Getting wet in Canyonlands National Park usually involves a float trip down the Colorado River, but you also can paddle down the Green and end up in the park.

Rafting Cataract Canyon, Canyonlands National Park / NPS file

Above the confluence of these two iconic rivers, near the heart of Canyonlands, you have miles and miles of flat water perfect for canoes, sea kayaks and other shallow-water boats.

But below the confluence, the combined flow of both rivers spills down Cataract Canyon with remarkable speed and power, creating a 14-mile (22.5 km) stretch of Class III to V white water.

Flatwater Paddles

Rumored to be one of the Southwest's best canoe trips is the paddle on the Green River 68 miles (109 km) down from the town of Green River to Mineral Bottom, with an option for another 55-mile (88.5 km) paddle to Spanish Bottom, which is the end of the line for canoeists. Hardy paddlers, once they reach the confluence of the Green and the Colorado just above Spanish Bottom, hang a hard left and paddle upstream to Moab.

A permit is required for all overnight and day use flatwater trips in Canyonlands. It's recommended that folks interested in flatwater permits should make their upstream travel arrangements before contacting the park. Permits are plentiful - it's more likely that shuttle availablility will be a limiting factor for your trip. The National Park Service does not operate a shuttle service.

Unless groups have their own motors or a lot of time to paddle upstream, take out is via jet boat shuttle back to Moab. This service is available from two licensed operators:

Tex's Riverways: 877-662-2839 or 435-259-5101

Adrift.net: 435-259-8594

White-Water Paddling

One of the classic white-water river trips in the Southwest is riding the Colorado River through Cataract Canyon with the sandstone walls of Canyonlands rising overhead. Most Cataract Canyon trips put in at Potash, Moab, Green River, or Mineral Bottom. The usual take-out for Cataract trips is Hite Marina. However, a prolonged drought has significantly changed conditions on Lake Powell.

If you want a guide to lead you through this stretch, you can find a list of NPS-authorized outfitters at this page.

Now, if you're planning a private float trip along Cataract Canyon, you'll need a permit for that just like you do for a flatwater trip.