Day 1: Starting The Adventure We meet early at the Moab Canyonlands Airport for a spectacular scenic flight to a mesa above the Green River. You will be met by one of your guides who will load your gear into a vehicle and take it to the boats. We will then get a chance to hike down the mesa overlooking the river.
Today is primarily flat water with a few riffles here and there. We have many river miles to cover to reach the whitewater, so depending upon water levels we may motor during the day. Regardless, today is a fun day of swimming and learning about the human and natural history of the canyon. We will pass Sumner's Amphitheater, named by John Wesley Powell in 1869. We will also see an abandoned iron-prowed skiff, whose history remains a mystery. This evening, our guides will show your family easy camp techniques and how to enjoying the great outdoors comfortably. The guides will also prepare a delicious kid friendly dinner in a charming riverside beach camp. Note: Meals are served from a set daily menu, but you are welcome to request, in advance, special dishes or tell us if there are particular things you would prefer not to have. Potential Hiking Opportunities: Sandwash, Jacks Creek Day 2: Starting the WhitewaterAfter a hearty Breakfast of French toast and sausages or Pancakes and Bacon we pack up and start the whitewater! We will practice our inflatable kayak skills in fun, smaller rapids. We'll stop at Flat Canyon to see 1,000-year-old Fremont Native American petroglyphs. We will lunch on a sandy beach and build sandcastles. The afternoon will be spent improving your kayaking skills as we run up to 15 rapids today. Towards the end of the day we will run big whitewater rapids such as Steer Ridge and Surprise. Be sure to watch for wildlife. This part of the canyon has many animals including deer, elk, and beaver. We will pull over to camp by late afternoon. While dinner is being prepared there will be time for nature programs, building sandcastles and playing along the riverbank. The "Kids Guide" takes children on structured, educational and fun outings where everyone can interact with nature, and each other. Parents can join in the excursions or take this time to enjoy a leisure walk, relaxing next to the river, or the camaraderie of other guests. Potential Hiking Opportunities: Flat Canyon Day 3: Deepest Part of the Green RiverFor the second morning in a row you'll wake to fresh brewed coffee and hot cocoa. Shortly after leaving camp we coming to one of the many highlights of the trip; Rock Creek. The group will play in the swimming hole at Rock Creek and explore the Rock Creek Ranch where Butch Cassidy and his Wild Bunch hung out. This is also the deepest part of the canyon (deeper than the Grand Canyon!). The cliff walls rise above 5,000 feet. Today is another fun day of whitewater. Some of the rapids we will challenge today are Snap Canyon, Belknap Falls, Chandler Falls, and Cow Swim. Our Family-Only guides have special family and educational training. They've developed great outdoor educational and environmentally sensitive activities and games. These activities and games incorporate camping, history, geology, wildlife, plant life, and of course FUN. Potential Hiking Opportunities: Rock Creek Ranch, Chandler Falls, Three Canyon, Belknap Day 4: Biggest Whitewater and a New CanyonToday you get to perfect your new kayaking skills with the two biggest rapids-Wire Fence and Three Fords. We will see the McPherson Ranch, another hideout of Butch Cassidy and his Wild Bunch. Today the trip will leave Desolation Canyon and enter Gray Canyon. Gray Canyon has less rapids but bigger ones. It is also famous for housing many dinosaur bones. Traditionally, the last night of the river trip is "dress-up" night. Anything goes if you would like to participate. It is up to your imagination! This is a great way to celebrate the trip and near completion of your Green River adventure. The guides might set up a skit for the kids or a river Olympics. Potential Hiking Opportunities: Wire Fence, Range Creek, Rabbit Valley Day 5: More Fun RapidsToday is more of everyone's favorite activities: swimming, playing in the rapids, & having water fights. We will pass the Coal Creek Dam site . We will pass Nefertiti Rock name by the 1869 John Wesley Powell Expedition. Just before lunch we might stop at another panel of Native American Writing at the Price River. The trip ends just below Swasey's Rapid and across from spectacular Gunnison Butte. Then we'll drive to the Moab Canyonlands Airport where we arrive around 5:30 pm. Potential Hiking Opportunities: Coal Creek, Rattlesnake Canyon, Price River |