Image Alt

Trips

Yampa River

5 Day: Yampa River River Rafting

The Yampa River through the Dinosaur National Monument has it all! As the last free-flowing river in the entire Colorado River drainage, the Yampa River is incredibly wild in May and June. The Rocky Mountain spring run-off creates big roaring rapids with an average descent of 12-14 feet per mile. The gradient at Teepee Rapid is an amazing 31 feet per mile!

Raft alongside 2000-foot high white canyon walls with black tiger-stripes; hike side canyons to prehistoric rock art and abandoned caves. The whitewater is exciting and heart pounding while the slower river sections offer spectacular scenery to quiet the soul. Ancient Indian history and geological features fascinate your thirsty mind; and star-studded nights evoke thought and appreciation for our place on Earth.

 

 

Dates & Rates

2026 Dates
  • June 2
2026 Trip Rates

Adult………………..$1,849 + $55.47 Government Use Fee (3%) + $99.85 Processing Fee**

 

Youth………………..$1,749 + $52.47 Government Use Fee (3%) + $94.45 Processing Fee**

**Processing Fees can be reduced by submitting payment via check, EFT or money order.   Please contact our office for additional Information.

What This Rate Includes
More Information
    • Trip Deposit: 20% deposit required upon reservation. Full balance due 45 days prior to departure.
    • Trip Cancellation Insurance
    • Minimum Age: 10 years old
What Is Not Included in Trip Fares
    • National Park Entrance Pass Dinosaur National Monument entrance fees must be paid by each guest, and Monument Rangers or staff can ask for receipts or passes at any time during the rafting trip.  We strongly suggest that our guests carry a National Parks Pass.  Passes can be purchased at https://www.nps.gov/dino/planyourvisit/fees.htm. A 7 day pass can be purchased prior to the trip at any Dinosaur National Monument visitor’s center.
    • Guide Gratuities by no means required but always appreciated by our guides. We recommend 10-20% of the cost of the river portion of the trip.
    • Transportation to Naples, Utah.
    • Lodging and meals prior to or following your expedition (except where noted.) Click to see list of quality places to stay in Vernal Utah.
    • Government user fees and taxes (about 9% of trip cost.)
    • OPTIONAL SHUTTLE OPTION: If you prefer to have your vehicle shuttled from the put-in at Deer Lodge Park to the take-out at Split Mountain, please contact our office. There is an addiitonal $150 per vehicle fee for this shuttle.

Itinerary

Day 1 - Starting The Adventure

We meet at the Microtel Inn and Suites in Naples, Utah, at 7:00 AM, shuttle to the launch site, meet the crew, have a safety briefing, and then launch. We float for a short while as we enter the Yampa River canyon which rises 1000 feet above. After entering the canyon we have exciting whitewater all day. We will stop and take a short walk to Anderson Hole and Stubbs Cabin.

 

The scenery is spectacular and offers great views around every corner. Midday, the guides will prepare a fresh buffet lunch along the riverbank. After Lunch we have the option run the big rapids Tee Pee, and Big Joe right before camp or on day two first thing after we launch for the day.

 

This evening, relax by the river while the guides prepare hors d’oeuvres and dinner. Campsites are well maintained by the Park Service with wonderful camping spots. Camp under Ponderosa and Box Elder trees, and let the sound of the river lull you to sleep.

 

Note: Meals are served from a set daily menu, but you are welcome to request in advance, special dishes or tell us if there are particular things you would prefer not to have.

 

Potential Hiking Opportunities: Stubs Cabin, Tee Pee, Big Joe, Harding Hole

Day 2 - Hiking the Yampa River

Wake each morning to the smell of coffee. After a hearty breakfast, off Pancakes with bacon or French toast and Sausages we pack and push off.

 

Today we enter the Weber Sandstone layer of the canyon. The river slows down and we drift under the Grand Overhang and by Mantle Ranch. We may stop and explore Mantle Cave, once inhabited by the Fremont people. We will also float by the spectacular Tiger Wall.

 

Lunch will again be on a nice river side beach. Option could include Chicken Cesar Salad, or Sandwiches with fresh vegetables. We will pull over and camp in the late afternoon. While you find a spot to pitch your tents, the guides prepare dinner. Fall asleep under the starlit sky.

 

Potential Hiking Opportunities: Mantle Cave, Signature Cave

Day 3 - Warm Springs Rapid

This morning we wake up with the anticipation of running Warm springs rapid, the biggest rapid of the trip. The Yampa River was once known as a float trip that was very beautiful but did not have a lot big rapids. This all changed in the late 1960’s, when a wet spring brought down tons of rock and sediment which created Warm Springs Rapid. On the 5 day Yampa trip Warms Springs is smaller than on the 4 day trips but still exciting. We will stop and scout the rapid before taking on the challenging cataract.

 

Rafting the Yampa River is like traveling through time. Each of the river canyon’s various layers represents an entire age of the earth’s development: the rise and fall of major mountain ranges, the arrival and retreat of oceans at least 12 different times, and the alternating development of deserts and swamplands.

 

Dinner will be prepare by your professional Chefs. We start with appetizer and move to the entrées which can be any thing from high end steak and potatoes to lasagna and fresh vegetables.

Day 4 - Confluence of the Green & Yampa Rivers

We will eat another hearty breakfast and then raft to the confluence of the Yampa and Green Rivers at Echo Park where we will pass imposing Steamboat Rock rising 1,000 feet above the river. Echo park offers several great hiking opportunities including whispering cave, and 1000 year old Native America writing.

 

Pass by the amazing Mitten park fault, named after Pat Lynch’s mule Mitten. Soon we will enter our next canyon: Whirlpool Canyon. Guests may be able to see Seastacks, which afford geologic evidence of vast seas that covered the area eons ago. Later we will see an inscription made in 1838 by French fur trapper Dennis Julien, and equipment left by dam surveyors who had big plans to build a dam in Echo Park.

 

We will cross into Utah and then just below Jones Hole we will stop for a hike and try to catch a glimpse of one of the largest herds of Bighorn Sheep in the area. Jones Creek is a spring fed creek with countless opportunities for fun and adventure. Spend some time fishing along the creek, which has a fish hatchery at the top. Hike up to some amazing Fremont pictographs. Play in the Ely Creek waterfall or just hang out along the creek in the shade enjoying the peaceful scenery.

 

Camp is just down stream where your guides will prepare hors d’ oeuvres while you relax on the beach. Come “dressed” for dinner tonight. This is our party night! Our way of celebrating a great trip, fun rapids, great hikes, amazing scenery and new formed friendships! Dinner will again be served in a spectacular setting.

 

Potential Hiking Opportunities: Echo Park, Whispering Cave, Jones Hole

Day 5 - More Big Rapids

This morning we will run more fun rapids. Start this morning’s river travel with the fun, splashy Greasy Pliers rapids. The canyon then opens up into the Island Park area. Enjoy viewing amazing petroglyphs of a very large bison. Raft through Rainbow Park and enjoy swimming in the river before the river slices through Split Mountain.

 

Stop for Lunch on another great sandy beach. At lunch today your guides will give special instructions for those brave souls who wish to challenge the next few rapids in their Inflatable Kayaks. We run exciting rapids-Moonshine, SOB, and Schoolboy. We take out at Split Mountain and return to Vernal (approximately 45 minutes away).

 

Potential Hiking Opportunities: Rainbow Park, Moonshine

Maps

Map of the Yampa River Rafting

The Yampa River, located in the heart of the Dinosaur National Monument on the Eastern end of the Uinta Mountain Range. Beginning in Northwestern Colorado, the Yampa is one of the last free-flowing tributaries to the Colorado River system and is featured in National Geographic’s, “Wild and Scenic Rivers” Book.

 

Native Americans, prospectors, outlaws, ranchers and early river runners make the history of this canyon interesting.

Yampa River Information
    • River: Yampa River
    • Rapid Rating: Class III-V(Depending on Water Levels)
    • Put in: Deer Lodge Park in Dinosaur National Monument
    • Take-out location: Split Mountain boat ramp
    • River Miles: 72 miles
    • Number of rapids: 16
    • First to run Yampa River Canyon: Nathaniel Galloway and his son Parley in 190

Resources

Required Forms

Please print, sign and return the required forms (for each person in your party) to our office by email, fax or mail at least 45 days prior to your trip.

 

Trip Document in PDF's
Helpful Links

Dinosaur National Monument: Dinosaur National Monument protects a large deposit of fossil dinosaur bones–remains of the so-called “terrible lizards” that lived millions of years ago.

Sheri Griffith Expeditions is an Authorized Concessioner of Dinosaur National Monument.

 

Vernal Travel Council: A great resource on Vernal area trails, hotels, and other great things to do in Vernal.

 

River rafting is a lot of fun, but like most outdoor adventure activities, there are also potential hazards. Click here for more information about possible hazards you might experience while whitewater rafting in our beautiful canyons.

Links to Area Information

Vernal Weather

Water Levels

How to get to Vernal

Where to stay in Vernal

What to do other than rafting

Questions About the Trip
If I need to cancel my trip, is there a way to get my money back?

Sheri Griffith Expeditions maintains a no‑refund policy. Because each trip has a limited number of seats, your reservation holds space that cannot easily be filled by another guest. For this reason, all payments are non‑refundable, and this applies in every circumstance.

 

To protect your travel investment, we strongly recommend purchasing Travel Insurance. For more information about Travel Insurance, click here.

 

If you are unable to participate in your scheduled trip but would like to transfer your reservation to the following year, you may do so for a $300 per‑participant transfer fee, provided the change is made at least three weeks prior to your departure date.

How do I book a trip?

Booking your adventure is simple. The quickest way is to click the book onlinebutton on your trip page or at the top of our website. If you prefer personal assistance, our team is always happy to help, just give us a call at 800‑332‑2439

How much money do I have to put down to secure my seat? What is the payment policy?

For 1‑day trips, full payment is required at the time of booking.

For multiday trips, a non‑refundable 20% deposit is due when you make your reservation, with the remaining balance due 45 days before departure.

 

After your reservation is confirmed, you’ll receive a reservation packet that includes your packing list, travel tips, travel insurance information, a beverage request form, and a guest registration form. Please complete the guest registration form and return it promptly so we can prepare for your trip.

Is it possible for my trip to be changed or canceled?

We make every effort to operate each trip as planned. However, we reserve the right to adjust the itinerary or cancel a trip if necessary due to circumstances beyond our control, including weather conditions, water levels, insufficient reservations, changes in international relations, or other unforeseen factors.

 

If a cancellation becomes necessary, all payments you have made will be refunded. Our financial liability is limited to the amount you have paid to Sheri Griffith Expeditions and does not extend to additional expenses incurred by trip participants.

Do I have to go to the River Trip Orientation? When and where will it be held?

On the evening before your trip, we meet at 6:30 PM (MDT) at the Microtel Inn & Suites in Naples, Utah for a brief pre‑trip orientation. During this meeting, you’ll learn what to expect on your adventure, receive your dry bags, complete the required Assumption of Risk forms, and have an opportunity to ask any final questions.

 

If you are unable to attend the orientation, please let us know in advance so we can make alternate arrangements.

What do we drink on our trip? Should I bring my own drinks? What beverages are allowed on the river?

If you’d like to bring personal beverages, such as soda, beer, wine, or other favorites, you’re welcome to bring them on the morning of departure. We’ll store them in our iced coolers for you.

 

During the trip, we provide a selection of beverages including sodas, water, lemonade and Gatorade mixes, as well as tea, juice, and coffee each morning.

Is tipping common on rafting trips?

Guests often ask about gratuities and what amount is appropriate. If you feel your guides have provided an exceptional experience, you are welcome to leave a gratuity with the Trip Leader, who will distribute it among the crew. While completely optional, a general guideline is 15%–20% of the trip cost.

 

If you plan to tip, please bring cash, a personal check, or ask your Trip Leader for Venmo information—ATMs are hard to find in the backcountry! Checks should be made out directly to the Trip Leader, not to Sheri Griffith Expeditions. 

 

Please note: We are unable to accept credit card gratuities while on the river. If you would like to tip using a credit card, please call our office to complete your transaction.

What physical condition do I need to be in for this trip?

If you’re in reasonably good health and have an adventurous spirit, you should have no trouble enjoying our trips. You don’t need to be an athlete to participate in a river expedition, but please be aware that we are several hours from the nearest medical facility while on the river.

 

If you take medication, please bring an adequate supply and inform your guide about what you’re taking. When you meet your guide, discreetly share any medical conditions or concerns, including allergies such as bee stings.

 

Each guide carries a first‑aid kit and may need to know if certain medications require special storage. Understanding any health considerations also helps us plan daily activities appropriately.

 

Pregnant guests and anyone with heart conditions should obtain their physician’s approval before joining a river trip.

What risks am I facing when I go on my trip?

Sheri Griffith Expeditions has maintained an excellent safety record since 1971. However, participation in any outdoor adventure involves inherent risks, and guests should understand that accidents or illnesses may occur. While our guides are trained professionals and we take all reasonable precautions, we cannot guarantee your safety. Each participant is responsible for exercising sound judgment and remaining attentive during all activities.

 

Environmental conditions, including water levels, weather, and other natural elements, are determined by forces beyond our control and contribute to the risks associated with rafting and camping. Prior to departure, all guests will be required to sign an Assumption of Risk and Release Form acknowledging these conditions. Sheri Griffith Expeditions assumes no responsibility for injuries, loss of personal belongings, or additional time or expenses incurred by trip members.

 

We strongly recommend purchasing Travel Insurance, which can help protect your travel investment, provide coverage for unexpected medical situations, and offer reimbursement should you need to cancel your trip.

I’m unsure of what to do with my vehicle, and I don’t want to lose my keys and other valuables on the river, what can I do?

You are welcome to leave your vehicle parked at the Microtel Inn & Suites in Naples for the duration of your river trip. The hotel also provides a secure room where you may store luggage and valuables while you’re on the river. 

 

More FAQ’s

"We were in Eric's boat and found him to be courteous and knowledgeable, always on the lookout for points of interest, and he got us through the rapids in a way that was fun and exciting but safe too. We really enjoyed our time with him; he's an asset to your company. The meals were outstanding, all the guides very polite and accommodating to all, knowledge of area history, geology and water use issues was very interesting, great job on keeping everyone safe."

David and Kathy Fine, El Cahone CA

Location: Yampa River, UT
Highlights: Rapids Every Day, An Active Vacation, Great Waterfall Hikes, Dinosaur National Monument, Stunning Scenery, Tons of Wildlife, Classic Outlaw History, Rarely Run River, Undammed River
Adults: $2,004 (Includes Government Use and Processing** Fees)
Youth: $1,788 (Includes Govenrment Use and Processing** Fees)
Trip Length: 5 Days / 4 Nights
Host City: Vernal, Utah
Min. Age: 10 Years Old
Rapids: III-IV (Depending on Water Levels)
2026 Dates*: June 2, 24 *Dates are Tentative until confirmed by the National Park Service. Please call if you have any questions.
Boats: Oarboats, Paddleboats, Inflatable Kayaks