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Green River (Utah)
Green River "At a Glance" |
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| Scenery | Absolutely spectacular desert canyons |
| Best time | April-May, October |
| Wilderness | True wilderness in some areas, popular expedition destination |
| Water Flow | Always adequate; usually high in spring, low in fall |
| Water Quality | Good |
| Campsites | Infrequent, sometimes difficult (see below) |
| Hazards | Minimal rapids; winds, remote setting |
| Logistics | Jet boat shuttle required |
| Trip Length | 55-120 miles |
| Recommendation | Best canoe destination in western U.S. |
View of Spanish Bottom from Trail
General Description & Characteristics -- The Green River of the canyonlands region of Utah is arguably the most spectacular long canoe camping trip in the lower 48 states. This run starts out in an area of open country then enters the dramatic Labyrinth and Stillwater canyons. The lower portion of this run is in Canyonlands National Park. The Green River is wide, and it has swift current in the spring runoff season, but no rapids except a few class I waves in the first 20 miles or so.
Location & Canoeable Mileage -- From Green River, UT (on I-70) to Spanish Bottom (just below the confluence of the Green and Colorado Rivers) is 120 miles. The put-in is at the boat ramp at Green River State Park. Take at least a week to float this, or more if you like to hike. Take even longer if you go in the fall season when the river is lower. In order to take out at Spanish Bottom, you must arrange with a jet boat service, which hauls you and gear back up the Colorado River to the town of Moab, Utah. The outfitter can arrange both ends of the shuttle. A couple of shuttle operators provide this service (see links below).
Beyond Spanish Bottom, the Colorado plunges into Cataract Canyon with many class III-IV rapids (some of which can be seen from a trail that goes down down the river from Spanish Bottom). There is an intermediate access point at Mineral Bottom (mile 65) that enables you to do a shorter trip, if desired.
Interesting Features -- The desert habitat is beautifully stark and forbidding, in places otherworldly. Bowknot Bend is one of the many unique geological features. The Green River was home to an ancient civilization known today as the Anasazi or Ancestral Pueblans. You can see evidence of these people including rock structures and petroglyphs. There are numerous trails along the river, or you can hike up to the bluffs and ridges or up side canyons. At Spanish Bottom a steep but easy trail goes up to the Doll's House, named for its fascinating rock formations. A hike up the hill at Fort Bottom will reward you with the most dramatic view of the river -- at the summit is a two-story Anasazi tower that was probably used for ceremonial purposes.
Spring is excellent for canoeing the Green River. Although April can be chilly, the river will be less crowded. May and June generally have the highest water, and peak in popularity. By June, the days can be beastly hot. Autumn is reportedly good particularly after mid-September, but it can be rainy and cold. This is a completely remote canoeing experience, so be sure to be prepared for extreme conditions of weather.
Camping -- You can camp anywhere you can find a spot along the river; however, at the high water flow in spring time, there are few good campsites in the canyons, and they are popular. Fortunately most of them are large enough so that several parties can be accommodated without too much disturbance of the wilderness experience. Most of these campsites will require a scramble up the bank to higher ground, sometimes a few hundred feet from the river. Since these are not always obvious, consultation with current guide books, or your outfitter should help you locate the good camp sites.
Later in the year, notably in the early fall, the river is much lower while still having enough water for canoeing, and there are many good sand bar campsites.
Within Canyonlands National Park, a back country permit is required for camping on the river (see link below for information on this procedure). The NPS requires hauling out of human waste for all parties -- the local outfitters can provide the equipment for this task, or you can bring your own portable toilet (must be able to dispose of waste into a dump station).
Additional Information:
Canoeing Information
See "Books, below"
Canoe Rental/Shuttle Service River Flow Data
- Green River, Utah gauge
- If you have difficulty obtaining data from this link, CLICK HERE
Parks on/near the River Towns/Other Locales on/near the River Books
- River Guide to Canyonlands National Park (Kelsey) This book has detailed information about locations of campsites, points of interest, and history.
- Belknap's Revised Waterproof Canyonlands River Guide This is a waterproof map booklet
- Run, River, Run : A Naturalist's Journey Down One of the Great Rivers of the American West
- The Exploration of the Colorado River and Its Canyons -- by John Wesley Powell
More Pictures Canoe Camping Photo Gallery Environmental Issues/Organizations Acknowledgments/Contributors Miscellaneous
