Thursday 10 August 2023

Cataract Canyon, Utah - the biggest whitewater in North America

Cataract Canyon is the section of the Colorado River that flows through the Canyonlands National Park.

In the spring, with runoff from mountain snowpack, the rapids here offer the biggest whitewater in North America. 

As the snowmelt subsides, so do the rapid. 

Western River Expeditions offers two versions of rafting through Cataract Canyon. 

In high water season it will use a J-rig craft, which is thirty-seven feet long and about sixteen feet wide, with a thirty-horse power motor. 

In peak spring runoff from May through June, J-rigs are the best for comfort, power, and mobility. 

Once the water drops, paddle and oar boats are used putting participants closer to the water and action. 

Over this 100-mile course, Western River Expeditions guests experience class III-V whitewater, while on land, there are opportunities to explore waterfalls and Native American ruins and pictographs. 

Cataract Canyon was formed by the confluence of two of the West’s largest rivers, the Green and the Colorado, just south of Moab, Utah. 

Bolstered by the Green River, the Colorado River doubles its force and carves a deep, 100- mile-long chasm through the centre of Canyonlands National Park.


Western River Expeditions operates professionally guided rafting trips in Utah, Idaho and Arizona. 

 Sara Widness at widnesspr@gmail.com

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