4 river tours that rival the Grand Canyon
Yes, Grand Canyon rafting trip colorado river It is undeniably a gorgeous, exciting, educational, restorative and fun-filled trip – a trip of a lifetime. The downside to this bucket list adventure is that trips tend to fill up more than 18 months in advance, and the cost can be prohibitive for many travelers. For example, a family of four can spend more than $16,000 on a week-long rafting trip with an outfitter in Grand Canyon National Park.
But you don’t have to have that big a travel budget to experience the majesty and awe of some of the most spectacular river canyons in the West. these alternatives grand canyon Offering world-class rapids, stunning scenery, and rich history at a more manageable price without long waits.
1) Colorado River Rafting through Utah’s Canette Canyon
Upstream of the Grand Canyon and Lake Powell, the mighty Colorado River flows wildly and freely cataract canyon Located in the heart of Canyonlands National Park, it provides unique access to the park’s remote Maze and Needles areas. Hidden slot canyons, stunning views, and 16 miles of partial canyons The best rapids on the Colorado River A legendary adventure awaits you. Beyond the rapids, paddle in an inflatable kayak or stand-up paddleboard, explore ancient Pueblo ancestral rock art and archaeological sites, and marvel at the wonders of this red rock wonderland. At night, relax at a beach camp under the darkest, starry sky on Earth.
2) Green River Rafting through Utah’s Desolate Canyon
There are few places like desolate canyonbut this underrated stretch of the Green River is majestic. It’s a place of rugged beauty, with dramatic bedrock walls, talus slopes, and colorful cliffs that are as tall as the Grand Canyon in some places.
Hidden within the canyon are remnants of past visitors—rock art and stone ruins left by the Fremont Indians, abandoned homesteads, and outlaw hideouts—waiting to be discovered by paddlers. Rafting trips through Desolation Canyon also offer exciting rapids, including more than 50 Class II-III rapids for family thrills, as well as scenic flights to drop-off points.
3) Green River Rafting through the Gates of Lodore, Utah/Colorado
Before joining the Yampa and eventually the Colorado River, the Green River meanders through billions of years ago red quartzite canyons that provided opportunities for rebellious outlaws such as Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid Escape the sanctions of the law.
one Green River Rafting Trip Upper and Lower Catastrophe Falls, Triple Falls, and Hell’s Half Mile (named by early explorers) will get your heart racing John Wesley Powell—Before walking through historic Echo Park; scene of David Brower and the Sierra Club’s first conservation victory against a proposed dam.
4) Rafting on the Yampa River in Dinosaur National Monument, Utah/Colorado
drift down yampa river Offers visitors a backstage pass into some of the most striking works of geology and human history. Over four or five days, you’ll enter the heart of Dinosaur National Monument, where you’ll discover 150-million-year-old fossils and encounter 1,200-year-old petroglyphs and pictographs from the Fremont Indians.
Immerse yourself in the river’s geologic record by sailing beneath stunning rock formations like Cleopatra’s Couch and Tiger Wall, navigating Class III and IV rapids, and hiking to sites like Mantle Cave and Wagon Wheel Point.
Learn more about some Little known canyons Located in the heart of the Colorado Plateau.
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