Summer in Moab means long days, blue skies, red rock adventures and plenty of sunshine. It also means temperatures can get hot, especially during the middle of the day. Fortunately, one of the best ways to experience Moab during the summer also happens to be one of the best ways to cool off: rafting the Colorado River.
Most people think of Moab for Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Jeep trails and mountain biking, but the Colorado River is just as much a part of the Moab experience. It winds through spectacular red rock country and offers everything from scenic family rafting to exciting Class III and IV whitewater.
If you are looking for a break from exploring Moab’s backcountry in a Jeep, spending a day on the Colorado River is hard to beat.
Our friends at Moab Adventure Center offer several rafting options, but two sections in particular showcase just how different a day on the Colorado River can be: the Moab Daily and Westwater Canyon.
The Colorado River Is One of Moab’s Best Summer Adventures
There is something different about seeing Moab from the river.
Instead of looking down into a canyon from an overlook, you are traveling through the bottom of it. Massive sandstone cliffs rise above the river, the La Sal Mountains appear in the distance and stretches of calm water are broken up by splashy rapids.
It is also a welcome change of pace during a Moab vacation.
You might spend one day exploring trails like Gemini Bridges, Long Canyon or Shafer Trail in a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, then trade four wheels for a raft the next day. It is one of our favorite ways to experience two completely different sides of Moab.
And when summer temperatures climb, getting splashed by the Colorado River feels pretty good.
The Moab Daily: A Great Introduction to Rafting in Moab
For families, first-time rafters or anyone looking for a fun and scenic Colorado River experience, the Moab Daily is a great place to start.
This section of the Colorado River flows northeast of Moab through the spectacular Castle Valley area along Highway 128. It is sometimes referred to as the Fisher Towers section because of the incredible red rock formations that dominate the surrounding landscape.
If you have driven Highway 128, you already know how beautiful this part of Moab is.
Seeing it from the river is even better.
The Moab Daily combines stretches of relaxing water with fun, splashy rapids. It is adventurous enough to make things interesting without requiring the commitment of a serious whitewater expedition.
That makes it especially popular with families and groups with different experience levels.
Depending on the trip you choose, you can spend part of the day or make rafting the main event. Moab Adventure Center offers different trip lengths, making the Daily easy to fit into a Moab itinerary.
The scenery alone makes the trip worthwhile. You will float beneath towering sandstone walls with views toward Castle Valley, Fisher Towers and the La Sal Mountains.
And then there are the rapids.
The exact character of the river changes with water levels throughout the season. Spring runoff can create bigger waves and faster water, while later summer conditions often provide a different and generally more relaxed experience.
Either way, plan on getting wet.
That is part of the fun.
Westwater Canyon: Moab’s Big Whitewater Day Trip
If your idea of rafting involves bigger waves, helmets and some serious whitewater, take a look at Westwater Canyon.
Westwater is one of the classic whitewater trips of the American West.
Located upstream from Moab near the Utah-Colorado border, Westwater Canyon offers approximately 17 miles of Colorado River adventure and includes rapids rated as high as Class IV.
Unlike the Moab Daily, this is not simply a scenic float with a few splashes.
Westwater is real whitewater.
The trip begins relatively calmly, allowing you to settle into the boat and enjoy the scenery. As the canyon walls close in, however, the character of the river begins to change.
Soon you enter Westwater’s famous inner canyon.
Here the familiar red sandstone landscape gives way to incredibly old, dark Precambrian rock. It creates a dramatically different landscape from what most visitors associate with Moab.
Then come the rapids.
Names such as Funnel Falls, Skull Rapid, Sock-It-To-Me and Surprise have become part of Westwater Canyon legend.
The Bureau of Land Management describes Westwater as the first whitewater stretch of the Colorado River in Utah and notes that the canyon contains Class IV rapids and requires a permit year-round.
This is exactly the type of river where going with experienced professional guides makes sense.
Moab Adventure Center’s Westwater Canyon trip includes professional river guides, rafting and safety equipment, transportation and lunch. No previous rafting experience is required for their commercial trip, although guests need to be ready for a significantly more adventurous experience than the Moab Daily.
It is a long day, but it can easily become one of the highlights of a Moab vacation.
Moab Daily or Westwater Canyon: Which One Should You Choose?
The easiest way to decide is to think about what kind of day you want.
Choose the Moab Daily if you want:
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A family-friendly Colorado River experience
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A good introduction to rafting
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Beautiful red rock scenery
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Splashy but generally more approachable rapids
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More flexibility in how much of your day you spend rafting
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An adventure that works well alongside other Moab activities
Choose Westwater Canyon if you want:
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Bigger whitewater
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Class III and IV rapids
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A full-day river adventure
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A more remote canyon experience
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Dramatic geology and scenery
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One of the classic whitewater trips in Utah
Neither is necessarily “better.” They are simply different experiences.
For many first-time Moab visitors, the Moab Daily is a great introduction to the Colorado River. If you already know you love rafting or want something with more adrenaline, Westwater should be high on your list.
Why Go With Moab Adventure Center?
One of the biggest advantages of booking a guided river trip is that someone else handles the logistics.
River trips involve more than simply putting a raft in the water. There are boats, life jackets, safety equipment, shuttles, launch locations, takeouts and river conditions to consider.
That becomes even more important on a permitted and technical section such as Westwater Canyon.
Our friends at Moab Adventure Center have been helping visitors experience the Colorado River for years. Their guides know these sections of river and take care of the equipment and transportation so you can concentrate on enjoying the day.
For Westwater Canyon in particular, that is important. The Bureau of Land Management describes the canyon as challenging at all water levels and recommends it only for experienced private boaters. A professionally guided commercial trip gives visitors the opportunity to experience this famous stretch without having to organize and navigate a private expedition.
Build a Moab Vacation Around the River and Backcountry
One of the things we love about Moab is that you do not have to choose just one kind of adventure.
In the morning you can be driving beneath towering sandstone cliffs.
By afternoon you can be floating between them.
A great Moab itinerary might include a day exploring the backcountry with Canyonlands Jeep Adventures, followed by a day rafting the Colorado River with Moab Adventure Center.
Rent a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon and explore places such as Gemini Bridges, Hurrah Pass and Chicken Corners, Long Canyon or the Shafer Trail. The next morning, give the Jeep a rest and head for the river.
It is a completely different perspective on the same landscape.
From a Jeep, you can climb high above the Colorado River and look across miles of canyon country. From a raft, you are down inside that landscape looking up at cliffs that tower hundreds or thousands of feet above you.
Doing both gives you a much better appreciation for just how diverse the Moab area really is.
Don’t Avoid Moab Just Because It’s Summer
We hear people talk about Moab being hot during the summer, and that is certainly something visitors need to plan around.
But summer can also be a fantastic time to visit.
The key is planning your activities around the conditions.
Get an early start for hiking, sightseeing or Jeeping. Carry plenty of water and sun protection. During the hotter part of the day, choose activities where you can stay cooler.
Rafting is perfect for that.
There are few better ways to deal with a hot Moab afternoon than sitting in a raft with your feet in the Colorado River, waiting for the next wave to come over the side.
Frequently Asked Questions About Rafting in Moab
Is there whitewater rafting in Moab?
Yes. The Colorado River offers several rafting opportunities near Moab. The Moab Daily provides scenic floating and splashy rapids, while Westwater Canyon offers more challenging Class III and IV whitewater.
Is the Moab Daily good for first-time rafters?
Yes. The Moab Daily is one of the area’s most popular options for families and people experiencing rafting for the first time. Conditions vary depending on river flow, so always check current trip requirements when booking.
How difficult is Westwater Canyon?
Westwater Canyon contains rapids rated as high as Class IV. The Bureau of Land Management considers it challenging at all water levels. Commercial guided trips allow visitors without previous rafting experience to experience Westwater while traveling with professional guides.
How long is Westwater Canyon?
The permitted Westwater Canyon river section is approximately 17 miles long. A commercial Westwater rafting adventure from Moab is generally a full-day experience when transportation, river time and lunch are included.
What are the famous rapids in Westwater Canyon?
Some of Westwater’s best-known rapids include Skull Rapid, Funnel Falls, Sock-It-To-Me and Surprise. Water levels can dramatically change the appearance and difficulty of individual rapids throughout the rafting season.
When is the best time to raft in Moab?
Rafting conditions change throughout spring, summer and fall as Colorado River flows rise and fall. Higher spring flows can create a very different rafting experience from later summer conditions. Rather than looking for one “best” month, choose the trip and level of adventure that fits your group and check current conditions with your outfitter.
Make the Colorado River Part of Your Moab Adventure
Moab may be famous for its red rock trails, national parks and off-road adventures, but don’t overlook the river running right through the middle of it all.
The Moab Daily gives families and first-time rafters an opportunity to experience the Colorado River while surrounded by some of the most recognizable scenery in southeastern Utah.
For those looking for something bigger, Westwater Canyon delivers a completely different experience with remote canyon walls, ancient geology and legendary whitewater.
So when the temperature starts climbing, don’t spend the afternoon hiding inside.
Go find the river.
Spend one day exploring Moab’s backcountry in a Jeep from Canyonlands Jeep Adventures, then spend another getting wet on the Colorado River with our friends at Moab Adventure Center.
After all, some of the best Moab adventures happen on four wheels.
Others happen with a paddle in your hand.
