The rivers around Moab offer beauty and solitude with a wide range of difficulty levels and excitement. From calm water floats to exhilarating Class V rapids, there are opportunities on every river. Visitors can choose canoe, inflatable kayak or “duckie,” sea kayak, whitewater kayak, or any variety of sport boat to explore the waterways of the area. Experience the life-giving waters of the desert.

Westwater Canyon, named by National Geographic as “the West’s Best Short Whitewater Trip,” is a 17-mile river stretch that contains 11 Class III to IV rapids, plus numerous less challenging rapids. Westwater begins near the Colorado-Utah border and can be run as a one-, two- or three-day trip.

Meander Canyon offers canoeing and sea kayaking for 47.5 miles, from the Potash ramp to the confluence of the Green and Colorado Rivers. Amazing side hikes to ruins, petroglyphs, pictographs, and gorgeous side canyons make this stretch a must-explore. Local outfitters rent boats, arrange jet-boat tours and shuttles back to to wn.

Cataract Canyon can have towering waves in rapids that provide memories to last a lifetime. This river has many other faces, and the 27 rapids in 15 miles can range from Class II to V, depending on the water levels. During high water, Cataract Canyon rivals the Grand Canyon for big whitewater.

Desolation/Grays Canyons explore old cowboy country. Butch Cassidy and the Wild Bunch used to haunt these canyons and trade horses with local ranchers. In 84 miles you float through 66 rapids, making this a good family trip with great side hikes and lots of history. Labyrinth/Stillwater are calm water floats perfect for canoeing, sea kayaking or leisurely floating in a raft. The canyons grow higher as you enter Canyonlands National Park. The canyons end at the confluence, and jet boats shuttle you back up the Colorado River.