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Utah Float Trip Review
Posted on 4/4/24 at 5:51 pm
Posted on 4/4/24 at 5:51 pm
I'm finally getting around to posting about a trip I went on last summer. It was the 4-Day Cataract Canyon expedition through Western River Expeditions which I highly recommend if you're ever looking for a float trip out west.
It was a 100-mile float that started just outside of Moab, UT. We spent 4 days floating down the Colorado through Cataract Canyon and Canyonlands National Park. Trip ended with a flight back to Moab which included some incredible views. Especially at ‘the Confluence’ where the Green and Colorado Rivers meet.
We camped along the river each night. Tents/cots were provided but we decided we’d just sleep under the stars since it was one less thing we had to put up and take down.
Food was impressive considering the conditions. Supposedly it’s what the founder takes a lot of pride in. The guides prepared and cooked all three meals which included everything from bacon and eggs in the morning to steaks and potatoes at night. With typically some type of fire-cooked dessert after dinner.
The water was deep where we launched, so we motored down the first 2 days which got a little redundant. We hit the rapids on day three so that's when we detached the rafts and navigated the rapids in groups. Water was definitely dirty. Had to throw away several of my shirts that were discolored. Makes the Mississippi look like a spring in comparison. One of the guides asked our group if we had ever floated down the MS/AR rivers which we laughed at. He was totally unaware of their differences and their navigability.
Stars were amazing as well. The guides said it’s the most remote place in the lower 48 which I don’t doubt. You immediately lose service a few miles outside of Moab and didn’t get it back until we were in the air.
I didn’t take a lot of pictures of downtown Moab but you can tell the area is gaining some popularity with a lot of hotels and restaurants popping up along their main strip. A lot of their older buildings have Uranium references which was pretty cool since Oppenheimer came out right before I left for the trip.
Finding an Uber was tough so be prepared. We didn't get to see Arches National Park so I may have to go back.
Let me know if you have any questions. Enjoy the pictures
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Scenic Flight
It was a 100-mile float that started just outside of Moab, UT. We spent 4 days floating down the Colorado through Cataract Canyon and Canyonlands National Park. Trip ended with a flight back to Moab which included some incredible views. Especially at ‘the Confluence’ where the Green and Colorado Rivers meet.
We camped along the river each night. Tents/cots were provided but we decided we’d just sleep under the stars since it was one less thing we had to put up and take down.
Food was impressive considering the conditions. Supposedly it’s what the founder takes a lot of pride in. The guides prepared and cooked all three meals which included everything from bacon and eggs in the morning to steaks and potatoes at night. With typically some type of fire-cooked dessert after dinner.
The water was deep where we launched, so we motored down the first 2 days which got a little redundant. We hit the rapids on day three so that's when we detached the rafts and navigated the rapids in groups. Water was definitely dirty. Had to throw away several of my shirts that were discolored. Makes the Mississippi look like a spring in comparison. One of the guides asked our group if we had ever floated down the MS/AR rivers which we laughed at. He was totally unaware of their differences and their navigability.
Stars were amazing as well. The guides said it’s the most remote place in the lower 48 which I don’t doubt. You immediately lose service a few miles outside of Moab and didn’t get it back until we were in the air.
I didn’t take a lot of pictures of downtown Moab but you can tell the area is gaining some popularity with a lot of hotels and restaurants popping up along their main strip. A lot of their older buildings have Uranium references which was pretty cool since Oppenheimer came out right before I left for the trip.
Finding an Uber was tough so be prepared. We didn't get to see Arches National Park so I may have to go back.
Let me know if you have any questions. Enjoy the pictures
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Scenic Flight
This post was edited on 4/4/24 at 10:26 pm
9
Posted on 4/4/24 at 6:08 pm to GeorgeReymond
Well Done!! 
Posted on 4/4/24 at 6:17 pm to Nole Man
Posted on 4/4/24 at 7:36 pm to GeorgeReymond
Was Day 4 pic rapids the toughest y'all saw? If so, normal for whete y'all were at?
Posted on 4/4/24 at 9:05 pm to GeorgeReymond
These kinds of trips are awesome. We've bought all our own gear and do these trips ourselves now with our friends. I try to get people from back home to come up and try it but they just want to come in the winter and ski. They don't know what they're missing.
Posted on 4/5/24 at 12:49 am to GeorgeReymond
quote:Looks awesome!
Let me know if you have any questions
Questions:
--any biting insects of note?
--how hard was it to not have the sun just completely eat you alive? I assume it was a lot of sunscreen and covering clothing...was it too hot?
--how temperature extreme was it during the day and at night?
--could city slickers still do this enjoyably, or is it too hardcore?
--2 full days of just motoring? why so long with that?
--a group of strangers or just your group? if the latter, what's the smallest group that can still be private?
--total cost?
--did you ever feel actually unsafe?
--how hardcore (what class) were the rapids?
--did you feel exhausted or refreshed at the end?
Posted on 4/5/24 at 2:55 am to GeorgeReymond
Looks like a great trip. I love Utah, will be going back for a third time this year.
Posted on 4/5/24 at 6:05 am to GeorgeReymond
Solid trip report!
Posted on 4/5/24 at 7:02 am to GeorgeReymond
Looks like an expensive trip?
Posted on 4/5/24 at 6:07 pm to GeorgeReymond
Looks amazing.
Though I prefer rapids to floating. Going to Colorado to raft in June.
Though I prefer rapids to floating. Going to Colorado to raft in June.
Posted on 4/9/24 at 11:07 am to Tasseo
quote:
Was Day 4 pic rapids the toughest y'all saw? If so, normal for where y'all were at?
I'd say the third day was the toughest but both days (3&4) were pretty comparable. Nothing too bad in all honesty
The most experienced guide would pull off before each rapid to check how they wanted to approach it then each boat would follow her lead.
Posted on 4/9/24 at 11:18 am to Yeti_Chaser
quote:
These kinds of trips are awesome. We've bought all our own gear and do these trips ourselves now with our friends. I try to get people from back home to come up and try it but they just want to come in the winter and ski. They don't know what they're missing.
Absolutely. My extended family took the same trip (grandma/aunts) but through the Grand Canyon in the early 2000s and loved it. So my aunt wanted to go back and invited a few of us.
I'd love to go back with a few friends. It's a great trip
This post was edited on 4/9/24 at 12:03 pm
Posted on 4/9/24 at 11:54 am to Big Scrub TX
Here's their site. Western River Expeditions and an expedition guide that provides a lot of details. Not sure if the link works but you can also access it on their site if not. Expedition Guide
quote:
Questions:
--any biting insects of note? Didn't really notice any type of biting insects. One of the camp sites had these little white gnats that were annoying but they didn't bite.
--how hard was it to not have the sun just completely eat you alive? I assume it was a lot of sunscreen and covering clothing...was it too hot? Absolutely bring some type of long sleeve fishing shirt, something breathable and lightweight. Then a wide-brimmed hat. I never felt that hot.
--how temperature extreme was it during the day and at night? On the river I'd say the high was in the upper 90s with the low being in the 70s at night. They always had water and lemonade and I could always put my foot in the water so I never really felt overheated.
--could city slickers still do this enjoyably, or is it too hardcore? Absolutely. Not too hardcore at all.
--2 full days of just motoring? why so long with that? Partially because we had to go 100 miles in 4 days. Believe they offer express trips that're 2 and 3 days
--a group of strangers or just your group? if the latter, what's the smallest group that can still be private? Our trip included our group (5), then a family from DC (4), New York (5), and a guy from New Orleans.
--total cost? ~$1,900 + airfare + hotel for the night before/night after.
--did you ever feel actually unsafe? I did not.
--how hardcore (what class) were the rapids? Rapids III-V - I didn't find them too hardcore and I'm not one who typically seeks adventure. I've gone down worse in NC and TN.
--did you feel exhausted or refreshed at the end? Both. Was ready for a shower
Posted on 4/9/24 at 10:16 pm to GeorgeReymond
i have no words.
Southern Utah is God's gift to humans.
spill some of the details! who did you arrange this through and how much? i would do the hell out of this trip with my boys.
eta we went all through canyonlands in my 4runner up and down shafer & white rim trails and my 26yo son still talks about that trip like nothing else. it was literally the best summer trip i ever took with my kids.
i want to go back and this is the PERFECT way to approach it; we've already driven all over..time to experience it from the water level.
This post was edited on 4/9/24 at 10:19 pm
Posted on 4/11/24 at 1:29 pm to CAD703X
quote:
spill some of the details! who did you arrange this through and how much? i would do the hell out of this trip with my boys.
We went through Western River Expeditions. Definitely recommend. Here's their website. LINK
Trip cost around $1,900/person. We went with the 4-day Cataract Canyon rafting trip. Here's a expedition guide that includes a lot of details. LINK
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