Flaming Gorge River Rafting

The Green River offers exciting rafting opportunities, including sections with flat water, mild rapids and intense whitewater. It offers something for everybody. Many family and youth groups float the section of the Green River that runs from Flaming Gorge Dam downstream to Little Hole. The water is clear and cold, the scenery is beautiful and the river makes a delightful playground.

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The river flows swiftly through this section, but there is usually only mild whitewater. A couple rapids add excitement to the trip; they usually range up to Class III (depending on stream flows). The river is big and powerful, and rafters need to wear approved life jackets and follow safety rules.

Longer trips can be made by floating from Little Hole to Browns Park, or from the Dam to Browns Park. It is about 7 river miles from the Dam to Little Hole. Trips from the Dam into Browns Park can range up to about 38 miles, depending on the takeout.

Lodore Canyon

Below Browns Park, the Green River plunges into Lodore Canyon, where rafters find plenty of intense whitewater adventure. The rapids range up to Class IV. This is one of the most scenic river trips.

Major John Wesley Powell floated this river section during his epic exploration of the Colorado River and its tributaries, and he gave colorful names to many canyon features.

Here rafters make their way through Whirlpool Canyon, Hells Half Mile, Disaster Falls, and SOB Rapids. The river runs through the heart of Dinosaur National Monument. Most rafters take out at Split Mountain.

Trips of varying lengths can be undertaken. The longest option runs for 44 miles, from Gates of Lodore down to Split Mountain; it takes 4-5 days. Trips running 2, 3 and 4 days can be made by choosing an earlier takeout.

Split Mountain

A trip down Split Mountain only takes a day (some do it in a ½ day), but this 8-mile trip can be intense! Found in Dinosaur National Monument, the Split Mountain Canyon features a series of class 3 rapids that make the trip challenging and add excitement. Split Mountain is run from April to October, with peak from late May through early June.

Yampa River

The Yampa River meets up with the Green River at Echo Park. Though most of the trip isn't actually on the Green River, many guides which run the Green also charter groups on the Yampa. The 71-mile Yampa trips begin in beautiful Dinosaur National Park, and then hold on! Warm Springs rapid, one of the ten greatest drops in the country is found here. Most of the rest of the trip is flat, though swift - though there is several class 3 and 4 whitewater. The Yampa is run from May through July, with the biggest rapids found in May and June.

Desolation Canyon

This is an excellent trip for families! Desolation Canyon is found in a deep gorge of the Tavaputs Plateau. The Gorge is deeper than the Grand Canyon, and equally remote. Most of the 84-miles of river is calm - rapid classes 1 and 2, though some class 3 can be found among the 60-plus rapids. Desolation Canyon may hold the secrets of many people long since departed. A trip down this section of the Green River reveals abandoned homesteads of hopeful frontier families, and prehistoric Indian petroglyphs. The surrounding white sand beaches beckon visitors to hike and explore beautiful redrock canyons and alcoves. Desolation Canyon is run from April through October; peak times are from late-May through early-June.

Professional guides are available to take people on all of these river sections. A limited number of private trip permits are available for do-it-yourselfers.

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TRAVEL BUREAU INFORMATION

DAGGETT COUNTY - FLAMING GORGE

95 North 100 West
Manila, UT 84046
435-784-3154

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