John Wesley Powell Retrace (Vernal, UT)

Highlights

  • Numerous Class II-III rapids

  • Spectacular side hikes

  • Explore Dinosaur National Monument

Summary

Follow in the footsteps of John Wesley Powell and retrace a portion of his historic 1869 expedition on this OARS-exclusive adventure.


Tour info

Duration
1 week 1 day - 3 weeks 3 days
Group Size
Pricing (From)
Commentary
Meeting Point
Dropoff location

Why take this tour?

In 1869 John Wesley Powell set out with a crew of 10 to explore the uncharted Green and Colorado Rivers from Green River Station, WY to the “impassable” Grand Canyon. Our retrace trip follows a portion of Powell’s original exploration on the Green and Colorado Rivers. We first journey through Flaming Gorge and Lodore, Desolation, Gray, Labyrinth, and Stillwater Canyons on the Green River. Eventually, we join the mighty Colorado River and tackle the storied whitewater of Cataract Canyon before reaching the take-out at Hite Crossing on Lake Powell, just upstream from Grand Canyon. 

Thanks to our unique collection of permits on the Green & Colorado Rivers, OARS is the only outfitter that can make this once-in-a-lifetime retrace trip a reality. We offer this trip as a complete 24-day experience from Flaming Gorge to Hite Crossing on Lake Powell, or you can opt to partake in either the upper or lower sections, as well.

What’s included?

  • Skilled professional guide service

  • All meals from

  • Expedition equipment

  • Transportation to and from Vernal

  • Pre- and post-trip accommodations and meals

  • Dinosaur National Monument Entrance Fee

Things to know

Before you book

  • Sleep kit available for rent

  • Gratuity not included

  • Trip insurance not included

Before you go

  • If you exceed 260 pounds, please give us a call.

  • watch our Whitewater Orientation video

  • complete the required trip forms

Cancellation Policy

    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.

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