Choosing Between Desolation Canyon and Cataratch Canyon for Moab River Trips
Travelers planning river trips out of Moab, Utah, can choose between the Green River through Desolation Canyon and the Colorado River through Cataract Canyon, depending on the age of their group and their preference for whitewater. According to westernriver.com, trips with younger children or those seeking wider water and long sandy beaches are better suited for the Green River through Desolation Canyon rather than Cataract Canyon. The Green River joins the Colorado just above the Confluence, running through similar canyon country while offering gentler rapids and a minimum age requirement of five years old.
The Desolation Canyon itinerary spans five days and begins with a scenic flight out of Moab over wild country north of town, where passengers may spot wild horses and bighorn sheep. The route features friendly rapids, broad beaches, and a history tied to homesteaders and outlaws like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Travelers can bookend a Green River trip with standard Moab activities such as visiting Arches National Park, taking a Hummer safari, or spending a night in town.
Guided Options on the Colorado River
For visitors staying directly on the Colorado River, moabadventurecenter.com reports that full-day and half-day river rafting adventures wind through scenery featured in numerous popular movies. The 4-hour morning half-day trip suits families with children ages five and up or those with limited time, running Class I and II rapids separated by calm float stretches. Full-day and mid-day trips include an exclusive riverside BBQ lunch at a riverside ranch and cover more canyon mileage, passing landmarks like Fisher Towers and Castle Valley.
Guests on the mid-day Moab rafting trip start at the Hittle Bottom boat ramp—the beginning of the section known as the Moab Daily—and float into Red Cliffs Lodge at the foot of Castle Valley for lunch. From there, they continue through the canyon to the take-out beach. For visitors seeking higher-intensity whitewater, Westwater Canyon provides Class III and IV whitewater thrills further upstream on the Colorado River.
Overnight options vary by provider and style. While westernriver.com highlights Desolation Canyon for family-friendly camping, moabadventurecenter.com notes that Cataract Canyon offers some of the largest whitewater rafting in the West, and the Southwest Sampler combines river trips with land-based Moab highlights. Travelers can choose the trip that matches their adventure style, as Cataract Canyon offers some of the West’s biggest whitewater rafting, Desolation Canyon provides family-friendly rapids and sandy beach campsites, and the Southwest Sampler combines rafting with iconic Moab highlights like Arches and a Hummer Safari. Moabadventurecenter.com has been voted best tour operator for 20+ consecutive years as a Utah's Best of State Winner.
