Cataract Canyon Rafting Trip - Arches National Park
Highlights
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Choose from a 4-day “express” trip or 6-day extended adventure
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Seasonal waterfalls, sensational side hikes & otherworldly scenery
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Inflatable kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding on the Colorado
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Raft the legendary Class III-IV rapids of Cataract Canyon
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Ancient Native American sites, including pictograph & petroglyph panels
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Scenic return flight over Canyonlands to Moab
Summary
Raft Cataract Canyon and explore Canyonlands National Park on this Colorado River rafting adventure near Moab.
Tour info
Duration
4 days - 6 days
Group Size
Pricing (From)
Commentary
Meeting Point
Dropoff location
Why take this tour?
Raft Cataract Canyon and explore Canyonlands National Park on this Colorado River rafting adventure near Moab.
Rafting in Utah on the Colorado River through Cataract Canyon has it all: breathtaking scenery, tranquil floating, and one action-packed day of Class III-IV whitewater rafting. Add to that hiking in Canyonlands among multi-million-year-old rock formations, plus nights spent stargazing in an International Dark Sky Park, and you have a whitewater rafting adventure suitable for the whole gang.
Explore Utah’s dramatic canyon country, and get a taste of Cataract Canyon’s wild waters from the deck of an oar raft, dory, inflatable kayak, or stand-up paddleboard (paddle rafts may be available by request). Depending on when you choose to go and how much time you have, this 100-mile wild and untamed stretch of the Colorado River offers a dynamic multi-day river trip experience that caters to a wide range of interests and abilities.
Our classic 6-day Cataract Canyon rafting trip spends several days leisurely floating through the peaceful waters of Meander Canyon to the confluence of the Green River, allowing plenty of time for quiet reflection from the rafts, or inflatable kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding, before tackling the famous rapids of Cataract Canyon further downstream. For those short on time, the 4-day “express” trip covers the same stretch of the Colorado, but the first half of the adventure is largely motorized to cover additional miles in the scenic flatwater stretches.
Feeling fearless? Crank your adventure up a notch with a trip down Cataract Canyon in late spring. Snowmelt from the Rockies yields big runoff, massive Class IV-V rapids, and some of the country’s most exciting whitewater.
What’s included?
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Skilled professional guide service -
All meals from lunch on day 1 through lunch on the last day -
Expedition equipment -
All transportation from day 1 through the last day, including scenic flight back to Moab -
Transportation to and from Moab
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Pre- and post-trip accommodations and meals
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Sleep kit: sleeping bag, pillow & a deluxe 3-inch thick air-filled sleeping pad (available for rent)
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Insurance of any kind, including a travel protection plan
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Alcoholic beverages
Things to know
Before you book
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Sleep kit available for rent
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Gratuity not included
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Trip insurance not included
Before you go
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If you exceed 260 pounds, please give us a call.
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watch our Whitewater Orientation video
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complete the required trip forms
Cancellation Policy
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Reservations and Payments
Full payment is required at the time of booking. Payments can be made by check, money order, eCheck, wire transfer, Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover. Prices are in US Dollars, and all payments must be made in US Dollars. Payment of the deposit establishes your acceptance of our complete Terms and Conditions. Individual departures and trip capacity are strictly limited by the managing agency. Your payment is fully refundable for 48 hours, less a 3% processing fee, after making a reservation when you reserve a trip 7 days or more prior to departure.
Cancellations and Refunds
Canceling your trip after your deposit is processed will incur cancellation fees because OARS has absorbed costs on your behalf and will turn others away who would like to book the spaces we’re holding for you. If you must cancel your reservation after the rescission period described above, your cancellation fee will be determined according to the schedule below.
We regret we cannot make exceptions to the cancellation policy for any reason, including foul weather, poor air quality, wildfire activity, acts of terrorism, civil unrest, or personal emergencies. For these reasons, we strongly urge you to consider purchasing a travel protection plan.
Date of Cancellation Cancellation Fee
30 or more days before your trip $30/person
29 – 7 days before your trip Payment can be transferred to another trip within the same year (or to a credit account for the following year) for $50/person transfer fee. No refund.
6 days or less before your trip 50% of the trip cost can be credited to another trip (within the same year). No refund.
Late arrivals or “no-shows” No refund or credit
Please note that different deposit/cancellation policies may apply for charter groups. Refer to the group organizer’s confirmation email for details.
Canceled Trips
OARS reserves the right to cancel any trip due to insufficient registration or other factors that make the trip impractical to operate. In such instances, we will inform you at least 7 days before departure. Do not make nonrefundable travel arrangements unless you have spoken to your Adventure Consultant regarding the status of your trip.
If a trip must be canceled or postponed due to force majeure (factors outside the control of OARS), OARS will provide full credit for payments made toward future travel, or a refund less a 5% service fee plus any nonrefundable payments made on your behalf to 3rd-party suppliers. OARS will make good faith efforts to recover deposits made on your behalf to 3rd-party suppliers, however, we can’t guarantee recovery of any or all of the advance payments made. OARS is not responsible for expenses incurred by participants in preparation for a canceled trip.
Transfers
If you need to move your reservation to a different trip during the same year, or to a credit account for the following year, there is a $15/person fee up until 30 days prior to departure for a one-time transfer of your payment. If we are 29-7 days prior to your trip departure, there is a $50/person fee to transfer to another trip, within the same year or to a credit account for the following year. Transfer requests made 6 days or less prior to departure, 50% of your trip cost can be credited to another trip within the same year only. Transfer requests made the day of departure will be treated like a cancellation according to the schedule above.
About operator:
OARS was founded in 1969 by river pioneer George Wendt. By 1974 the company found its permanent home in Angels Camp, California, where George and his wife Pam turned a fledgling rafting company into what is now one of the most respected outfitting companies in the world.
George was president of OARS for 47 years until his passing in July of 2016. He was a visionary entrepreneur and one of the adventure travel industry’s trailblazers. But more importantly, he left a legacy of river conservation and stewardship based on the inspiring idea that spreading the love of wild rivers is the surest path to their protection, now and for the enjoyment of future generations.
Today, Tyler and Clavey Wendt, George and Pam’s sons, are leading the company. They’re dedicated to furthering the company’s commitment to the preservation of wild places and creating meaningful outdoor experiences for our guests—values that have been at the core of OARS for five decades.