Desolation Canyon Green River Rafting Trips
How To Get Ready For Your River Trip!

Be prepared and know what to expect on your Green River rafting vacation!

Stuff you need to know, after you have made your reservation.
We may have mailed a printed copy to you.
Feel free to call us with questions!
(Download as a PDF file to print.)
 
For 5 day Green River Trips and 7 day Tavaputs Ranch/Green River Combo Trips

Where To Meet Us:
You need to get to a town called Green River, Utah

How To Get To Green River:

Traveling from home by private vehicle:
Consult a Utah road map and locate I-70 running east and west across the state. The town of Green River is located approximately in the eastern 3rd of the state right on I-70, 105 miles west of Grand Junction, Colorado and about 104 miles east of Salina, Utah. The distance from Salt Lake City to Green River is about 185 miles. From SLC, take I-15 south to exit 256, then drive east on US 6 up over the Wasatch Plateau to Price and Wellington and continue on to Green River. Plan on arriving in Green River in time for a 6:30 PM orientation meeting on the patio at the John Wesley Powell museum the evening prior to your river trip.

Traveling from home by air:
Book a flight to Salt Lake City and rent a car and drive to Green River, Utah. (See above) 

Or, book a flight to Grand Junction, Colorado, rent a car and drive to Green River, Utah

Or contact Moab Luxury Coach for charter van transportation from Salt Lake City.

Or contact American Spirit Shuttle (www.americanspirit.net) for service between Grand Junction and Green River.

If you are arranging transportation with Moab Luxury Coach or American Spirit to get to Green River, don't forget to also make reservations for a return at the end of your trip. You should plan on arriving in Green River in time for a 6:30 PM orientation meeting at the John Wesley Powell museum the evening prior to your trip.

Traveling by RAIL! (Could be fun!)
AMTRAK provides service to Green River, Utah. The local station isn't much to look at (it is closed), but the train will stop, and we'll pick you up there and take you back at the end of the river trip! (http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer/AM_Route_C/1237608341980/1237405732511)
 
In addition to the above, charter air service is available between SLC - Green River or between Grand Junction - Green River. Contact Red Tail Aviation at 435-637-9556 or 800-842-925. A three passenger minimum fare usually applies. (www.redtailavaition.com)

Where To Stay In Green River:
Some of the accommodation options in Green River

There are also four campgrounds in Green River

What Will Happen When You Arrive In Green River?
We will meet you at the John Wesley Powell Museum at 6:30 PM the evening prior to the river trip for a short pre river trip orientation meeting. At this meeting, we will pass out water proof river bags for you to pack your gear into that night. General questions and concerns will be addressed along with a brief overview of what to expect during your trip.

The following morning we will meet you at our warehouse parking lot (if you have your own vehicle) or pick you up at your motel and transport you to the airport. You should be prepared, footwear wise, for a short, steep hike from the Sand Wash airstrip to the river.

What Will Happen At The End Of Your River Trip?
At the end of all of our Utah trips, we will return you to Green River, Utah. If you have your own vehicle, we will take you back to our parking lot. If you arrived in Green River via Moab Luxury Coach or American Spirit Shuttle or AMTRAK, we will take you to your motel (for which you should have pre-arranged a room).

Packing List:
25 LBS./PERSON IS THE MAXIMUM WEIGHT YOU MAY BRING
(THE WEIGHT LIMIT IS ENFORCED BY THE AIR SHUTTLE OPERATORS FOR THE CAT AND DESO TRIPS)
Pack your gear in a duffel bag.

Gear Suggestions
Protect yourself from the sun! Clothing and hats work best. Sunscreen is also very important, however, it will wash off when you get wet. Some people have had allergic reactions to heavy duty sunscreen they haven’t used before. Bring good quality products you have experience with. Remember lip products, too!

Our climate is VERY DRY! Your skin will dry out quickly. Moisturizing lotion is very nice to have at the end of a long day in the sun.

Shorts & pants with Velcro or zippers at the pockets are good. Keep your small items from getting lost. Convertible pants with zip off legs are a great, versatile clothing option.

A sarong or light weight cloth is handy. It can be used for sun shade on the boat; provide some privacy while changing clothes in camp; and be used for a sheet.

Shoes for hiking should provide support. Some hikes require stream crossings so your hiking shoes will get wet. During the day on the rafts, your feet will be wet so strap-on sandals are appropriate. Some kind of open shoe or cheap flip-flop is great in camp at night, to let your feet dry out. Foot fungus can become an issue.

The best rain gear is pants and a jacket. Ponchos are not effective or durable, and are very difficult to wear under your life jacket.

Some people prefer synthetics that are quick drying and some like the evaporative cooling of wet cotton. During the cooler months you will want quick-drying clothes and during the hottest months you may want to bring some cotton clothes.

Mornings and evenings can feel cool, bring a cozy polarfleece jacket. It will also be good to wear under a rain jacket if the weather is inclement, as synthetic fleece dries quickly.

The small backpack is used for storing rain gear and items you may want during the day. Line your daypack with a contractor weight garbage bag to keep contents dry. It is also handy for use on hikes.

A carabiner is an oval shaped metal ring with a one-way gate, and is useful to quickly fasten your small daypack to the raft. You do not need an expensive one but it should be full size (about 4”X2”).

The only cash you will need will be for drink purchases, incidentals, and guide gratuities (5%-10% of trip fare recommended). A credit card may prove handy for unforeseen emergencies.

If you bring liquor, please transfer it to plastic bottles. If you bring wine, make it the boxed variety. We provide plenty of water/lemonade. You bring your own canned drinks and soda.

There are limited fishing opportunities mainly for catfish. If you choose to bring a rod, make it a compact model. You will need to purchase a non resident temporary license. Go to: www.wildlife.utah.gov Click on: Buy Fishing & Hunting Licenses Online.

Please Do Not Bring:
Do not bring: radios, jewelry, electrical appliances, pets, firearms.

The River Bags For Your Gear:
Your clothes and sleeping bag will fit into two waterproof river bags we provide. Tents and pads will be packed into large communal waterproof bags each day. We will also provide a soft river bag for your day use items. The daypack you may bring can be used for your rain gear, extra shoes and other items you will need during the day.

Soft “mini” bag	Carabiner*	River Bag

Trip Interruption - Vacation Insurance:
PROTECT YOUR INVESTMENT! We urge you to purchase vacation interruption insurance to protect you in case you find you must cancel your trip. Policy purchases may be time sensitive. Plan ahead!

Please contact your choice from the list below.

http://www.travelex-insurance.com/Home.aspx
http://www.insuremytrip.com/
http://www.travelguard.com/
   
Emergency Contact Numbers:
Once you launch on the river, communication from/to family is very difficult. For emergency contact from a family member, leave the following telephone numbers with appropriate persons:

Moki Mac River Expeditions: (800) 284-7280 or (801) 268-6667 or (801) 631-3127
Moki Mac Green River Warehouse: (435) 564-3361 or (435) 749-1135
BLM/Price Field Office (Desolation Canyon): (435) 636-3600

Weather:
April/May: Average temperatures are in the low 70's/mid 80's (20-27 C) during the day and the low 50's/mid 60's (8-16 C) at night. There may be rain showers.
June: Average temperatures are in the high 90's/low 100's (33-38 C) during the day and the low 70's (22 C) at night. It us usually dry.
July/August: Average temperatures are in the high 90's/low 100's (33-38 C) during the day and mid 70's (23 C) at night. Thundershowers are likely.
September/October: Average temperatures are in the mid 80's/low 90's (27-30 C) during the day and the mid 50's/low 60's (10-14 C) at night. Rain showers.

Suggested Reading:
Desolation Canyon River Guide, by Bill Belknap, Westwater Books, Evergreen, Colorado
(Waterproof map, great to have with you on the trip. We have these maps for sale through our office)
The Exploration of the Colorado River and it's Canyons, by John Wesley Powell, Dover Publications, Inc., New York
A Canyon Voyage; The Narrative of the Second Powell Expedition, by Frederic S. Dellenbaugh, The University of Arizona Press
The Four Corners Anasazi, by Rose Houk, San Juan National Forest Association
Desert Solitaire, by Edward Abbey, Ballantine Books, New York
Ghosts of Glen Canyon, by C. Gregory Crampton, Cricket Productions, SLC, Utah
Cadillac Desert, by Marc Reisner, Penguin Books
Run River Run, by Ann Zwinger, The University of Arizona Press, Tucson, Arizona