, encouraging and engaging. He was also flexible, giving us route options even after getting onto the river. I would definitely recommend WWV!

You could tell they were seriously invested in making sure we had a good time. We did - Wild West is highly recommended!

I would 100% recommend this tour company and will definitely be going again. Utah is the most beautiful state and seeing the canyon from the river is quite the treat.

We were beyond impressed with our entire experience! Katherine and Whitney took care of us - from answering dozens of our questions and educating us about the river, to their hospitable attitudes, the customer service was amazing.

We really enjoyed our white water rafting trip with Jonah! He was super knowledgeable about the River, landscape and wildlife and he has some pretty awesome jokes as well.

Jake had much to share of the history, geography, and environment and he tailored the tour to our pace. We enjoyed it very much and it was the highlight of our first trip to Utah.

Wild West Voyages provided an unforgettable adventure that exceeded all my expectations! Exploring the stunning landscapes of the Wild West by kayak was a thrilling experience, and their guided tours were not only incredibly fun but also educational.

As always thanks for taking such great care of us. Constance is an amazing guide who will teach you all you want to know about the landscape while making you feel extremely safe and certainly knowing how to have fun!

Proud Member Of

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Reservation requests for 2024 are now being accepted only through the contact us form. Click on this banner for more information about the trips that are offered and how to request a reservation. Availability for Fisher Towers youth trips are noted under each trip description. Please read through all the information before contacting our office about reservations for next season.

• Scout Groups
• Youth Groups

Fisher Towers Moab

• Desolation Canyon
• Westwater Canyon
• Cataract Canyon
• Moab One Day Trips

White Water Rafting in Moab, Utah

Since its inception in 1971, World Wide River Expeditions has been connecting families, friends and youth groups in the great outdoors through some of the most amazing river trips the West has to offer. Operating with the true spirit of a family business we feel that providing the best experience possible at an affordable price is important. Whether you seek a quiet float, an intro to whitewater, raging rapids, or a combination of them all, we have the trip for you.

It is hard to believe that 2021 was the 50 th year World Wide River Expeditions has been taking individuals, families, and especially youth groups, down the river. What started in a garage and a one-time ward youth conference turned into a yearly event for some and something to bring their grandkids back for others. If you would like a little more history on how it all got started you can check out this blog post from an email founder, Richard Jones , shared with us earlier this year. We didn’t even know some of those details, but we are honored to carry on the tradition and essence that makes World Wide River Expeditions what it was when it was started, and what it continues to be.

Come play in our backyard!

"The high level of expertise and experience that your company has is obvious. I was impressed with the planning and execution of every phase of our trip. We had a fantastic time! Thanks for a wonderful vacation!"

-Wade from Illinois

Bringing you the best Moab adventures for 45 years!

Adrift adventures moab utah.

2024 Rates and Dates

Welcome to the Best Outdoor Vacations and River Expeditions in the West!

Rated #1  outfitter on tripadvisor since 1978 … now in our 46th year.

River Trips, Kayaking, Hiking, Paddleboards, 4×4 National Park Backcountry Jeep Tours. Join us for an unforgettable whitewater rafting journey through geologic time. You’ll find what you want-whether it’s unexcelled excitement, quiet serenity, or a bit of both. Open for whitewater rafting on the Colorado and Green rivers. 

River tours operate March through October, land tours operate year-round .

Adrift Adventures, located in Moab, Utah invites you for the whitewater rafting vacation of a lifetime on Utah’s Colorado and Green Rivers.

​​Based in Moab Utah, Adrift Adventures features a variety of River Rafting and Jeep vacations in the most rugged and beautiful canyon country of Utah. Which includes Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, the wild Colorado and Green Rivers.

Ride the whitewater forces that created all this geologic splendor on a river trip through the Colorado River with sections of this river: The renowned Cataract Canyon, Westwater Canyon and the Fisher towers section. With tour options of Oar Rafts, Paddle Rafts, Motorized Rafts, Paddle Boarding (SUP) or a variety of Kayak options. Raft the scenic Desolation Canyon of the Green River. Or if overland 4×4 adventures are more to your taste, let our skilled, professional guides take you on a Jeep tour, through the little-known magnificent Landscapes of Arches and Canyonlands National Parks backcountry. 

Adrift Adventures offers the finest whitewater outfitting and equipment in the Moab area. Whether you are riding on a Raft or taking a 4X4 ride in a Jeep Rubicon you can be assured all our facilities and equipment are designed to afford you the most enjoyable experience possible. Our food is the finest on the river. Our menus feature Juicy Steaks, Seafood, Chicken, BBQ, fresh Fruits and Vegetables, Garden Salads, Desserts and more. We can also prepare low-fat/low cholesterol, gluten-free and vegetarian menus for those who prefer.

Let our licensed and experienced guides take you on an unforgettable vacation that you’ll reminisce about for years to come.

Reserve your whitewater rafting tours on the Colorado and Green Rivers as well as backcountry Jeep tours in Arches and Canyonlands National Parks by special use permit.

Also see moaboutdoorcenter.com - adriftadventuresmoab.com - moabrafting.com - canyonlandstours.com - tagalongexpeditions.com

All Rights Reserved Myke Hughes, Inc. © 2019-2024

National Park 4x4 Tours

River Trips

Canyoneering

Call us at 800-833-1278

Rafting the Colorado

• Cataract Canyon
• Westwater Canyon
• Moab Rafting
• Calm Water Cruise

National Park 4x4

Canyonlands & Arches

• Island in the Sky
• Horseshoe Canyon

Slot Canyons

• Robbers Roost
• Granary Canyon

Experience the mystique of the backcountry by 4-wheel drive vehicle as we take you to some of the Colorado Plateau's least visited locations. Hike to ancient Ancestreal puebloean dwelling sites and learn about the geology, history, flora and fauna of a grand wilderness.

Cataract and Westwater canyon white water rafting trips by rowing raft, paddle raft or the most maneuverable craft on the river the whitewater RHIB. Inflatable kayaks available by request on certain trips. Combination land and river trips from one to seven days.

When you're looking for adventure, NAVTEC Expeditions offers the most comprehensive selection of Colorado River whitewater rafting and 4x4 trips in Southeastern Utah. You will travel with some of canyon countries most experienced backcountry guides aboard the best equipment.

Loved the Side Hikes!

"We've been on many river trips over the years but never one that had as many hikes as our trip down Cataract Canyon. Your guides know where the hidden gems are in Cataract canyon. Look forward to next year!

Canyonlands Area Topo Map

Click the map to view large (9MB)

Moab Rafting and Canoe Company (MRCC)

**WE ARE CLOSED, OFF-SITE, & NOT ACCEPTING RESERVATIONS while the company is undergoing restructuring & until further notice.**

Thank you for your understanding during this difficult time.

River trip!  Let’s go!

 – canyon country on:.

• The Green River (Labyrinth & Stillwater Canyon)
• The San Juan River
• The Colorado River
• SELF-GUIDED TRIPS:

             GREEN RIVER  – Multi-Day only Flat Water Canoe Trips (through Labyrinth & Stillwater Canyon)

             **We DO NOT administer the Jet Boat pick-up at the Confluence for Stillwater, but rent the canoes and gear necessary for your trip and provide a shuttle service to the put-in only. **   

             COLORADO RIVER  – Day & Overnight  Flat Water Canoe Trips  

• GUIDED MULTI-DAY (3+ Days) TOURS:

              GREEN RIVER  – Flat Water Canoe Trips (through   Labyrinth Canyon )

              SAN JUAN RIVER  – Raft Trips

• LAND SHUTTLE SERVICE for the Green River   (You have your own boat.)
• FRONT  SHUTTLE for the   Colorado River , “The Daily”   (You have your own boat.)
• CAMPING EQUIPMENT RENTAL with Multi-Day Trip Booking
• DOG-FRIENDLY Day & Multi-Day CANOE Trips (Shuttled for a small fee.)
• Rent RAFTS, KAYAKS, INFLATABLE KAYAKS, OR STAND UP PADDLE BOARDS. 
• Have SINGLE DAY Guided Trips (MULTI-DAY Guided Trips only on the Green or San Juan River).

SHUTTLES ARE NOT PRIVATE! If you would like a private shuttle, you must pay for each seat in the 15 Passenger Van(s).

NOTE: IF YOU ARE LATE BY 15 MINUTES OR MORE, we may not be able to put you out on the trip that day!

***We SPECIALIZE  in Multi-Day Excursions on the extraordinary Green River & the mystical San Juan River!***  

~NO OTHER COMPANY  does as many Self-Guided and Guided Trips through Labyrinth Canyon day in and day out as Moab Rafting and Canoe Company does and few companies in town service and specialize in this section of the Green River!  In season, we are at Ruby Ranch and/or Mineral Bottom daily.~ 

Please BOOK EARLY to guarantee your reservation with us.  Even with the largest canoe rental fleet in Moab, availability quickly becomes limited and books up faster each & every year for our specialized trips!  

We welcome and outfit everyone from the Solo Boater to large School Groups, Scout Troops, Bachelor/Bachelorette Parties, and Reunions.

We’ve designed our website to provide you with a wealth of information  and the tools necessary for you to put together your best trip .   (THIS IS ONLY THE HOME PAGE! PLEASE NAVIGATE THE REST OF OUR SITE FOR DETAILED SPECIFICS ON EACH TRIP USING THE DROPDOWN MENU OR BY CLICKING ON THE DESIRED TRIP NAME.) 

Discover your red rock river expedition of a lifetime with Moab Rafting and Canoe Company!  You will come back for more, season after season, year after year!  Labyrinth Canyon, in particular, starts off as a “Bucket List” trip, but undisputably turns into a yearly expedition, actualized by our long list of trusting repeat customers because of the Canyon’s beauty, peacefulness, and a draw beckoning us to escape the “noise” of the world and makes  “Labyrinth Canyon, the best calm, flat-water float in the country!”  

Labyrinth, by definition: a complicated irregular network of passages or paths in which it is difficult to find one’s way; a maze, an intricate and confusing arrangement.

The first river you paddle runs through the rest of your life.  It bubbles up in pools and eddies to remind you who you are. — Lynn Noel

Great memories are made with our company!  We hope to be able to get you out on the river!

Moab Rafting and Canoe Company prides itself in being a unique small business, that is a locally-owned and staffed shop run by canoe and raft enthusiasts!  We consider ourselves ambassadors to Moab’s red rock canyon country, and we love to share the joy that we feel every time we hike these canyons or paddle these waters!

Take your Best Friend with you on your DAY or MULTI-DAY CANOEING adventure…Moab Rafting and Canoe Company is the only company in town that is a DOG-FRIENDLY, river trip company!  WOOF!

Trust in our knowledge, expertise, and an unsurpassed passion for the rivers on which we journey. Our focus is on personalized customer service, flexibility, hard work, dedication, and hospitality, qualities that set us apart from the rest!

Our strongest points are our:

• Commitment to providing customized, commissioned, and tailored service for our clients who desire outdoor river adventure
• Professional quality equipment
• Our first-hand experience and knowledge of the rivers and the area

Years of experience in Utah, and on the Colorado Plateau, gives MRCC a depth of experience rarely seen. As owners, we are your direct line of contact and 100% hands-on and involved in EVERY aspect of the trips we provide (and know the name of every booked customer)! We can run a shop, plan your MRCC river trip, drive those rough and rugged backcountry dirt roads for your remote river trips, actively and frequently guide on those same rivers you are calling about, and read the river like no other!

• We are willing to work hard for you and give you the kind of experience you are hoping to have out on the river. As a result, the person who takes your reservation is not merely a receptionist booking your trip, but wears many hats and may also be your river guide and/or shuttle driver. We work everyday in season. Feel free to call or email us and if we don’t answer, PLEASE LEAVE A MESSAGE and we will get back to you once we return to the office. We are typically out running shuttles every single day to remote locations of the desert in the morning until late afternoon, on the other line working with someone regarding their trip details, actively out in the field and on the river Guiding one of our Multi-Day Trips, or in our boat yard with the pressure washer cleaning gear. We care about getting your trip arranged and can’t wait to get you out on the river for a memorable adventure! After all…life is better on the river!
• We want to provide our patrons with a place they can call a home away from home by establishing trust through our honesty and integrity, making friends, and building lasting relationships with every individual that walks through our door. Being a small business, we are non-commercial and have the ability to develop deeper, stronger, more personal bonds with our patrons. As such, we have a long list of repeat customers that seek us out year after year. We are not the fast food drive-thru provider in the river industry!

Our longer, multi-day trips are calling out to those expedition-minded folks who are interested in all that a river trip can offer, such as:

• Relaxing, unwinding, slowing down, escaping into the remote solitude of the backcountry wilderness, and taking in the fantastic beauty of the canyons and the river; and then,
• Being active, hiking, camping, dealing with unpredictable weather and the elements (wind, heat, cold), mud, sand, and whatever comes next! Expeditions are planned with one main objective in mind, but it is usually the “whatever” entering in that makes for the great stories and special memories.

A Self-Guided Trip is an expedition that is self-governing where one navigates and is self-sufficient and responsible for all of the paperwork, planning, footwork, and knowledge of equipment/gear, the area, the river, and route oneself. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) can be a great place to start with providing suggestions, maps, instructions, directions, and items to see or do during self-guided tours.

A Guided Tour is an expedition where Moab Rafting and Canoe Company provides just about all you will need, including a crew that knows the river all too well, directs the route & times, information, places to hike and camp, and so much more! But, it still requires planning, experience, and equipment, all of which we offer.

One of our repeat customers commented, after doing a 10-day Guided, 84-mile river trip, “A trip like this is for everyone who wants to BE here. There are unavoidable discomforts involved in being on the river for so long, but the rewards more than make up for it.”

We are your Backcountry River Outfitter…

There are many variables to deal with in planning your expedition. A Self-Guided Green River Trip requires a high level of responsibility and your due diligence in extensive research, as you will be going into backcountry wilderness. This is not just a river that you can hop on without preparation! As navigator, you will have to pay attention to river mileage and your travel speeds. You are your own captain! The area is remote and services are non-existent. Your group must be self-contained and self-reliant to deal with emergency situations. Cell phone service is not available within the canyons. A satellite phone is optional, but highly recommended, although this too is not guaranteed to work within the canyons. Regarding Mother Nature and the river, as much as you want (and ask), we cannot give you absolutes, especially in terms of the extreme desert conditions and variances that occur in our environment day to day. This is why we speak in generalities and tell you to be well prepared for your trip! Weather is unpredictable and can change in an instant in the high desert and we have no control over it!

There are inherent risks and dangers to any river trip, even calm, flat-water, and those are magnified by taking a trip in the backcountry.

These are not “free flowing” rivers, so water use up river, as well as weather, causes spring trips to be very different from summer or autumn trips. Throughout many river seasons, we have found that it takes at least a few phone calls and/or emails to plan a great trip for great memories, and a few more to finalize it. Once again, we’ve designed our website to provide you with a wealth of information and the tools necessary for you to put together your best trip. Whether it is a solo or group trip, one day or several, communication is very important for ironing out details. But , it is up to you as a Self-Guided Tripper to prepare your group. Reference our extensive river equipment and camping rental gear for your convenience. We also have a FAQs Tab and a Packing List Tab for you to navigate. We will help with trip cost break downs, ideas and questions, and we’ll do our best to help you make your custom red rock river trip a reality!

“You can no more read the same book again than you can step into the same river.”

― Neil Gaiman

* The Green River is not a river that you can hop on without you preparing yourself. It is not Disneyland. If you are not willing to do the extensive research involved and IF YOU CANNOT HANDLE YOURSELF IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION IN LESS THAN IDEAL CIRCUMSTANCES in our unique, extreme terrain and weather out on the river, YOU SHOULD NOT BE DOING A SELF-GUIDED TRIP and really need start with a GUIDED GREEN RIVER TRIP. As one of the few outfitters who put people out on this river everyday in season, we are finding more and more people going out unprepared, not heeding our advice and direction, cannot make decisions on their own, and needing the intervention of emergency services. So, in support of our extremely hardworking and busy Search and Rescue team in Moab, we are putting out this PSA. The most common issue we see every year: Kayakers/SUP-ers or others trying to filter the extremely silty river water instead of taking a vessel large enough or having a support vessel, such as a canoe, to carry the required minimum amount of fresh water to avoid dehydration in our extreme desert conditions.

Also, we are finding many people creating websites and blogs (who have done “A” trip or even several trips) with a lot of incorrect information/”advice” on Labyrinth Canyon. We are at the river daily, in season. The same rivers we are out on day-to-day, are not the same from day-to-day. It may have been accurate for their particular trip, under their particular circumstances. Please listen to the professionals who are out there daily…and there are only a couple of us outfitters that are! We would be remiss if we didn’t present the not-so-great with the all extraordinary when it comes to the Green. *

*NOTE for Shuttle Service: Avoid the excessive wear and tear on your vehicle in driving down our rugged backcountry roads, as well as paying for the gas, vehicle shuttle cost, as well as the cost of your precious vacation time all to have your vehicle moved! We can provide a convenient River Shuttle Service for those who have their own gear and do not need to rent gear from us. For more information, choose from the dropdown menu at the top of our website: Green River/River Shuttle Service drop. For local, in-town River Shuttle Service, choose: Colorado River/River Shuttle Service.

**MRCC’S Policy: BE NICE OR LEAVE …River trips are supposed to be fun, right?! We go out of our way to be exceedingly nice and, therefore, reserve the right to refuse service and trips (now AND in the future) to those who do not follow our policies and who are rude, disrespectful or abusive to our staff, company, and/or equipment.

CANCELLATION POLICY

We are sure that you have an excellent reason for cancelling, and we are very sorry to hear it, HOWEVER, below is our cancellation policy and you will be charged.

SELF-GUIDED MULTI-DAY Trips, Shuttles, Rental Equipment, ETC.:   A $100 non-refundable per person deposit is required to secure your trip date for Self-Guided Multi-Day Trips.   Due to the extensive planning of Multi-Day Trips for customers, it is not likely that we will be able to rebook your reserved dates if you cancel.  Also, we more than likely have had to turn others away for your booked dates.   The full amount of your trip (including rental equipment) is due and will be charged to your Visa or Mastercard only given 30 days from the date of your trip.  CANCELLATIONS WITHIN 30 DAYS OF YOUR RESERVATION WILL NOT RECEIVE A REFUND.   Regarding the possibility of having to cancel, we strongly suggest you purchase Trip Cancellation Insurance to protect your vacation investment, as there are NO EXCEPTIONS OUTSIDE THE CANCELLATION POLICY .   It is our policy to reserve the right to cancel any trip at the last minute for any reason.  Should this occur, no money will be exchanged.  If conditions allow, we will postpone for a few hours or to the next day.

SELF-GUIDED SINGLE DAY Trips:   The full amount of your trip is due and will be charged to your Visa or Mastercard only given at the time of booking.  If you cancel within 14 days of your trip, you will receive a refund less $20 per person booked.  CANCELLATIONS WITHIN 3 DAYS OF YOUR RESERVATION WILL NOT RECEIVE A REFUND. Regarding the possibility of having to cancel, we strongly suggest you purchase Trip Cancellation Insurance to protect your vacation investment, as there are NO EXCEPTIONS OUTSIDE THE CANCELLATION POLICY .  It is our policy to reserve the right to cancel any trip at the last minute for any reason. Should this occur, no money will be exchanged.  If conditions allow, we will postpone for a few hours or to the next day.

GUIDED T ours:    A $250  non-refundable per person deposit is required to secure your trip date.  Please contact us as early as possible if you need to make any changes.   The full amount of your trip is due and will be charged to your Visa or Mastercard only given 60 days from the date of your trip. CANCELLATIONS WITHIN 60 DAYS OF YOUR RESERVATION WILL NOT RECEIVE A REFUND.   Regarding the possibility of having to cancel, we strongly suggest you purchase Trip Cancellation Insurance to protect your vacation investment, as there are NO EXCEPTIONS OUTSIDE THE CANCELLATION POLICY.   It is our policy to reserve the right to cancel any trip at the last minute for any reason. Should this occur, no money will be exchanged.  If conditions allow, we will postpone for a few hours or to the next day.

FRONT SHUTTLE SERVICE for the Colorado River (“The Daily”): The full amount of your shuttle is due and will be charged to your Visa or Mastercard only given at booking 14 days from the date of your trip.  CANCELLATIONS WITHIN 14 DAYS OF YOUR RESERVATION WILL NOT RECEIVE A REFUND.   Regarding the possibility of having to cancel, we strongly suggest you purchase Trip Cancellation Insurance to protect your vacation investment, as there are NO EXCEPTIONS OUTSIDE THE CANCELLATION POLICY.

**We reserve the right to alter the river trip due to water flow, or lack thereof, or any other unforeseen circumstances. ALL MULTI-DAY TRIPS GO OUT in wind, rain, snow, sleet, shine or extreme heat! This is not Disneyland! We are in the high desert and our weather is extreme! There are inherent risks and dangers to any river trip, even calm, flat-water, and those are magnified by taking a trip in the backcountry. YOU NEED TO BE PREPARED for rainstorms, wind, blazing sun, intense heat and cold, etc. If this is looking like too much responsibility and YOU CANNOT HANDLE YOURSELF IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION IN LESS THAN IDEAL CIRCUMSTANCES, YOU SHOULD NOT BE DOING A SELF-GUIDED TRIP and really need start with a GUIDED Green River Canoe Trip . **

We reserve the right at any time to change prices, products, policies, and services without prior notice.

We are a small company that books up throughout the season because of our service, expertise, and dedication in offering our specialized trips. ALL PRICES ARE FIXED, SO PLEASE, NO DISCOUNTS OR HAGGLING.

Our customers are welcome to park their vehicle in our lot for the duration of their trip.

NO CAMPING OR SLEEPING IN VEHICLES ON THE PROPERTY!

Leave no trace of your stay. You must pack out everything you pack in! Visit: lnt.org

“Take only memories, leave only footprints.”

Moab Rafting and Canoe Company is licensed in the State of Utah as a River Outfitter and Livery Company.

MOAB RAFTING AND CANOE COMPANY 2480 South Highway 191 Moab, UT 84532

Call today: 435-259-7722

*WE ARE CLOSED, OFF-SITE, & NOT ACCEPTING RESERVATIONS while the company is undergoing restructuring & until further notice.**

*NOTE: We are NOT IN THE OFFICE regularly during the off season!

UPDATE: We are closed and off-site. Due to the current state of the pandemic, travel restrictions, and uncertainties, reservations will not be taken at this time as we continue to assess the state of the pandemic. Thanks for your understanding as we all navigate through this difficult time.

Advance reservations are required & limited. HOURS ARE BY APPOINTMENT ONLY. Please be on time for your appointment.

We accept VISA and MASTERCARD ONLY.

We cannot stress enough: **ALL OF OUR TRIPS BOOK UP RAPIDLY!** PLEASE BOOK WELL AHEAD OF TIME!!

In season, we experience an EXTREMELY HIGH VOLUME of calls & emails. Please leave us a message & we will return your inquiry as soon as possible. LATE AFTERNOON & EARLY EVENING ARE THE BEST TIMES TO REACH US, as we are driving the remote backcountry all day.

INQUIRIES & DISCUSSIONS about trips & dates DO NOT CONSTITUTE A BOOKING/RESERVATION. Your TRIP DATES ARE NOT HELD & WILL NOT BE BOOKED without us receiving a VISA or MASTERCARD number & a NON-REFUNDABLE DEPOSIT for our Multi-Day Trips.

We require at least 24 hrs. notice to book your reservation.

SHUTTLES ARE NOT PRIVATE. If you would like a private shuttle, you must pay for each seat in the 15 Passenger Van(s).

They provide Two Way Radio and Satellite Phone Service in Moab. This is optional, but recommended to take along on Self-Guided Multi-Day Trips. However, even Satellites are not guaranteed in the canyons. Call 435-259-8240

The Wenonah is a must have for the serious canoeist and they know that there is a difference! We offer the BEST BRAND of professional canoes and are the only company in town that rents these award-winning, high performance Wenonah Canoes! These are LARGER, yet LIGHTER WEIGHT, streamlined to cut through the water and MORE STABLE than other brand canoes, and each being individually HANDCRAFTED in the United States.

*OWN THE BEST...We are also your Authorized North American Retailer for your special order, custom built, & exceptionally designed Wenonah Canoe! Call us for more information and to place your order. Minimum 2 months to make your boat.

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From mild to wild, Moab has an abundance of river recreation opportunities available to suit any taste.

Introduction

Moab area outfitters, suggested activities, scenic drives.

Canoeing the Colorado along Potash-Lower Colorado River Scenic Byway (U-279)

View of Fisher Towers from Upper Colorado River Scenic Byway (U-128)

The River Wild

The River Mild

Stand Up Paddle Boarding

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How to Get the Most Out of Family Whitewater Rafting Utah

Whether you’re planning for a half-day or multi-day Moab river rafting trip, your family will enjoy the float even more if everyone is fully prepared. Here at Red River Adventures, we want your family to get the most out of your Moab rafting trip with us. Here are some things you should know as your family plans your next float trip with us.

Get Your Children Ready Ahead of Time

If you want to experience the best rafting in Moab, Utah, be sure to talk to your children ahead of time so that they have the right expectations. This is especially true if your children have never been rafting before. Chances are, they’ve seen whitewater rafting on a TV show or movie — and they might feel like it’s going to be a scary or dangerous experience.

This is why we have age limits on all of our Moab rafting trips, as well as different rafting packages. Our most popular rafting trip is Fisher Towers, which has a few Class III rapids during spring runoff and drops off to Class II later in summer. That tour requires that children are at least five years old and weigh at least 40 pounds. Very family friendly!

For older children, they might be ready for the Westwater Canyon full-day trip, which has some Class III and even Class IV rapids. Kids need to be at least 10 years of age for that tour, or 12 during higher water season.

Those are just a couple of examples. You can check out a lot of the additional trips that we have available on our Day Trips page .

Preparation is Key!

Once your raft leaves the shore, it’s not entirely impossible to turn around if you forgot something in your vehicle… but it’s not easy! It’s best to have a checklist prepared of everything you think (or know) you will need during your Moab rafting trip. Snacks, bottled water, sunscreen, a towel, and other items are relatively important, so make sure you have them before your raft takes off!

Listen to Your Guide

We’re really proud of our guides at Red River Adventures. They’re incredibly knowledgeable and highly skilled and trained. We hope that our guides’ for whitewater rafting will be instilled in you and your children after taking a trip with us!

And with that being said… listen to your guides. As they prep you for the trip, they will offer important safety advice and tips so that you can have the best and safest trip possible. We hope you’ll enjoy the experience so much that you’ll come back year after year.

Choose the Right Adventure for Your Family

Is your family highly experienced in the outdoors, or is this your first trip? We have a wide variety of tailored adventures to suit every family when it comes to whitewater rafting in Utah. Whether you’re ready for a 30-mile, three-day trip down the Dolores River or a gentle Stand-Up Paddle trip for a half-day on the Colorado, we have something for every family’s skill level and comfort level.

Enjoy Yourselves!

No matter what level of adventure you choose, prepare to make your Moab rafting adventure one that will create lasting memories for your family!

Contact Us to Book Your Next Family Adventure

Red River Adventures has been the premier family Moab river rafting experience since 2003. If your family is ready for their next floating adventure, call us at 877-259-4046 or book your next trip online .

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Questions? Call (877) 259-4046 or Email Us

River Rafting Reviews and Red River Adventure Testimonials!

Great morning adventure for the white water rafting. Guide was calm, knowledgeable and good fun, as well as the rest of the team. You feel like you are in safe hands.

Still feeling lucky to have done Canyoneering with a cool group and with Kelcie our guide!

Very considerate and knowledgeable guide service. Highly recommend. Kelcie was awesome.

We booked this tour at the last minute and are so glad we did. Kenzie was awesome - she made us feel safe and comfortable, plus was great to chat with on the hike back to the van. This was such a wonderful experience and I could not recommend it more!

We had a terrific time floating the river with the guides of Red River Adventures. The team demonstrated and explained safety precautions and how to maneuver in the raft. They served a made on site chicken Caesar salad. Just when started to get hot there would rapids so we could cool off a bit. The staff was exceptional.

Fun and exciting adventure down the river! June was our guide, she was funny, personable and informative about the area around us

I booked a 1-day guided climbing tour with Red River Adventures and I had an amazing time! My guide, Jon, was super knowledgeable and enthusiastic. He asked about my goals for the day were and helped me choose areas and climbs that worked for me. The owner, Carl, was helpful in making it work for me even though I didn't have a car. I definitely recommend Red River Adventures for climbing in UT.

Fun bunch of guides. we did the half day and was a perfect way to start day. Sharbo (sp?) was great!

Crack Camp with Red River Adventures was truly such an amazing, unforgettable experience! Mary and her fellow guides were all so knowledgeable, supportive, and kind, and I learned so much in three days! Definitely plan to stay in touch with all the awesome people I met!

CRACK CAMP with Mary, Sam and Ben. Fantastic time. Learned a lot. 10 out of 10

Really fun. Great experience. Kenzie was a great guide

Red River Adventures really went above and beyond with our excursion. Between the thoroughness of explaining the trip and safety protocols, the healthy lunch provided and the tour guide (June) we had an exceptional time and will for sure recommend to anyone we meet that is heading to Moab. Thank you for since an enjoyable trip :)

First timers, outdoor, multi-pitch full day climbing experience- Brian, our SLC guide, was incredibly friendly, knowledgeable and patient. His expertise allowed us to know exactly what he was doing while he guided us up routes that were appropriate for our skill level. The day few by and we enjoyed it so much that we plan on making a return guided trip with Brian.

Great experience. Guides were very energetic and positive and made me feel safe!

Kenzie was our guide and was fabulous. She talked down someone starting to panic perfectly and they were smiling to do the next rappel. She made the trip very enjoyable talking with all 4 parties and balancing her time with everyone, which i found impressive. She was very knowledgeable and made everyone feel safe. It was a great canyoneering route with small and big challenges. A great day for everyone. Would definitely use this guide service again.

Brought a group of elementary kids for a canyoneering trip. The guides were amazing and sensitive to what each student needed. We felt safe and in good hands the whole time. Would recommend.

Was a great experience! Kelsey was an awesome guide! Would highly recommend!

Best money I’ve ever spent! Couldn’t recommend crack camp enough. Mary, Sam and Britney were the best instructors I’ve ever had. The photographers were equally amazing as well. So much valuable knowledge passed down that I’m incredibly grateful for. I got everything I wanted and much more out of this crack camp. Will be returning for sure.

Did a raft trip and the bow and arrow canyoneering trip. The two guides were very safe and knowledgeable. We truly enjoyed both and would recommend the company to anyone.

Molly and Charbo are extremely nice and informative. We had a great time today. The rapids aren’t that challenging but the scenery is amazing!!

We did the the Bow and Arrow excursion with Red River. Our guide was awesome, lots of fun, and knew his stuff. It was a good little hike, not too intense, and had some fun repels. Would definitely recommend for others looking for some fun in Moab.

When booking our trip to Moab, we decided we wanted to do a couple of guided adventures. After researching local guiding companies, Red River was exactly what we were looking for. One day we went rock climbing with Brian at Looking Glass Arch. Brian was an awesome guide and made the experience very enjoyable for us! We just wish it was longer! The next day Charbo took us canyoneering to Morning Glory. The hike in, the rappels, and the hike out were great! Charbo was super knowledgeable and made everyone feel comfortable in the group. The whole process from booking the trips to showing up and being taken out was simple and efficient. I won’t hesitate to use them again the next time we are in Moab! Thanks again!

Oscar Hackworth was our Colorado rafting guide. He was next level! A five star, even “ten stars!” kind of guide. From his witty humor to his breadth of knowledge on historical information, our trip on the river was fun and interesting. Only wish we had more time with him such as like on a two day rafting trip. Would recommend!

We did the Rock of Ages Canyoneering tour with 5 teenage boys and ABSOLUTELY loved it. Our tour guide, Brian, connected with the boys and walked them through each repel and helped them get comfortable. This was an epic adventure for our group. Thanks!

Incredible experience splitboard touring for my wifes birthday. Very professional. Highly recommend.

John, an IFMGA Certified Mountain Guide led a backcountry tour for me today. It was a full on mountain adventure with extreme weather. My kind of day in the mountains. John is the epitome of what a guide should be. He is extremely personable, patient, fit, and a master of his profession. A Guide full of experience and knowledge. I learned an incredible amount of information today on mountain travel and avalanche related topics. He took the time to explain and ensure I understood the topics. He also shared tips and techniques that made my experience a 10 out of 10. I plan to hire John in the future. You can’t go wrong asking for John. He’s amazing!

Carl is a consummate professional backcountry ski guide. I always learn a ton and have fun in the process. I'll be back!

Honestly one of the best classes I’ve take, Jake and Vic are both through educators and great guides. If you’re looking to take a AIARE course these guys are great! I left feeling more prepared to deal with avalanche problems and identifying risks in the backcountry.

I had a great time with John at Red River Adventures doing a ski tour yesterday. We skied around Cardiff Fork in the Wasatch, he’s a tremendous guide, such attention to detail, I’ve gone on nearly a dozen trips with him. He and Carl at Red River make a dynamic team. They do rock climbing, skiing, alpine climbing, river guiding, you name it they do it. Keep it up folks!

Victoria was fun and was able to adapt for what suited our time for the day. Appreciated the rescue sled tips.

Jake and Ben were professional, informative and extremely helpful. Would recommend to anyone who feels apprehensive about taking an avalanche safety course.

Amazing experience with Sam on my first back country experience

Jake and Garth were both excellent instructors, and just a blast to hang out with for a weekend. It is super obvious they both care a ton about providing an impactful educational experience - but they also made the entire weekend very fun. Highly recommend.

Great experience during our rescue course.

It was a blast. Brain was really skilled and thoughtful.

Spent a day ice climbing with Red River. Excellent instruction, fun guide (ask for Brian!), all in all a great time. Will go again for sure! Thanks Red River!

Out of random coincidence, Sam had led me up a trail last year and strongly suggested I take this course, which was AWESOME! The experience and passion she and Jake bring to getting humans back safely and stoked is unparalleled. And the resources they walk you through and make available are profound. Can’t recommend Red River and these two strongly enough. If you’re serious about backcountry, this is an absolute must. I also really liked the small class size. Made a big difference. Looking forward to practicing my beacon finding at the resort.

Great day with Jake at Provo Canyon. Very skilled guides that go above and beyond. Highly recommend….

Alex was an awesome instructor. We had a great day going over all of the different avalanche rescue techniques.

Amazing guides who are knowledgeable and charismatic. Took an AIARE 1 class through them and it was an amazing time. I learned so much!

Amazing experience with John and Garth in our Avi 1 class. They were great teachers and I feel confident in the skills I acquired through their instruction.

Sam was a fantastic guide and instructor. Very skilled at building our skills in the backcountry!

John, Jeremy, and Garth are all awesome and taught a great course in a beautiful area. If you are taking AIRIE 1 and don't have skis/board or beacon/probe/shovel they will help you out and loan you what you need for the course!

Sam delivered an awesome rescue course!

I went on August 31st, Leaky was our guide. He was awesome and was very pleased with our white water rafting. Thanks so much

We did the full day with lunch and was extremely pleased! Our guide was outstanding, the trip was great and the food was delicious. Highly recommended.

No need to waste time reading this review when you could already be on their website signing up, but I suppose it's your time to waste, so here's the deal. A couple weeks ago, my friend suggested we go rafting in Moab together. She had previously done a trip with Red River Adventures a while back and loved it, so it seemed like a safe bet for my inaugural float. Simple sign up, fair prices, and knowledgeable guides. Pretty much a no-brainer. It totally held up. We had a blast with our guide, the absolutely incredible Molly. Her witty humor and kindness were only matched by her knowledge of the area and of the river itself. Between the named rapids, of which she had complete and utter control over, she kept the group entertained with fun little facts about the local geography, wildlife, and surrounding community. It was an even better experience than I had hoped for. One and only one complaint: On our way back to our vehicles after the trip, Molly gave our group some recommendations for restaurants in the area, including burgers at Milt's. It sounded like the perfect place for my friend and I to grab a quick bite on our way out of town since we were running short on time, so we stopped by. They were "temporarily closed." Molly, burgers are on you next time I see ya. ;)

We had a great day of rafting. Very well organized. Thanks to our guide Kira, she very professional and entertaining. Lunch was very good thanks to Leaky. Overall a perfect day.

Best rafting trip we've been on, and certainly not our first. Highly recommend

Definitely a Great day on the River. Leaky kept us entertained the whole journey and there can be some swimming. We did the full day which lasts much longer on the River and had a free lunch.

Call Toll Free: 877-MOABTEX

Green & Colorado River shuttles service since 1958.

For more than 65 years, tex’s riverways has provided jet boat shuttles along with canoe and kayak outfitting rental services to groups traveling on the calm water stretches of the colorado and green rivers near moab, utah through canyonlands national park ..

Backed by a solid reputation, our locally owned and operated business emphasizes the ethical treatment of a pristine landscape and offers reliable river shuttles on the Colorado River, the Green River, and to the Maze District of Canyonlands National Park .

The Canyons

We are accepting reservations for the 2024 and 2025 seasons.

Top of the line outfit.

"Everything you might want in an outfitter. Gear was in excellent shape, paddles were better quality than usual with a rental. Check in and shuttle to Ruby Ranch was very efficient; same for jet boat shuttle back. All shuttle employees were top notch as was office staff. Highly recommended."

We hired Tex’s for a 13-person trip down Stillwater and I couldn’t be more pleased with their service. Every member of the team we encountered was friendly, professional, and knowledgeable. The office staff very patiently answered the many questions I had leading up to the trip; the shuttle drivers were pleasant to chat with on the drive and patient with us at the put-in; their safety/wilderness-awareness talk was top notch. Our boat driver on the way back was punctual, efficient and funny. Will definitely hire these guys again!

Trip Advisor Review

Google review.

What an amazing trip! We spent 10 canoeing on the Green River, from Crystal Geyser to the Confluence. Then got the 2 hours Jet Boat ride up the Colorado River. I'm in a wheelchair, but I like going on adventures, camping, canoeing, etc. Normally I have to warn outfitters of that fact and some other outfitters have had some problems with that. The staff at Tex's Riverways just said, "well, if you think you can paddle for 10 days who are we to tell you different". Man, I wish everyone had that attitude! These are the best outfitters ever. Thank you guys for everything.

Yelp Review

Highly recommend Tex's.  This was our first canoe trip and we had an amazing time.  The Green River is absolutely beautiful, pictures really do not do it justice.  All the staff at Tex's are absolutely fantastic, super helpful and they really have the logistics dialed in.

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Generations past, generations to come: What two reporters took away from a Colorado River trip

A first-person look at why the colorado river matters.

By Amy Joi O'Donoghue , Emma Pitts , Deseret News

This article is published through the Colorado River Collaborative, a solutions journalism initiative supported by the Janet Quinney Lawson Institute for Land, Water, and Air at Utah State University. See all of our stories about how Utahns are impacted by the Colorado River at greatsaltlakenews.org .

Amy Joi O’Donoghue: I have been on the Colorado River a few times, the first in 2014. It is hard to believe that in August, it will represent a decade of dipping my toes in the water, so to speak, to better understand this complex river described as the “Workhorse of the West.”

This river, at 1,450 miles, is often referred to as the lifeblood of a rapidly growing region of the United States. Arizona’s population is exploding, Utah consistently ranks as the fastest growing state in the nation and New Mexico, Colorado and Nevada are suffering from growing pains.

Suffice it to say, the West needs the river to thrive. The West needs the river to be generous, supported by bountiful snowpacks in the Upper Basin to support growth.

In 2014, I was with then Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, who had invited a prominent Democratic lawmaker from the East Coast to enlighten him on the struggles of the West.

Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., has sadly since died. But at the time, he said his experience in Utah was an eye-opener.

The two lawmakers and local elected officials took a meandering ride along a stretch of the river, treated to a spectacular light show that highlighted the brilliance of the vermillion canyon walls.

I don’t think I got wet at all.

Fast forward to a Moab training workshop April 25-26 launched by a new initiative called the Colorado River Collaborative, which featured another trip on the Colorado.

My colleague, Emma Pitts, shares my passion for reporting, for good journalism. But we are worlds apart.

I will turn 60 this month, a Utah native. Emma recently turned 24, graduated as an English major from Utah Valley University and is from Oklahoma. It was her first time on the river. On our first assignment, I thought I could teach her; she ended up teaching me with her wide-open curiosity and thoughtful questions. There is a way to teach an old dog new tricks.

Emma’s first impressions

Emma Pitts: Like Moab, Oklahoma is known for its red port soil, which covers most of my home state. Both are caused by iron oxide in their composition, but that’s as far as I can compare the two.

As we drove through the canyon up Kane Creek Boulevard up against the Colorado River, it was — for lack of a better term — a humbling experience.

I grew up with a father whose idea of a family vacation was road-tripping 13-plus hours to Grand Canyon National Park. My little sister had hiked Havasu Falls in the Grand Canyon by age 5 and the 24-mile rim-to-rim hike by age 11. That said, I have been surrounded by massive red rock formations and powerful water currents a couple of times in my life, but they never fail to remind me how powerless humans are against the rugged Western landscape.

Amy Joi’s experience on the river

AJO: I was bundled up from head to toe but it felt, as we hurled through some rapids, the chill ate my bones. Emma was wearing shorts and a long-sleeved shirt. We both had our ball caps on.

EP: Perhaps not the wisest attire for rafting in late April. I joked with Brian Steed, who is the executive director of the Janet Quinney Lawson Institute of Land, Water, and Air at Utah State University, that it was the redneck in me that was tough enough to handle the cold currents.

But I wasn’t too focused on whether I was cold or not when I was on the river anyway — there was too much to take in, from wildlife to landscape.

To me, there was something almost comical, too, about a dozen or so journalists — many having met for the first time — coasting along the Colorado River together. It was a new and unique experience and exciting, to say the least.

Saving the ‘Jesus hat’

AJO: So, as we ran this river courtesy of Holiday River Expeditions and their seasoned guides, I fought to keep my balance. A fused spine and neuropathy due to chemotherapy have left their individual footprints on my health.

I was in the back of the boat, while Emma gleefully sat up front, smiling, taking in the experience without fear. My main goal was to stay in the boat, even if it meant sitting down and soaking my buttocks.

Then, the wind whipped up and my favorite ball cap flew forward into the boat. It was lost forever, I surmised. It was purchased in the heart of the Bible Belt and simply says: John 3:16.

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

It’s my lucky charm.

Suddenly, Emma emerged from the front of the boat. Miraculously, she had caught the hat — and with that, we planted a generational bond.

Emma’s take on saving the ‘Jesus hat,’ the wonders of wildlife

EP: I was looking at the rapids we were approaching, calculating how wet I would probably get, when I heard the raft guide yell, “Someone get that hat!” I only got my sleeve wet. I would’ve jumped in for Amy Joi’s hat, but being close to 5-foot-10, my long arms came in handy and, ultimately, saved the Jesus hat.

In the short time we were on the raft, we saw different breeds of cranes along the banks, two bald eagles flying overhead and a plump beaver sitting in the water, the first time I’d ever seen one in the wild. Animals who call national parks home must be pretty used to human traffic, but unlike a zoo, we were in their territory. They knew it, and we did too.

AJO: The Colorado River Collaborative, thanks to funding from Utah State University, aims to bring competing newsrooms together to share stories, share ideas, and define solutions — some uncomfortable — to help understand the river and its challenges.

About the Colorado River Collaborative

Like the river itself, the collaborative is navigating a delicate balance of making sure reporters get their own stories, promote individual perspectives. And Heather May, our leader, is an absolute hero by diplomatically herding us toward our goals.

“By reporting on potential solutions, we want to show how Utahns can address a dwindling water supply. This doesn’t mean we will take sides on what solutions would work or not,” May said. “But we want to show how individuals and organizations are responding to the crisis and if their responses are working.”

EP: One of my favorite things about being a journalist is meeting so many people with different perspectives, experiences, expertise and sharing their stories. I kept thinking the entire trip, “How lucky am I?” People go their whole lives without seeing incredible landscapes like those around Moab. Here I was, a new journalist from Oklahoma, bumping shoulders on a raft with people who care so much about the future of the Colorado River and surrounding areas and have spent their careers devoting time and energy to environmental causes.

I am still nowhere near understanding the complexities of water and all it entails — who gets it, how much they get, what happens when it runs out. To Amy Joi’s amusement, I probably looked at her with a face of pure puzzlement at least a dozen times, her knowledge and patience I am forever grateful for. But not everyone has to be a water or Colorado River expert to know they have skin in the game. That is perhaps the most important lesson I learned from the collaborative.

The Colorado River flows through 11 national parks and monuments. As the river changes, the reality is that with it, so does the landscape and native wildlife in or out of the river that millions of people around the world come to experience every year. You don’t have to be one of the seven basin states the Colorado River irrigates to to be affected by its changes.

At the end of the day

AJO: After the trip had ended and we had more discussions and fajitas, the entire group scattered as if they were race horses bolting from the starting gate.

I was tired and exhausted when I hit the road. The fading sun clouded my vision. Navigating twists and turns, I let my car go slow, much to the disgust of more seasoned motorists on this stretch of highway who repeatedly passed me.

I could make out the ebbs and flows of the river. It was so peaceful, so compelling, I pulled over the car and plugged in what I thought was an apt song.

“The Last Resort” was written by Eagles members Don Henley and Glenn Frey.

Some could call it an environmental activist song, but I think it is a call to reality, describing the near obliteration of Native American tribes and the settlement of the West by East Coast settlers.

The point at the end of the song is poignant and so relative to the Colorado River, noting there is no new frontier, we have got to make it here.

“Who will provide the grand design?

What is yours and what is mine?

And you can see them there on Sunday morning, and stand up and sing about what it’s like up there. They call it paradise, I don’t know why. You call it paradise, kiss it goodbye”

The collaborative does not want to put a simple peck on the cheek with the Colorado River. We just want you to understand that it’s paradise. We do not want to kiss it goodbye. We can’t afford to.

Multi-Day Rafting Trips in Moab, Utah

Overnight and multi-day rafting trips are a vacation experience unlike any other, and nothing beats starting and ending your trip in Moab, Utah. Explore the trips below to join a regular group departure, or charter a whole trip as a family reunion, corporate retreat, or a group of friends. It's easy:

• Contact our reservation team at 801-942-6669 well in advance to select your date.
• We'll give you a "Direct Group Booking Link" to share with your group.
• Each group member uses this private link to sign up and pay for their own reservation.

Cataract Canyon 4-Day Classic

Experience an all-inclusive 4 day rafting journey through Utah's legendary Cataract Canyon just outside of Moab Utah. Exciting whitewater combined with the indescribable scenery of Canyonlands National Park make this the ideal river trip.

• Duration: 4 days
• Departure Times: 7:30 AM
• Season: May – September

Green River Rafting - Desolation Canyon 5 Day

Winding through a remarkable wilderness of twisted mountains, dramatic cliffs, and towering plateaus carved by an ancient inland sea, the Green River through Desolation Canyon offers one of America’s favorite rafting trips.

• Duration: 5 days
• Departure Times: 6:30 AM
• Season: June – August

Overnight Rafting and Then Some

Two of our overnight rafting trips travel different sections of the Colorado River, our Southwest Sampler multi-sport trip upstream of Moab which is perfect for first-timers, and our Cataract Express 2-Day trip that cruises through 100 miles of Canyonlands National Park and Cataract Canyon just downstream from Moab, Utah . The Cataract Express trip is ideal for whitewater thrill-seekers looking to add day-adventures in Moab like Hummer Safaris, Canyoneering or exploring nearby Arches National Park.

Moab Southwest Sampler Package

Taste the “best of the Southwest” on this 4-day, 3-night getaway. Relax for 2 nights at the SpringHill Suites by Marriott. Explore Arches National Park and experience one of Moab, Utah’s most renowned adventures – an off-road Hummer Safari. Top it all off with 2 days of Colorado River rafting and deluxe camping on the river.

• Duration: 4 Days, 3 Nights
• Departure Times: Check Daily Itinerary

Cataract Canyon 2-Day Express

New high-speed, custom rafts now allow you to journey through the Colorado River’s legendary 100-mile Cataract Canyon in just 2 days–perfect for those with busy schedules yearning for a quick, but refreshing dose of adventure.

• Duration: 2 days
• Season: May – July

Charter an Entire Canyon to Yourself

Charter five days through Utah’s Desolation Canyon or four days through Canyonlands National Park and have it all to yourself - or bring friends, family, or your corporate entourage if you like.

Contact us directly to set up a trip date that is still fully available for chartering.

Call: 866.904.1163

Moab River Rafting Reviews

We will come again, awesome tour, frequently asked questions about moab river rafting tours.

Our daily stretch on the Colorado River includes both class I and class II rapids throughout the season. However, during early season while we experience higher water levels due to snow melt, guests may get to experience one or two class III rapids during their tour.

We recommend wearing quick-dry clothing and shoes that can not only get wet but will stay securely on your feet. Hats and/or sunglasses are also highly recommended.

Everything that you take with you must go on the raft and therefore has a chance of getting wet. We recommend leaving dry clothes, towels, and any other items you do not want getting wet behind. You can check valuables such as cell phones, wallets, and keys with our front desk staff while checking in for your tour. If you wish to bring a camera or cell phone with you, we recommend purchasing a waterproof case that will protect your device. GoPros are allowed on the tour, but they cannot be worn on a helmet/head mount. Guests can use handheld mounts or chest straps that will fit under their life vest.

Previous experience is not required to take a rafting trip with us. Your guides will provide you with our safety protocol guidelines at the start of your tour so you can be sure to feel confident and comfortable while on your adventure.

We recommend guests be comfortable in the water and are capable of getting in and out of a raft. If you feel you may need assistance with paddling, please contact our storefront directly to inquire about paddle-assist options.

All guests are required to wear the life vests provided by our guides. Our jackets accommodate guests as small as 50Ibs and up to a chest circumference of 52 inches.

Veggie burgers can be provided for guests upon request. There are also several salad bar options available to accommodate different restrictions. Please let us know if you have any allergies or restrictions in advance.

Beyond the Colorado River

Starting at $99 per person

Starting at $134 per person

Starting at $110 per person

Discover More Moab Adventures >>

What to take, where to eat, where to stay, what to do, and a few little secrets on the side. Our Moab Insiders Guide will provide you with all the essentials for a perfect Moab experience.

What to take, where to eat, where to stay, what to do, and a few little secrets on the side. Not unlike your own personal Jiminy Cricket, (minus the worries of the little guy getting smooshed) the Moab Insiders Guide will provide you with all the essentials for a perfect Moab experience.

Utah National Parks Road Trip: All 5 Parks & More [Map Included]

If you’re an outdoorsy person and love National Parks , scenic drives , outdoor activities like hiking, biking and climbing then visiting the parks in Utah is the right road trip for you. This Utah road trip will focus on the Big Five Utah National Parks (Utah’s mighty 5) as well as an epic state park and a few extra stops too.

Get ready to explore geological wonders , natural bridges, slot canyons and diverse landscapes on this Utah National Parks road trip!

We will cover: Arches National Park | Canyonlands National Park | Capitol Reef National Park | Bryce Canyon National Park | Zion National Park | Grand Escalante

Plus a few other awesome stops on your trip!

Table of Contents

Map Of The Ultimate Utah National Park Road Trip

Utah is also a great place to take an RV road trip! If you don’t have an RV you can rent one. Click here for great RV Rental options for your Utah road trip .

There are so many great things to do in Utah so the longer you can make your trip the better!

If you are looking for help with planning your Utah trip check out our 10 Day Utah National Park guide :

We’ll begin the ultimate Utah road trip in Moab. This is a great recreation area where you can do all the outdoor adventure you could possibly ask for as well as being a great home base to visit 2 of the Big Five Utah National Parks: Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park . There are more things to do in Moab than you would have time for! Here are our recommendations on things to do when you visit Moab.

Things To Do

We had no idea how much we were going to love this! There are some awesome jeep trails throughout Moab – we really enjoyed the Fins and Things trail or you can check Hells Revenge trail!

The nice thing is you can rent a jeep from one of the many rentals in Moab and head out on your own. Or if you aren’t sure what you are doing you can get a guide too. We highly recommend that if this is your first time!

Rent An OHV

Moab is essentially an oasis in the middle of the desert. The scenery is gorgeous and could be a destination just to take amazing scenic drives. You can also drive right in the scenery by renting an OHV or dirt bike at one of the many rental places on the main road in Moab. Check out these two 4×4 Driving Tours: Arches National Park or Canyonlands National Park

The OHV’s (Off Highway Vehicles) can also be driven on the streets of Moab as long as you follow some local laws.

Mountain Biking

If biking is more your thing, bring your own, or again you can borrow from one of the many Moab bike rentals along main road. There are some of the best bike trails in the entire country in Moab and have different levels of difficulty for all abilities. Definitely a great spot to bike.

Take a half day mountain bike tour!

Rock Climbing

Moab also offers rock climbing. You’re free to do it on your own, or hook up with one of the many guide companies in the area.

You can even climb inside Arches National Park as long as you pay attention to the rocks you are climbing. For the details on that check out https://www.nps.gov/arch/planyourvisit/rockclimbing.htm .

Take a rock climbing trip in Moab!

As for rafting in Moab, the Colorado River offers pretty much all you could ask for. From slow river floats to Class IV rapids, you’ll see it all. You can choose from half day or full day rafting options leaving from Moab.

You can also kayak and SUP the river.

Helicopter Tour

If you want to see more remote areas and amazing rock formations, you may want to check out this Arches Backcountry Helicopter Flight . This tour is a 20-30 minute flight that departs from Canyon fields Airport. Talk about breathtaking views!

Sound and Light Show with Dinner

For a more relaxed evening activity, check out the Sound and Light Show with Dinner . Enjoy a calm ride down the Colorado River while watching an amazing show that details the canyon’s creation. Don’t miss this unique experience!

Corona Arch

Another great hike in Moab is Corona Arch. This is about a mile and a half roundtrip that includes ladders and some steep rock scrambles. You’ll end up under Corona Arch which is just amazing.

Highway 128 Scenic Drive

Another great thing to do in Moab is to take the scenic drive on Highway 128. Your drive time can range from a few minutes to a few hours on this beautiful road. We stopped a few times where the road was near the Colorado River to check it out and toss some stones in the river.

Dead Horse Point State Park

Even though the name doesn’t make you think happy thoughts this is a gorgeous state park and worth checking out for sunset.

Arches National Park

Arches National Park is just a few miles north of Moab. Being one of the Big 5 National Parks, it’s a must-visit when in Moab. We really liked the park for the hiking trails as well as climbing near the arches and the beautiful red rocks.

It’s also incredibly busy and now requires a timed entry ticket to get in from April to October. If you want to maximize your time in the park, we have the perfect itinerary guide for you. It will show you a 1 day itinerary for Arches and a few bonus day activities.

There’s a single road that goes through the park that is 18 miles long, so you could see the whole thing in a day if that is all you had. I’d recommend giving yourself 2 or 3 days to see more of the park and to do some hiking while there.

Best Hikes in Arches National Park

Delicate Arch

There are several hikes that we really enjoyed in Arches. The most iconic being Delicate Arch. This hike is about 3 miles roundtrip and felt like it was uphill the whole way. It culminates at Delicate Arch which is just an amazing structure.

You can get right under the Arch for a great picture even though you’ll be the size of an ant in the picture. This is a must-do on the Utah road trip.

Another fun hike is the Windows section. It’s really a short hike that gets you up close and personal with several fantastic arches. We were able to do some climbing and rock scrambling here, which the kids loved.

Fiery Furnace

To hike Fiery Furnace, you either need a special permit or do the Ranger-led hike. This is because several people have gotten lost on the trail and that’s no good in the desert. We opted for the Ranger-led hike since we were first timers.

It was about $16 per adult and $8 per child (there are age restrictions as well), so it wasn’t cheap, but it was worth it. For one, we all made it out alive and secondly, we got some great information about the geology we were seeing. Check out their site for more info on the Ranger-led hike.

Landscape Arch, Devils Garden trail and Double Arch are other great hikes to check out in Arches. You can read more about hiking in Arches here: Best Hikes in Arches National Park

Check out these great tips on hiking with kids .

Canyonlands National Park

Stop #2 on the Utah road trip and another one of Utah’s Big Five National Parks close to Moab is Canyonlands National Park. There are 2 ways to get into Canyonlands from Moab. You can head north and visit the Island In The Sky which is an amazing place to drive through and check out all the amazing overlooks and grand views during the drive.

You can also head south from Moab and drive about an hour and a half to the southern section of Canyonlands National Park . In this section of the park you’ll find The Needles district. We did a couple of hikes in The Needles including Cave Spring and Slickrock.

Cave Spring was a fun, short hike that had a few ladders to scale throughout the hike. Slickrock was a bit more strenuous as it was 2.5 miles and very hot when we visited in October.

Mesa Arch and Grand View Point are a couple other great hikes to do in Canyonlands.

Where To Stay In Moab

RV Options:

The main road in Moab has several hotels, motels and resorts to choose from. We stayed at the OK RV Park at the southern end of the city during our Utah road trip. This was a nice place to stay and had full hook-ups and also has a deal through Passport America . I’d stay there again.

Sun Outdoors Moab Downtown Campground , Up the Creek Campground , and Sun Outdoors Arches Gateway are all good options for staying in the city of Moab.

There is also a ton of BLM land on the outskirts of Moab that offer free or very cheap dry camping (no hookups at all). This is a great way to stay on the cheap for a few nights while you explore. Here’s more information on where you can find the BLM land.

Rent an RV ! Utah is a super RV friendly state. Click here to learn more about renting an RV in Utah .

Hotel Options:

SpringHill Suites By Marriott . We keep driving by this hotel and I wish we were staying there! It is in a good location just outside Arches and right before you get into the city.

VRBO Options:

There are a lot of VRBO options throughout the city and some even offer the chance to stay in an RV! If you want a place downtown with the space to sleep 10, check out this modern downtown house that also offers trailer parking.

If you plan to spend time any time in Salt Lake City, Utah be sure to check out this post: Best Airbnb Salt Lake City .

Where To Eat In Moab

Along with many of your usual restaurants, Moab has a few unique ones as well. We really liked The Moab Brewery. They had a good selection of their own brews (despite Utah’s strange liquor laws), as well as many vegetarian options and a decent kids menu. Definitely worth a stop.

Moab is the perfect place to stay to visit Arches and Canyonlands National Park!

Goblin Valley State Park

Continuing on the Utah road trip, the next stop will be Goblin Valley State Park. This is a super cool state park that is a perfect place for kids. The park has several hikes, a small campground, a disc golf course, and the best part is the valley itself.

The parking lot for the valley sets the scene as you get out of your car and look down over the valley you see thousands of hoodoo structures below that are all in the form of little trolls, hence the name Goblin Valley.

The park is very relaxed in that they allow climbing on all the structures, which was a welcome treat for the kids. We played hide-and-seek and explored for hours.

The other thing we really liked about Goblin Valley was the dried up riverbed that runs through the park. It was about 5 feet deep and zig zagged it’s way through the valley. We hiked it for quite a way and it seemed we were in a giant maze.

The valley also has rock climbing along some of the cliffs at the back of the valley. Again, you can hook up with a guide group to get you set up properly. Check out this 4-hour Canyoneering Adventure !

For more information on Goblin Valley, check out their website .

Where to Stay

As for where to stay or where to eat when visiting Goblin Valley, your options are pretty limited. There is the campground in the park which has tent sites and a few RV sites, but all of those are without water or electricity at the sites, but there are flush toilets, showers and communal water available for campers.

They also have 2 really cool Yurts available for rent. These have heat and a/c as well as beds, furniture and a great porch to relax on. They looked really cool.

We stayed just outside the park on BLM land which was free and provided a great place to stay while only being minutes from the park. The BLM land had fire pits and was situated near some mountains that we hiked and explored. The night sky was amazing here since there weren’t any city lights for miles around. This is boondocking with no hookups so be prepared for that.

There aren’t many in the area. You could either make this a stop on your way from Arches to Capitol Reef and then continue on to Capitol Reef or you could stay in a cabin here (which is about 45 minutes from Goblin Valley State Park): Duke’s Slickrock Cabins.

Where to Eat

You’ll have to bring what you want to eat as there aren’t any restaurants or stores in the park or anywhere close. The closest town is Hanksville which is about a half hour away and has a few small restaurants and even a couple motels. This would be your closest option for food and other accommodations.

Capitol Reef National Park

After visiting Goblin Valley State Park, head towards Capitol Reef National Park . This was our favorite out of all the Utah National Parks on our Utah road trip. Between the hikes, off-road driving, fruit picking and scenery, it is hard to beat. We actually almost didn’t go since it is a little bit off the main road but we are so glad we did and wish we would have stayed longer!

Capital Reef National Park is defined by the Waterpocket Fold which is an almost 100 mile long warp in the Earth’s crust. It is a monocline formation with the step-up in the rock layers. It is pretty amazing.

There is a tour that leaves from Salt Lake City if you stay in that area and want a private tour of Capitol Reef National Park!

Best Hikes in Capitol Reef National Park

Cassidy Arch

This is a longer day hike but worth it since you can actually walk out on the Arch! The trail takes you up to the arch and it is a difficult hike with a few spots that had me gripping the kids hands to make sure they stayed close to us.

You’ll climb almost 700 feet up as you make your way 1.7 miles to the Arch. And then 1.7 miles back down – which is easier but you still hit a few spots that are nerve wracking with kids. All that aside, we still recommend going! When you get to the arch there is a nice area where you can sit and have a snack and the kids can safely run around and explore (not on the arch but overlooking it).

Capitol Gorge Trail

We had heard this was a good trail to do but we weren’t prepared for the amazing views and drive to get there! It is in the park but you actually leave the main road and drive on a dirt road to get back to the trailhead. It is tight drive but popular so the road is well defined. Just keep an eye on the weather since you DON’T want to be driving on here if it is raining since it can get flooded.

Once you come to the trailhead you walk on a dried up riverbed with huge gorges on each side of you. It is so cool! Once you get to the end of the trail (about 1 mile in) you can choose to walk up the mountain to see the Tanks – these are water pools at the top of the cliff. Honestly it isn’t worth it to climb up there to see the tanks but it is worth it just to have the fun of climbing up the mountain.

You will also see historic inscriptions on the canyon walls that are over a hundred years old and if you are walking back around sunset you may end up with bats flying around your hat as you walk back to your car through the canyon walls. It was one of those cool yet scary situations – I didn’t want a bat to get caught in my hair!

Hickman Bridge

This is a very popular hike and for good reason. The views are amazing as you are hiking to the bridge. It is about a 1.8 mile hike roundtrip with an elevation gain of 400 feet.

Once you reach the bridge you can walk up and behind it or view it from the bottom. It is a very cool natural structure and you just hope when you are there isn’t the day it crumbles and falls!

We found an amazing BLM location that meant we were 6 miles from the park entrance and a short distance from the main road (This is important to us with our big rig since we don’t want to get a situation we can’t get out of) and it was FREE camping ! We even ended up having good enough 3G Verizon coverage that we could work from the RV.

This allowed us to stay longer then we thought we were going to. Getting in was a little stressful since there were a lot of rocks and divots – but as long as we took it slow we were OK.

We would recommend it for a place to stay on your Utah road trip. The location was great and the views were beautiful too! This is the exact location .

Camping Near Capitol Reef National Park

Next to the Gifford House is the Fruita Campground. They have 64 RV/tent sites along with 7 walk-up tent sites. There are no hookups at this campground but they do have a potable water fill as well as a dump station in the campground.

Plus you are in the park which would be awesome. They also have apple picking here if you come in season. Here are some great apple picking tips .

If you don’t mind driving in to the National Park, Flying U Country Store & RV Park is located in Joseph, Utah about 90 minutes from the park entrance.

Hotel Options Near Capitol Reef National Park

If you’re looking for a hotel stay when visiting Capitol Reef, there are several resorts just up the road. Capitol Reef Resort is just a few more miles up the road and offers nice rooms, pools and other amenities.

Town of Torrey

About 10 miles up the road and 4 miles from the boondocking site is the small town of Torrey. They do offer more hotels, RV parks, restaurants and shopping but just know it is a very small town.

Where to Eat Near Capitol Reef National Park

We stopped for ice cream at Slackers in Torrey and also had dinner at the pizza place: Red Cliff Restaurant. It is a small dining room but the pizza and service was great and if it is warm outside they had a nice patio area!

You can also get ice cream cups in the the National Park at the Gifford House and yummy apple pie!!

Capital Reef and Goblin Valley were definitely our favorite places to visit on our Utah road trip. I don’t know if it was because they were less busy, the openness, the amazing views, the fun hikes, or all of the above!

Bryce Canyon National Park

The cool thing about the Utah National Parks is that they are all unique in their own way. None of the parks feel like each other and they all have their own unique flair. When you come into Bryce Canyon National Park your first stop is the Visitor Center.

We like to make that our first stop so we can ask the rangers what they recommend. They know the park the best and we have always been happy with the suggestions they have made.

However, if you want to take a tour with a local guide, check out this 3-hour Sightseeing Tour.  Another tour option if you are staying in the Salt Lake City area is this Private Bryce Canyon National Park Tour . A third great option if you are staying in the Las Vegas area is this tour that includes both Bryce Canyon National Park and Zion National Park .

Also note when you are in Bryce they highly recommend you take the shuttle service vs. driving your car. There is very limited parking throughout the park and the shuttle runs consistently. We don’t normally like to go this route since with kids we like having immediate access to our car if we need it.

But the first day there we did do the shuttle and it worked out great. The next time there we drove our car and had no problem finding parking. We were there in October which is off season – so my guess is parking is out of control during the busy season and the shuttle would make sense.

Best Hikes in Bryce National Park

Navajo loop trail/queens garden trail.

This was definitely our favorite hike in Bryce and the one the ranger recommended. She actually recommend that we do “Wall Street” first and walk down there vs. walking up. This was a great suggestion and made the hike that much better for our family.

The people walking up looked exhausted!! Wall Street is a combination of switch backs that takes you down into the canyon. It was such a fun trail. We started at Sunset Point (you can start from either end of the trail).

Once in the canyon you are walking among the beautiful hoo doo’s that are such crazy and cool looking rock formations they almost don’t seem real. You also walk through holes in the formations and gradually make your way back up. I say gradually but it is definitely a tiring hike on the way up. Luckily the views are great and there are multiple places you can stop to take a breather or grab a quick picture.

For more information on this combo hike click here.

Mossy Cave Waterfall

This is a short hike at less then 1 mile roundtrip and is actually located at a location where you have to leave the main national park and go a few miles to get to the trailhead. For that reason it is less busy but totally worth the trip.

You hike to a fork where you can either go view the waterfall or the cave. You can easily do both and we definitely recommend that. The waterfall is beautiful and the cave was really cool!

View Points

You can drive the whole road of the park and make spots at the pullouts along the way for a variety of different views and observation points. Even though we did start to feel like they all were really similar and we didn’t really need to stop at every pull out. The one we do recommend is: Inspiration Point.

It is a short hike straight up the hill to get to the point but the views are worth it and it is also a great place to catch a sunset! The other place is Sunset Point which gives you another amazing view of the hoodoos or Sunrise point on the other side. They really are a sight to see. Bryce was spectacular with all of its sandstone cliffs and unique structures.

RV/Camping Near Bryce National Park

Bryce Canyon has 2 campgrounds right in the park. The North Campground has 99 sites in a mix of RV and tent sites with no hookups. There is a General Store in the area that offers laundry, showers, snacks and supplies.

There is also Sunset Campground, which is a mile and a half further into the park and consists of 100 sites. Again, no hookups at this campground either.

For more information on camping in Bryce Canyon click here.

We did not stay at one of these but instead stayed in Panguitch which was about a 30 minute drive from Bryce on Hwy 89: Paradise RV Park . We stayed for 2 reasons. 1 there were full hookups and after boondocking with no hook ups for over a week we were ready for hookups and 2 it was only $100 for the whole week! That is really cheap for an RV park. To get this price we did use our Passport America card again.

The town of Panguitch has a few restaurants, grocery stores, etc. It is by no means large but had what we needed.

Both Circleville RV Park and Duck Creek Village RV are about an hour from the National Park if you don’t mind driving in a bit.

Hotel Options Near Bryce National Park

The town of Bryce is located right outside the entrance and there are plenty of hotels and restaurants to chose from. The one that stuck out to us was Ruby’s Inn which is a hotel, RV resort, and campground.

It looked like they also offered activities like horseback riding, mountain biking and ATVing. I’m not sure who Ruby is, but she pretty much has the town of Bryce locked down!

Where to Eat Near Bryce National Park

We stopped for a quick dinner at the Canyon Diner (which is also part of Ruby’s conglomerate), which is a cafeteria style fast food joint. The food was OK but it offered a quick dinner for a reasonable price, so that worked for us!

Our top recommendation and where you can get great pizza at an amazing price is The Pizza Place in Tropic. One of the lady’s who worked at a gift shop in Bryce told us about it and we were so glad she did. The pizza was yummy and the price was right (more like normal small town prices vs. National Park town prices).

We did have to drive about 15 minutes from the park on Hwy 12 and if you blink you will drive right through the town. But we would definitely go back and highly recommend it.

Next time we come through Bryce I really want to stay in the National Park. The park has a great walking/biking trail and we liked the vibe inside the park. It would be fun to stay at the campground and be able to ride our bikes to the trail, visitor center, restaurants, etc. in the park.

Zion National Park

The last stop on the Utah road trip is  Zion National Park in southern Utah. We actually visited from the same campground that we stayed at for Bryce – because like I mentioned it was $100 for a week for full hookups! That meant we had to drive an hour to get there but it was a pretty easy drive and the campgrounds we found around Zion were expensive! And everything we found looked like there weren’t really many boondocking options especially for a large rig like ours (39 feet).

This meant when we got there we entered through the tunnel. This tunnel is no joke! It is about a mile long and feels like it goes on forever as you drive through the mountain. Quite an entrance!

We have heard it can get really back up since they only let one way go at a time. Luckily we only had to wait about 15 minutes.

For more information on the tunnel including vehicle restrictions and specifics on the special permit, please click here.

Once in we kind of got the feel that we were at Disney World. There were signs all over the place, LOTS of people, and only a shuttle service – so you didn’t even have the option to drive your car in the park. I have mixed feelings about the setup. I am glad so many people are visiting but we were definitely missing the more relaxed feel of Capitol Reef!

If you want to book a tour that includes both Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon National Park, check out this option!

Best Hikes in Zion National Park

The narrows.

The first thing we did was meet up with Arika from Zion Adventure Photog! They have a photography company where they will take your family pictures as you explore part of the park. How cool is that?! We met Arika and took the shuttle to the famous Narrows Zion hike that takes you in the water as you walk through the gorge with super high walls on each side.

It was cold but so fun to do this hike and have Arika capture it for us. She took amazing pictures and we love having family pictures that show us out doing what we love to do! Arika was great with the kids and I think the pictures do an amazing job of telling how great she was and how much fun we had.

If you are in Zion you should definitely plan on doing the Narrows. We love unique hikes and this is one of them. If you want you can rent water shoes and wet suits from a location outside of the park.

The nice thing about the Narrows is you can go in and hike as far as you want and turn around. You don’t have to hike the whole thing – which is 16 miles and you need a permit to do it. You walk on the Riverside Walk for one mile from the Temple of Sinawava before you get to the Virginia River and start to walk in the water. As you can see this hike is going to take some preparing but it is worth it.

We did it in our Keens with nice picture clothes on 🙂 and brought a backpack with a change of clothes for when we were done. Being that we went in October it was COLD but I have heard no matter when you go the water is cold but it would obviously be warmer if the temperate was in the 90’s and not the 60’s. I have also of people going in the winter and loving it (with wet suits on).

Learn more about the Narrows hike here.

Book your own sessions with Arika from Zion Adventure Photog !

Emerald Pools

The second hike we did – on a different day was the Emerald Pools hike. This hike was OK we didn’t like that the views weren’t that good on the hike. There are 3 pools, Lower Emerald Pool, Middle Emerald Pool and Upper Emerald Pool that are fed from the Virgin River.

These are 3 separate hikes, but can be done all at the same time. It is about 3 miles round trip.

It was fun when we got up to the top pool and we really liked the part where you walk under the wall that has water falling down from it! Before this hike we had fun walking around the grounds by the Zion Lodge. It had a large grassy area, a cafe on the porch (that sold beer) and other things :). It was really cool that they had a place like this in the middle of the park!

For more information on hiking in Zion, including maps, check out their website . One of the hikes I know we want to come back and do when the kids is older is Angels Landing – it looks amazing but not for young kids!

I also think we need more days in Zion to really explore the park. We will be back!

Camping Near Zion National Park

Like I mentioned we stayed at the Paradise RV Park which was about 1 hour away. If you are looking for camping/RVing closer to the park there were a few options but like I had mentioned they are more on expensive side. There is also camping at the campgrounds inside the National Park.

Learn more about lodging options here .

If you want to splurge a bit, Glampers Inn RV Park is only about 30 minutes from the National Park in Hurricane, Utah and offers a really cool atmosphere and fun amenities.

Hotels Near Zion National Park

If you are looking for a hotel you would want to look into the city of Springdale . It is literally right outside of the park – like you could walk into the park from the city. The main road has a variety of hotels where you could stay.

Where To Eat Zion National Park

The city of Springdale had a lot of really cool restaurants but was also very busy. Instead of waiting for 30 minutes for a table we opted for the Subway. Which worked out great for us! If you want more of a restaurant experience Springdale will have you covered.

If you want to keep exploring Southern Utah also check out the town of Mount Carmel for some more great outdoor activities and hikes.

We had an amazing time visiting Utah and all of the National Parks. My sister and her family enjoyed driving down the east side of the state and didn’t see as many of the National Parks but really enjoyed the remoteness of that part of Utah too.

There are also a few other places we would like to come back to explore: Salt Lake City, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, and Monument Valley.

Update : Check out our post on Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and our video below on Monument Valley!

Here is our video of when we got to go back to Monument Valley:

The most challenging part for us while being in Utah was getting beer and wine! Utah has a law that they can only sell beer that has a 3.5% alcohol content. But still costs the same . . . Plus you can’t buy it at the grocery store so you have to find a liquor store.

If you like to have your beer and wine be sure you stock up before you head into the state!

If you haven’t yet we highly recommend taking a road-trip through Utah you could literally spend months exploring this park. But even if you only have a 2 weeks you could still see a lot of this amazing state!

Other places to visit in Utah:

We have now visited Grand Staircase-Escalante and it was awesome! You can take one of the most scenic byways in the US to get here – Hwy 12. We did it with our RV – it was scary at times but also totally doable!

Lake Powell, Page, Arizona , Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon are just a few ways that you can continue your road trip in and beyond Utah. Including the gorgeous Antelope Canyon.

Being able to see Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Arches and Zion National Park in the Colorado Plateau all in one trip is simply amazing and makes it one of the best United State road trips.

Rent an RV ! Utah is a super RV friendly state. Click here to learn more about renting an RV in Utah . Note – if you do rent a larger RV you may also want to get a rental car so you can get to some of the harder to reach hikes and locations.

Any other stops you’d recommend for a Utah road trip? What is your favorite part? If you want to continue your road trip head down to Las Vegas – always a fun spot!! Or go north for all the fun things to do in Salt Lake City !

To learn more about us, Start Here !

We can definitely see how Utah made this list of Best Us Family Vacations !

Take a look at all of our Utah National Parks posts: 

11 Utah Mountain Biking Trails Youll Want To Check Out

7 Arches National Park Hikes You Don’t Want To Miss

Best Hikes In Canyonlands National Park [Maps Included]

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59 thoughts on “Utah National Parks Road Trip: All 5 Parks & More [Map Included]”

This reminds me of our first RV trip with our young kids. We absolutely love Utah!! What time of the year did you visit?

We visited in October. It was a great time to visit. Not to hot and not to cold! Perfect weather for hiking.

I’m going to be honest….I didn’t realize Utah was so beautiful. Wow, those parks are terrific. Very nice pics and blog too.

Thank you! It really is a beautiful state!

Wow! This seems to be a bucket list road-trip! So many impressive sights to discover! Beautiful pictures!

It really was a bucket list trip and doing them all in one road trip lets you see how different each one is even though they are in generally the same area.

We have been wanting to do more US and stateside travel including road tripping to National Parks. Utah is high on the list. I really can’t wait to actually start going and seeing them! I just got my US National Parks passport too! I need to start filling it up with stamps!

Sounds cool! You’ll love Utah and the other US National Parks. Get those stamps! 🙂

We loved Utah and are going back this summer! If you make it back to Moab, we recommend staying at ACT Campgrounds. Also, Dinosaur Monument is a little out of the way, but it is worth the trip. Happy Travels!

Thank you for the suggestions because I know we’ll be back!

Thank goodness for this!! Bookmarked this for my national parks roadtrip in 2018. Sharing your map solves half of my problems. Thank you!!!

Awesome! Glad you found the map useful!

To be honest hiking, biking and climbing are not things I do regularly. I keep telling myself to add a little of those activities, but it has not come to pass as yet. That being said this article has inspired me a lot. All three appear to be fun activities to have with your family or friends. The selection you have made are all worth the trip, but I personally like Zion National Park.

Utah definitely inspires to do those outdoor activities even if you normally don’t do them. Yes, Zion is amazing!

I am really hoping that I can make it out to Utah and check out some parks. I have a friend out that way and we have been talking about it. Very nice and detailed information too. Will have to keep and share.

It is an amazing state!

Utah is so gifted with such amazing national parks. A lot of these I’ve missed the last time I went way back in 2007. Arches is definitely on my list.

The parks are all so cool! Arches was really neat and we loved Moab!

This is epic, thanks for highlighting the route 🙂 We briefly drove through Utah last year though really didn’t have much time – I decided that Arches was the park I wanted to visit only having time to take in one – and it was spectacular! Loved it! I’m only disappointed that we didn’t spend more time in Utah to take in the rest. Next time!

You could spend months in Utah exploring everything it has to offer!

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Can I ask how old your youngest was at the time of your visit? We have 4 kids and I’m wondering if we should wait to do this trip when everyone enjoys the hiking. My youngest is turning 4.

Our youngest was 4 at the time. He did great on the hikes we went on, which most of them weren’t too long (3 miles or less). We also would bring our Ergo backpack carrier, so he could jump in there when he got tired.

I didn’t know that Moab was the base of two of the five national parks. My family is thinking of going to Moab this summer for a weekend of fun. I’m not quite sure what we could do there with four kids. I think I’m going to have to do some research on tours and other fun things we can experience there.

Moab is an amazing place and there is a lot to do there! Enjoy!

Great list! Zion and Canyonlands are my favorites, Zion for the hiking and climbing, Canyonlands for the far-reaching vistas and solitude. What dramatic scenery! Thanks for the info.

Thanks for checking it out. Those parks are excellent!

Thanks for such a great detailed post! We visited some of these parks last year with our kids and we were blown away by the beauty of the national parks in the USA. Our only regret was not allowing more time to explore more of them – we missed Arches and Capital Reef! Did your kids join any of the Junior Ranger Programs? We discovered these at the second park we visited and our kids loved completing the activities and collecting the Junior Ranger Badges. It also provided extra motivation to complete some of the hikes!

You’re spot on with not having enough time for these parks because we felt the same way. We didn’t do the Junior Ranger programs here because of not having enough time. There’s always next time!

What a great list! While I’m planning a child-free tent trip to these places, I still found your post helpful. I’m so excited to see these beautiful sights!

Awesome! Enjoy your trip!

We’re headed down to Zion National Park this summer and it looks like the Grand Canyon is just a couple of hours away https://www.zionponderosa.com/blog/2018/04/national-parks-and-monuments-near-zion/ I had no idea there were so many parks around. I may try Bryce Canyon instead- it’s tough trying to decide after reading your post!

Yeah, there are a ton of great places in a relatively close proximity. To be honest, you can’t go wrong with any of them! Enjoy your trip!

This is place is in my bucket list for some time. And finally I am planning 5 days trip to 5 National-parks in September. I am not going to hike much as we have 18 months old with us. Do you suggest some view points that don’t need much hike and How about he tour trips of national park. Lastly will it be good idea to visit Utah with 18months old?

There are plenty of spots to pull off and take in the view without having to hike. Bryce has several great lookouts close to the parking lots and Zion has a shuttle bus that takes you to the different locations throughout the park.

Going with an 18 month old should be just fine. We always used an Ergobaby backpack carrier ( https://amzn.to/2LzKWsC ) to carry our kids on hikes and it worked our really well. The Ergo is comfortable and versatile for kids of all ages and sizes. Hope that helps!

Planning a 12 trip the last week of Sept. Was planning with bf…but Now I’m alone. *cry* but I’m still gonna do my trip. Last year I went to Canada and Whitewater rafted for the first time. (I’m 63) My problem is…I have a small chihuahua and I’ve heard no dogs allowed in parks. Or at least…only a FEW trails. I was wondering if you knew if I could put my dog in her doggy back pack. Did you happen to see any dogs? It’s bad enough I have to do this wonderful trip alone…I’d hate not being able to bring my pup!

Unfortunately, most US Parks are a no dog policy which is unfortunate. Good for you for still planning on taking the trip. You’ll have a great time!

What an awesome blog post Craig and Bryanna, we spent several months visiting Bryce, Zion and The Arches this summer and loved every second of it. Bryce was our favorite possibly because we visited it in April when there was no-one around so we were able to get around the park easy enough and enjoy all the hikes that Bryce has to offer.

I’ll bookmark this post for another trip for sure.

Thanks! It is such a cool area!

So if you had to pick one park to go see due to not having an rv, which one would you choose? We have 4 kids 7 to 13. We are moderately active. I coach rec sports, husband trims trees for work, and the kids well are in sports that I coach football & basketball. They have played soccer but not really my thing to coach. haha. If you can’t pick one, which top two would you recommend.

That would be hard :). You could do Arches and Canyonlands from the same location and if you like the idea of things to do outside of the National Parks then Moab is a good area. We really enjoyed Capitol Reef and Goblin Valley but you are kind of out in the middle of nowhere. You could do Zion and Bryce from the same location as well. If you like more people and a busier feel Zion will definitely give you that! Hope that helps!

Thank you for sharing your blog about your Utah Parks trip. My wife and I plan on visiting the parks next fall beginning the 1st of October. We will use your suggestions to plan our route. Thanks again!

That’s awesome! Have a great trip!

Loved reading your blog! We’re planning a 10 day road trip to Utah in April (over Easter) and thinking of renting an RV (did a similar trip to California a few years back and loved it). How accessible are the roads in the National Parks with an RV? We’re a little nervous about getting around the parks and parking, as we won’t have a separate vehicle. I’m aware that we may have to ride a shuttle in Zion and Bryce? What about the other parks?

Yes, Bryce and Zion you’ll park in the designated parking lots (all which have over sized vehicle parking) and shuttle throughout the park. As for Capitol Reef, Arches and Canyonlands, you shouldn’t have a problem getting an RV in and throughout the park (large tour buses drive throughout the park). As long as the RV you rent isn’t too big (I’d say stay at or under 32′). That said, it’s a very popular area and parking lots fill quickly during busy times. Check their website for info on that. Have a great trip!

Utah is my absolute favorite state – so beautiful! I’d highly recommend hiking Peek-a-Boo and Spooky slot canyons when you go back. Go up Peek-a-Boo and return via Spooky. There are a few spots in Peek-a-Boo where the kids will need a boost up (my hubby hauled my short body up!). And there’s one tough spot in Spooky – read up on that one. But really – do it. Just do it, if you haven’t already. It’s my fave hike ever!

We’ll be heading back there soon, so I’ve added your suggestion to our list. Thank you!

Thank you for taking the time to write this blog. I’ll be traveling there this April and plan on following your suggestions.

Awesome! Have a great trip!

We’d love to visit the parks in Utah, but my hiking ability is very limited due to bad knees. It doesn’t seem as if I’d be able to really see much without hiking after reading about the things to do and see. Are there any Jeep trips or alternative ways of seeing the arches and beautiful scenery?

Yes there are! There are a variety of tours that are offered through the National Parks. Plus most of them you can drive to viewpoints and then get out and walk a few hundred feet to a beautiful lookout!

By some of the comments, I assume it is not feasible to do this via automobile and staying in hotels, no camping (tent or RV).

You can totally do it with a car and hotels! Under each section we give recommended hotels. There isn’t much around Goblin Valley but you could do that as a one day stop between Moab and Capitol Reef.

Wonderful Info for Utah road trip and details included. However I have two- three questions: 1- how many days was your trip? 2- How much did you spend on the trip- overall a rough amount? 3- Is it okay to go during 4th July weekend or it would be over crowded at parks and expensive for hotels?

Hi! We have a list at the bottom of the post of how many days we recommend. We actually didn’t spend much since hiking is free :)! It would most likely be crowded on July 4th . . .

This is a great plethora of information for Our trip next summer!!! We are thinking of renting an RV, but I am wondering if you ever wished you had a small car for the daily drives into the park? Or did you drive the rv into the parks? Thank you!

We have always had a car with us. But you see RV’s in the park all the time! If you aren’t going to rent a car I would recommend getting a small RV – 25 feet or under so you can easily park in the lots at the National Parks.

Comments are closed.

Moab for Memorial Day Weekend – Your 2024 Guide

By Lucy Grande    •    May 21, 2024

Moab for Memorial Day Weekend – Your 2024 Guide for Things to Do

Planning on going to Moab for Memorial Day Weekend? We’ve got some insider info for your trip – from art festivals to rafting, Moab’s got something for everyone. Read on to find out what fun things are going on in and around town!

Here’s what’s going on in Moab for Memorial Day Weekend for 2024, along with a slew of things to do if you’re new to the area, or you just need more places to check off the list! 

Memorial Day Weekend Events in Moab

Moab Arts Festival

Where: Swanny Park 

When: Saturday 10am – 7pm, Sunday 10am – 6pm 

Moab’s annual shindig for art in all forms will be Saturday and Sunday this Memorial Day Weekend. Browse the artists’ work, enjoy food, drink and live music, along with Shakespeare in the evenings, and participate in fun events! 

Check out the full list of performers, vendors, and events here !

Live Music 

Friday: Aaron Golay and the Original Sin Saturday: The Eagle Rock Gospel Singers Sunday: Omar Coleman & Westside Soul When: 7pm – 10pm

Red Cliffs Lodge 

Friday: Dave Mensch Saturday – Sunday: Dave Steward When: 6pm – 9pm 

Things to Do during Memorial Day Weekend  

Rafting and Kayaking in Castle Valley

A perfect way to beat the heat while in Moab is rafting on the Colorado River through Castle Valley. Late May typically sees larger flows, so it’s the perfect time to go with someone who knows their way around some whitewater! If you’re feeling adventurous, kayaking is a sure-fire way to get wet and cool off. 

Want to check off a bucket list item this Memorial Day weekend? Moab’s stunning surroundings offer a perfect backdrop for your jump – learn more here . 

Mountain Biking 

Moab offers trails for all experience levels! Memorial Day weekend might be a busy time to get out there, but if you’re ready to brave the trails check out options for all levels here (and make sure to check on trail conditions before heading out!). 

Less Crowded Places to Go 

Canyonlands National Park 

Arches National Park is always popular during spring, but especially so during Memorial Day Weekend. If you weren’t able to snag an entry between the 25th and 27th, or you maybe want to avoid the crowds, consider visiting Canyonlands National Park. 

Canyonlands is the largest national park in Utah, so there’s not only room to spread out, but also multiple districts you can visit. The Island in the Sky district is the easiest day trip into Canyonlands. The Needles District is also doable for day trips, but if you have time to stay awhile— definitely do so! 

Where to Camp in Moab for Memorial Day Weekend  

Since most campgrounds where you can make a reservation are usually booked out months in advance for Memorial Day Weekend, here are some first come first serve, and dispersed camp areas to check out! Be proactive and get to Moab as early as possible (Friday afternoon preferably) 

Hunter / Spring Canyon Camping Area – Kane Creek 

Located up Kane Creek about 20 minutes from Moab, this cottonwood covered site at the entrance to Hunter Canyon is an amazing place to camp. There are 10 sites up for grabs and pit toilets, bring cash or check! 

If all the spots are taken, keep going up the canyon as there are multiple campgrounds along Kane Creek. 

Horsethief Campground – Near Canyonlands and Dead Horse State Park 

Nestled along the way to Canyonlands National Park, this campground sports 98 individual sites with more than half that can accommodate RVs. Just keep in mind they don’t have hookups but there are vault toilets here. Bring cash or check! 

Willow Springs – Near Arches National Park 

Just 15 minutes out of Moab, Willow Springs is a popular dispersed camping area along Highway 191. It is no longer free, but it remains a dispersed area where you can usually find a spot for dry camping. 

Yellow Circle Road – Free 

Yellow Circle Road is along Highway 191 about 30 minutes south of Moab. This is completely dry dispersed camping with no amenities. A popular place for RVers and groups! 

Where to get down on some BBQ

Moab’s barbecue and blues joint! With music every night, and a fat stack of options from pulled pork tacos, hush puppies, cajun sausage and beyond, the Blu Pig brings a heap of good southern cookin’ to the Southwest. 

Milt’s Stop and Eat 

Now while there’s really only one bbq item on the menu at Milt’s, which is the Western Bbq Beef Brisket Burger, everything here is just too good to pass up. From the handmade milkshakes to the perfectly cooked fries, Milt’s is a must whether you opt for the amazingly delicious bbq burger or not. 

Memorial Day is in honor of America’s fallen veterans. If you would like to show your appreciation for their sacrifice, check out some of the ways Utah is honoring veterans this weekend.

Memorial Day Weekend is one of Moab’s BUSIEST weekends, so don’t wait to book a campsite or other lodging. 

May, just like all the other months in Utah, can serve up any flavor of weather. So pack the rain jacket and swim suit, just in case.

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Scenic Drive Overview 15-mile route Open year round

Big Cottonwood Canyon Scenic Drive

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Big Cottonwood Canyon is a quick 25 minutes away from Salt Lake International Airport (22 miles), and is home to two world-class ski resorts (Solitude & Brighton), legendary rock climbing routes, epic backcountry skiing access, hiking and mountain biking trails, and picnic areas straight out of an outdoor magazine. So come take a drive through this ancient canyon created by both glacier and stream erosion. Pack a picnic and maybe your hiking boots to stretch your legs.

Getting There

From the I-215 belt route, head east from the 6200 South exit (Exit 6), and follow the signs to Brighton & Solitude ski areas. You'll turn off of Wasatch Blvd, and from there you'll have 14.2 miles of driving until you reach Brighton Ski Resort. Drive straight through to the top of the canyon, or stop along the way for some of these pretty sites:

Picnic Areas

Ledgemere Picnic Area Birches Picnic Area Storm Mountain Picnic Area (bring your rock climbing gear!) Mill B South Picnic Area

Popular Hiking Trails

Mill B South Fork - Lake Blanche Mineral Fork Donut Falls Dog Lake Desolation Lake Silver Lake Lakes Mary, Catherine & Martha

Rock Climbing Areas

Dogwood Storm Mountain

Mountain Biking

Wasatch Crest Trail

Big Cottonwood Canyon | Photo Gallery

Big Cottonwood Canyon

Photo credit: Jj Mendez via unsplash.com

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Does this itinerary sound doable.

We arrive in Los Angelas around noon, and will drive to Ridgecrest

Day 2: Drive through Death valley to Longstreet Inn

Day 6,7: Bryce National Park

Day 8,9: Capitol Reef

Day 10,11: Arches Nat Park

Day 12,13: Mesa Verde

Day 14,15,16: Monument valley & Valley of the Gods

Day 17,18,19 Grand Canyon

Day 20-22 ???

Day 23,24,25: San Diego

Day 26: Los Angeles

Just in early stages of route planning first then will fill in the sights to see on the way. Thanks in advance

14 replies to this topic

Hi! It would help if you could you let us know a bit about yourself - your interests, how many you are and when this is planned for. Just a few brief comments to start with.

Death Valley is a superb park (in the top 3 for us, along with Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon ). We spent 3 full days there but I would certainly recommend staying 2 nights, ideally at Furnace Creek. Unless you're travelling in the height of summer when the heat would personally keep me away!

Las Vegas isn't really our thing so I'll pass on that - it's one of those places that has to be seen once but is great to leave imo. If you're into gambling or shows then you will probably want to stay there a while. I'm into the national parks so don't. After Vegas your routing takes you past Zion that you do not mention and is major destination for most, before getting to Moab , which should be your base for at least 3 nights to see Arches and Canyonlands.

You need one full day for Mesa Verde, so two nights near there, and then one night at The View for Monument Valley. Valley of the Gods should not be a priority as you are pushed for time. Then to Grand Canyon South Rim, possibly via Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend near Page. Make sure you stay inside the park. Opinions vary on how long you need at GC - I would say 3 nights, others say just 1, though not if you have a long drive then following day. Others will comment in more detail on your Utah / Arizona section.

Presumably you have some reason for going to San Diego as that is adding extra miles - what do you want to do there? I would suggest staying at 29 Palms (for Joshua Tree) and then Palm Springs instead of SD. We spent 5 nights at those two places. Finally be aware that the LA metropolis is busy busy busy, so make sure that your final night is accessible to LAX.

There are loads of other places you could incorporate on your trip but you will need to be selective. I recommend looking at a map of the national parks and the NPS websites to work out your priorities. You won't be able to do them all this time so you might want to focus on one area - we've had 6 road trips in the western US so far, with one more to come. It's addictive!

Happy planning!

Since this is a long trip through 5 different states you should also post your itinerary on the road trips forum.

Sylvia - Thanks for posting this early itinerary for your trip next year. A question for you. What time of year are you planning on traveling? It makes a difference because if you are traveling in July/August, some places will be very hot.

Some comments on your plan.

Personal choice, but three nights in Las Vegas seems like a lot of time.

Are you intentionally skipping Zion NP? You drive right by it on your way from Las Vegas to Bryce. You'd want a minimum of two nights there.

Are you aware that Canyonlands NP is the next door neighbor to Arches? Most visitors to Arches, include a day at Canyonlands. You would need a minimum of three nights in Moab, Utah , base for both parks.

Because Moab is the largest town you'll pass through between Cedar City, Utah and Mesa Verde, it's a good place to regroup, do some laundry, and maybe take a break from all the driving. There are other things to do in the Moab area besides the parks.....off road tours, raft trip on the Colorado River, biking are a few. Five nights in Moab wouldn't be too many.

Three nights in Monument Valley is two night too many. You will be on Navajo Nation land. You can't roam about freely on your own. There is the opportunity there for a back country tour and a hike on one trail. The place is remote with only a couple of dining options.

If you want go to Valley of the Gods, you should base in Bluff, Utah . While in Bluff, you could also visit Natural Bridge NM, Hovenweep NM and a few other sites in that general area.

When matters…mid summer Death Valley is extremely hot.

Too much for monument valley area

13-14 Mesa verde

15-16 Mon valley

17-18 Grand Canyon south rim

19-20 Sedona

21-22 Palm Springs

I agree, posting on the Road Trips forum may get you basic itinerary set.

Read on another thread that you are traveling in June. Death Valley will be very hot. You probably aren’t going to want to spend much time there.

This post was determined to be inappropriate by the Tripadvisor community and has been removed.

I am more of a nature lover but LV will be a once only visit. Nothing is set yet, so can make changes to itinerary. But I want to get accomodation booked for National parks way in advance because I have heard you need to do that.

Good advise regarding monument valley too.

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