Rafting the Green in Dinosaur
Tour Description
The Green River on the border of Colorado and Utah surges among gorges dotted with the remnants of giants. As you raft the Green River through Dinosaur National Monument, the riverbed's banks are an open-air archive of far-out fossils unearthed by wind, water, and time. Surrounded by scenery that rivals the Grand Canyon, the Green River twists through the Gates of Lodore, a catacomb of scarlet slot canyons, yawning valleys, and lush evergreen ledges. This unique adventure in Dinosaur National Monument offers easy-going whitewater, dozens of side hikes, and a trip that’s perfect for young families and laid-back vacationers.
ParkScapes Highlights
Dinosaur National Monument
Dinosaur bones preserved in ancient rock walls, deep rivers that cut incongruously through dry desert canyons, and ancient sea beds full of prehistoric fossils, frozen in time. Not even the most active imagination can visualize the splendor and paradoxical beauty of rivers fringed by cottonwood and box elder thriving in an otherwise arid land of mountains and canyons. Once the roaming place of dinosaurs, prehistoric turtles and crocodiles, and creatures three times as old as the Apatosaurus, Dinosaur National Monument will captivate you.
Follow the path of a Famed Explorer
You'll pass through Upper and Lower Disaster, where Major John Wesley Powell lost one of his boats and innumerable provisions during his 1869 journey – hence the rapids' ominous name. Side hikes reveal narrow, towering walls that were explored by Major Powell himself.
Family Friendly Tour
With a minimum age requirement of seven years, this tour is designed for all from the new explorer to the avid adventurer. Participants under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
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Tour Map
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Daily Itinerary
June 27: Arrival in Vernal, Utah
Start your tour with afternoon arrivals in Vernal, Utah. Make your way to the Utah Field House of Natural History State Park Museum for a private tour of the Museum and its Dinosaur Garden, a prehistoric zoo of full-size replicas ranging in age from Pennsylvanian through Pleistocene. Your evening will include a specialty dinner – hosted at the Field House – and a pre-trip orientation. You will have the opportunity to meet fellow travelers and guides, ask any last-minute questions, and receive your waterproof river bags. Dinosaur Inn (D)
June 28: Gates of Lodore on the Green River, Dinosaur National Monument
Meet the rest of your O.A.R.S. crew and your boats at the put-in. Then set out on the river, where you'll challenge some exciting rapids and discover the brilliant green vegetation and tumbling creeks that adorn the rocky chasms of a short hike. Stop for lunch at a sandy beach and enjoy a delicious picnic. Back in our boats, we watch the desert panoramas slowly develop between bursts of thrilling whitewater. After making camp in the late afternoon, you'll have time to lounge on the beach, challenge new friends to a game of Frisbee, or just sit back and laugh with the family as your guides prepare dinner. The evening is yours to spend listening to the whisper of the river and gazing the star-filled sky of this amazing wilderness that is, for now, your home. Deluxe River Camp (B,L,D)
June 29: Gates of Lodore, Dinosaur National Monument
Fresh coffee and tea await as the morning light turns the canyon walls the colors of sunrise; grab a cup, sit back, and take in the glory of the awakening river. Soon breakfast is served – omelets made to order, blueberry pancakes, sizzling breakfast sausage, fresh fruit, toast, and juice are among the treats you'll indulge in each morning. Head out for another whitewater day with plenty of big thrills, yet enough calm sections to allow you to soak in the remote splendor of Lodore. One of the best hikes of the trip awaits us along a spectacular side canyon to a pure, spring-fed waterfall – the perfect place for a cooling dip. Deluxe River Camp (B,L,D)
June 30: Gates of Lodore, Dinosaur National Monument
Past the confluence with the Yampa River, winding around gigantic Steamboat Rock and into Echo Park, you'll travel through some of the oldest exposed rock in the world. As we descend further into the canyon, we have the rare opportunity of seeing the river cut down through the various layers that comprise the surrounding cliffs, each layer representing a different stage of the earth's development. Upon reaching Whirlpool Canyon, you'll hike to amazingly well preserved panels of prehistoric pictographs and petroglyphs. We make camp on a big, sandy beach that allows access to a great hiking trail. Your final evening on the river means gathering around the campfire for laughter and the creation of trip legends. Deluxe River Camp (B,L,D)
July 1: Gates of Lodore, Dinosaur National Monument
After a bit of flat water, we pick up speed while entering Split Mountain Canyon, and the river's gradient becomes considerably steeper. Four or five major rapids deliver plenty of whitewater excitement during our last day on the river. Reaching our take-out point at Split Mountain, we take a short ride back to Vernal and the Dinosaur Inn. Enjoy a hot shower and dinner on your own for the last night at the inn, dreaming of the good times, excitement, and memories shared on this lasting impression of the Green River through the Gates of Lodore. Dinosaur Inn (B,L)
July 2: Departure from Vernal, Utah
This morning features special NPCA breakfast with Dinosaur National Monument Superintendent Mary Risser, followed by a visit to the visitor center and Dinosaur Quarry and the tour's conclusion. (B)
Note: This tour has a minimum age requirement of seven years. Participants under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent, guardian, or another adult authorized to travel with that child by the parent or guardian.
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Tour Details
NPCA Member Price
$1,925 per person double occupancy; $321 single supplement
Price Includes
All accommodations, meals as noted (B-Breakfast, L-Lunch, D-Dinner), ground transportation from Vernal to put-in and return transportation from take-out back to Vernal, park entrance fees, high quality rafting and expedition equipment (2-person tents on a shared basis, Personal Floatation Device, Dry bag for on-river personal items, Camp chair, sleep kit, and 2 waterproof bags to hold personal gear and sleep kit), and professional guide services.
Price Does Not Include
Airfare, transportation to and from Vernal, gratuities for whitewater guides, alcoholic beverages, personal expenses, dinner on day 5, trip insurance, and personal items (a complete packing list will be provided).
Payments/Cancellations
Space is confirmed by calling the NPCA at 800.628.7275. A $500 per person deposit is due at registration. Final payment will be invoiced separately and is due 60 days prior to departure. Cancellation notice must be submitted in writing and is effective upon date of receipt. Cancellations up to 60 days prior receive a refund, less a $200 per person handling fee. Cancellations within 60 days of departure could result in the loss of 100% of your total cost.
Travel Insurance
To protect yourself from the loss of deposit and cancellation fees, you are encouraged to purchase travel insurance.
Arrive/Depart
Vernal, Utah
Length of tour
6 days/5 nights
Pace
Easy to moderate, includes several optional hikes on uneven terrain. If you are of an adventurous spirit and in reasonably good health, you should have no problem enjoying the tour.
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