Kayaking Castle Valley: 2-Hour Colorado River Tour

Two hours paddling through red rock canyons on flat water and easy rapids

A half-day kayaking trip on the Colorado River in Castle Valley near Moab puts you in an inflatable kayak for roughly 2 hours of paddling through sandstone formations and mild rapids. You meet at the Mild to Wild office, get fitted for a life jacket and safety instruction, then take a 40-minute shuttle drive to the put-in. Guides paddle alongside as you navigate mostly calm water with a couple of rapid sections mixed in.

Step-by-step itinerary

Half-day kayaking on Colorado River

• Check in at Mild to Wild office
• Get fitted for life jacket
• Shuttle 40 minutes to Castle Valley
• Attend safety orientation and paddling instruction
• Kayak on Colorado River for about 2 hours

The experience

The trip runs about 4 hours total: the shuttle ride out to Castle Valley takes 40 minutes, then you spend roughly 2 hours on the water. Before you push off, your guide walks you through a safety orientation and paddling basics so you know how to handle the kayak. The Colorado River here is mostly flat water, which means you're not fighting the current. You're floating through it and taking in the red rock walls around you. A couple of rapid sections break up the calm stretches, but nothing technical or dangerous. Because kayaks move faster than the rafts that also run this section, you'll sometimes wait for the raft groups to catch up, which just gives you more time to sit in the canyon and look around.

Mild to Wild provides inflatable kayaks, paddles, and Coast Guard-approved life jackets. The guides are in-house trained and stay with your group the whole way. The shuttle picks you up and drops you back at the office, so you don't need your own transport to the river. You can choose a morning or afternoon departure depending on what fits the rest of your day in Moab.

What’s included

• Highly experienced and in-house trained river guides.
• inflatable kayaks and paddles.
• shuttle from and back to the Mild to Wild office.
• Coast Guard-approved life jackets.

Options for this experience

2 options

Half-day kayak trip in the morningGuide in English · 08:30Lasts 4 hours, running from 1:30 PM to 5:30 PM

Half-day kayak trip in the afternoonGuide in English · 13:30Lasts 4 hours, running from 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:30 and 13:30Last departure this season: 8 Nov

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (11 and older) · Child (1 to 10 years)

GroupUp to 32

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Moderate physical effortNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Mild to Wild Rafting and Jeep Tours

Is this one for you?Choose the morning departure if you want to kayak early and have the afternoon free in Moab, or pick the afternoon slot to explore town first. Either way, the half-day length fits around other activities without eating a full day.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (1 to 10 years).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is Castle Valley like when you're paddling through it?

Castle Valley on the Colorado River is defined by tall sandstone walls and red rock formations that rise on both sides as you float downstream. The water is mostly calm and flat, so you're not fighting currents or drops. You're drifting through the landscape and can look around without gripping the paddle.

How much paddling experience do I need?

No prior kayaking experience is required. Your guide gives you a safety orientation and paddling instruction before you launch, and they stay with your group the whole way. The river section is mild, with mostly flat water and only a couple of easy rapid sections.

What happens during the 40-minute shuttle drive?

The shuttle takes you from the Mild to Wild office out to the put-in at Castle Valley. It's a scenic drive through the landscape around Moab, and it's part of the overall 4-hour experience, not extra time you pay for separately.

What should I bring or wear?

Wear clothes you don't mind getting wet and bring a change if you have one. Water shoes or sandals with a strap work well. Wetsuits are available to rent for $15 and are recommended if you're going in March or April when the water is colder. They're not included in the trip price.