Canyonlands White Water Rafting & 4x4 Tour

What happens when you trade a jeep seat for a raft mid-afternoon?

You drive through Canyonlands' Island in the Sky district on the White Rim Road and Shafer Trail, stopping to see ancient rock art and fossils, then raft the Colorado River through Westwater Canyon. Lunch, guide, lifejackets, and all river gear are included. Plan for a full day out. You're in a vehicle from 8am to noon, then on the water from 1pm to 4pm, with the physical demands spread across both halves.

Step-by-step itinerary

4WD tour and Colorado River rafting

• Meet guide in central Moab
• Drive 4WD through Island in the Sky
• Travel White Rim Road and see Fossil Point
• Drive Shafer Trail and view rock art
• Buffet lunch by the river
• Review safety and gear up for rafting
• Raft down Colorado River with guide
• Return to Moab and end tour

The experience

You're standing in central Moab at 8am, and you're about to spend the next four hours bouncing through a landscape that doesn't feel like it should exist. The 4WD vehicle is smaller than you expected, which is the point. Your guide needs to thread it through switchbacks that drop away on both sides, over terrain that would wreck a regular car. The White Rim Road isn't a highway. It's a 100-mile loop that runs about 1,000 feet above the Colorado and Green Rivers, and you're only covering a portion of it, but that portion includes Fossil Point, the Shafer Trail, and stops where you can see rock art left by Pueblo peoples thousands of years ago. The guide points out how the layers of stone tell a story (red, orange, cream, purple), and you realize you're reading geology the way other people read a book.

By noon you're at the river, and the buffet lunch tastes better than it should because you've earned it. Then comes the switch: lifejacket, dry bag for your phone, a quick safety briefing, and you're in an inflatable raft with an experienced river guide who's done this hundreds of times. Westwater Canyon is one of the best spots for white-water near Moab, and the afternoon four hours move fast. Some rapids are playful, some demand attention, and all of it is loud and wet and real in a way that sitting in a 4WD never quite is. The canyon walls rise around you, and you understand why people come back to this place.

The whole day works because it's structured: morning is high and dry, afternoon is low and soaked, and you're back in Moab by 4pm. You'll want sturdy shoes, quick-dry clothes, and a swimsuit or shorts that don't mind getting wet. Bring a camera if it's waterproof, sunscreen, and a water bottle. The tour provides ice water refills but you're responsible for the bottle. If you're traveling with kids or anyone under 50 pounds, that weight limit applies. If you want a double kayak instead of a single raft, request it when you book. The tour needs a minimum of three people to run, so if your group is smaller, you'll either get offered alternatives or can pay for a third spot yourself.

What’s included

Your day includes professional guide, all river safety gear (Coast Guard-approved lifejackets and dry bags), inflatable kayak or raft (single or double upon request), riverside buffet lunch, and ice water refills throughout. The guide shares the natural and human history of Canyonlands and the Colorado River corridor as you travel.

Information

Lasts 8h, runs every day at 08:00, from US$ 330 per person, with a live guide in English, in groups of up to 12 and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

GroupUp to 122 private ›

Live guideEnglishOther languages ›

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.1 with pickup ›

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (17 and older) · Youth (under 17)

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 effort

Operated by NAVTEC Expeditions

Is this one for you?Right for travelers who want both high-altitude scenery and river adventure in one day without arranging two separate outings: the back-to-back format and included lunch mean you're not managing logistics between stops. Expect a full day of activity: four hours of driving on rough terrain, then four hours on the water, with moderate physical demands in both halves.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (under 17).

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's the difference between the 4WD and rafting parts?

The morning is a guided 4-hour drive through Island in the Sky and the White Rim Road, 1,000 feet above the rivers. The afternoon is a 4-hour float and paddle through Westwater Canyon on the Colorado River itself.

Do I need experience rafting or off-roading?

No. The tour is designed for all ages and fitness levels, though you do need moderate fitness. The guides handle the technical parts: driving and steering the raft.

What happens if my group is smaller than three people?

The tour requires a minimum of three people to run. If your group is smaller, you'll be offered other tour options, a full refund, or the option to pay for a third person's spot.

What should I bring?

Sturdy footwear, quick-dry clothing, swimsuit or fast-drying shorts, sunscreen, hat, and a camera. A waterproof camera is ideal for the river portion. Bring a water bottle: ice water refills are provided.

Are inflatable kayaks available instead of rafts?

Yes, single or double inflatable kayaks are available upon request at no charge. Request it in the special requirements field when you book.

What's the weight requirement?

Minimum 50 pounds (23 kg). All passenger weights must be provided at booking.

Is lunch included?

Yes, a riverside buffet lunch is included between the 4WD and rafting portions.

Do I need to sign anything?

Yes, all travelers must sign a liability release before departure.