Dinosaur National Monument Rafting

Deep, majestic canyons on the Colorado side of the Dinosaur National Monument area are carved by the Yampa and Green Rivers, offering some of the most breathtaking scenic views in the Western United States. If you’re a thrill-seeker, you’ll find this whitewater escapade as breathtaking as it is thrilling. While cruising down the river, you’ll catch a glimpse of Steamboat Rock, an enormous monolith situated at the heart of Dinosaur National Monument, which looms high above the water.

Along its lengths, the Green River has fun whitewater, charming camp sites on sandy beaches, stunning geological features and ancient and recent western history. Plenty of historical figures have traversed the Green Rivers banks including Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid hiding from the law, and Major John Wesley Powell exploring and mapping the rivers course.

Experience the best of the Yampa River in the Dinosaur National Monument! Being the only unimpeded river in the Colorado River drainage, the Yampa is exceptionally untamed from May to June. The spring runoff from the Rocky Mountains gives rise to mighty rapids with an average drop of 12-14 feet per mile, while Teepee Rapid boasts a remarkable gradient of 31 feet per mile!

You’ll also pass the Green River’s famous “Gates of Lodore,” which offers everything a typical river expedition should have – thrilling rapids, stunning beaches, fantastic hikes, and a fascinating past. The Uinta Mountains have been chiseled by the Green River, creating twin cliffs that loom over the water, known as the “Gates of Lodore.” These two colossal cliffs, standing at 1,000 feet each, are an awe-inspiring sight to behold and undoubtedly one of the most striking views one could experience on a river trip.