Whitewater Rafting Moab: 12 Class III & IV rapids

White water adventure in Moab’s Westwater Canyon with wild rapids, desert stories, and riverside lunch

You’ll paddle through Westwater Canyon’s wildest rapids with an expert local guide from Moab, spot eagles or maybe an otter if you’re lucky, and share riverside lunch with your group on a sandy bank. Expect cold splashes, canyon echoes, and stories that linger after you’ve dried off.

Step-by-step itinerary

Whitewater rafting on Colorado River

• Meet guide in Moab
• Receive safety briefing and gear
• Drive to river put-in
• Get rafting instructions
• Push off from sandy bank
• Raft through 12 Class III and IV rapids
• Spot wildlife and petroglyphs
• Stop for buffet lunch and swim
• Continue rafting downstream
• Drive back to Moab

The experience

Someone hands me a paddle before I’m fully awake: turns out that’s our guide, Mark, grinning under a faded baseball cap. He checks my lifejacket (twice), then cracks a joke about “Sock-It-To-Me” rapid being his favorite alarm clock. I believed him. The van ride from Moab is quieter than I expected. Everyone’s sizing up the river through the windows, red rocks flickering past. There’s this smell of sage and sunscreen in the air, and someone behind me is already talking about beavers like they’re mythical creatures.

I don’t remember exactly when we started floating. The river just kind of took over. Mark pointed out some petroglyphs scratched into stone above us (he said they’re older than most countries), and then we hit our first real rapid. Cold water right down my shirt. You can hear the names (Skull, Funnel Falls) before you see them, echoing off the canyon walls. Sometimes it was all noise and spray. Other times we drifted quietly past old cottonwoods where bald eagles circled overhead. At one point I swear I saw an otter slip off a rock but nobody else did. Maybe it was wishful thinking.

Lunch happened on a sandy bank where someone spread out lemonade and sandwiches like it was a picnic for river pirates. Sun on my arms, wet shoes drying out, everyone swapping stories about near-misses and who screamed loudest at Skull (not naming names). Mark told us how the Colorado River carved these canyons long before Moab was even a thought. He made it sound almost casual, but you could tell he loved this place.

The last stretch felt different: less nerves, more laughter bouncing between canyon walls. I kept thinking about how small we looked from up above those cliffs. The drive back to Moab was mostly quiet except for someone humming under their breath. Still can’t shake that feeling of grit on my skin mixed with river water. It sticks with you longer than you’d think.

What’s included

Your day includes all rafting equipment plus safety briefing from your professional guide in Moab before heading out to Westwater Canyon. Drinks like lemonade and water are provided along with snacks throughout the day and a filling buffet-style lunch served riverside before returning comfortably to town in the afternoon.

Before you book

Days and timesNext departure: 1 Apr 2027

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (16 and older) · Child (8 to 15 years) · Under 8: can't be booked

GroupUp to 24

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 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Adrift Adventures

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (8 to 15 years). Children under 8 can't be included in the booking.

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.

How long is the white water rafting tour in Westwater Canyon?

The tour lasts a full day including transport from Moab to the river launch point and back.

Is lunch included on the Westwater Canyon rafting trip?

Yes, a buffet-style lunch is served on a sandy riverbank during the day trip.

What class are the rapids in Westwater Canyon?

You’ll raft through 12 different Class III and IV rapids along the Colorado River.

Are guides experienced on this Moab rafting tour?

Yes, professional guides lead each raft and provide safety briefings plus local history along the way.

Is hotel pickup included for this white water rafting experience?

No hotel pickup is mentioned. Guests meet at the designated starting point in Moab.

What wildlife might be seen during the day trip?

You might spot bald eagles soaring overhead or see otters and beavers swimming near the banks.

What should I bring for this Colorado River rafting tour?

A refillable water bottle is recommended. All other gear including lifejackets is provided by your guide.