WHITEWATER RAFTING

Family Goes to Camp on the Majestic Canyons of the Green River

Camp on big sandy beaches shaded by towering cottonwood trees, hike to old cowboy outlaw hideouts and catch glimpses of shy wildlife. One guide is the designated “Fun Guide” offering games, fun-to-learn outdoor skills, and nature walks. Parents can join in or grab a little private time for themselves.

The family-only vacations originated 20 years ago. Some of those original ‘kids’ have now become outdoor professionals, including guides, for SGE. Don’t be confused with ‘family friendly’. This means families are welcome on regularly scheduled trips. The following trips are entirely family oriented... trips geared to the family, at a family pace, with family activities, family food, family caring.

This is quality time for the whole family, something where everybody has fun on the same vacation, both as a family and with new friends. Easy to moderate rapids and lots of water fun. Take paddleboats, inflatable kayaks and oarboats - enough variety to satisfy everybody’s need to kick back or go for the gusto. Camp on big sandy beaches shaded by towering cottonwood trees, hike to historic ranches, old cowboy outlaw hideouts, study ancient Native American etchings on the canyon walls, and catch glimpses of shy wildlife. Spend a lazy afternoon drifting down the river... the kids all bunched together in one of the boats having water fights and yelling and screaming with laughter, or listening quietly while their guide tells them a story of one of her river adventures.

Special features of these family vacations:

• Guides specially selected for their "kid skills".
• Structured activities for kids in camp = time alone for Mom and Dad.
• Easy to moderate nature walks and hikes.
• Easy to moderate rapids appropriate for child play.
• Great camping locations, most with sandy beaches for play time.
• Fun education about nature and the environment.

Trip Details

Day 1:
Your plane departs at 7:00am Mountain Daylight Time from Moab's Canyonlands airport (40-minute drive north of Moab on Highway 191) for a spectacular flight over the majestic canyon country that you are about to explore. After landing on top of a mesa overlooking the river, walk down to the launch site. Wear walking shoes this morning, but have your river shoes (tennis shoes) handy. Load your gear on the rafts, have a quick talk about safety and "river time" and you're off. Guides prepare a fresh buffet lunch on the riverbank. Most of this day the river is quiet and serene. Now is the time to orient yourself to the surroundings, relax, sunbathe or swim. Camp is on a white sandy beach where sandcastles are begging to be built.

Days 2-4:
Awaken every morning to the aroma of fresh coffee brewing and hot cocoa steaming. Each day float deeper into the canyons. Take turns with the kids in the kayaks. Grab some time with the kids and some adult time. There’s time to play, unwind and enjoy the company of people who are sharing the adventure with you. The river is speeding up as the gradient continues to increase. Each day the rapids increase in difficulty and size, and are in faster succession. The rapids alternate with calm sections for rest and play. The Old West comes to life as you explore abandoned cowboy homesteads and Outlaw Retreats. At camp, guides take the kids on nature walks giving parents time to relax. A hearty western dinner awaits hungry kids.

Day 5:
Excitement's in the air! Today you'll be running some big rapids. The biggest ones, Coal Creek and Rattlesnake, will be adventurous and unforgettable. You'll still be talking about them as you pull off the river outside the town of Green River, Utah. You’ll be driven back to Moab early that evening.

*Note: This is an example itinerary and may change due to weather, water level, camp availability, etc.