Colorado River Rafting Vacations
 

Founded in 1961 by Colorado River rafting pioneer Jack Currey, Western River Expeditions is the largest licensed outfitter in the Grand Canyon with 13,000 user-days. Now in its 43rd year, Western River offers trips through the natural wonders of Utah, Idaho and Colorado for adventurers of all ages and levels.

Office Locations
Western River Expeditions is a nationally recognized outfitter headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah with operations and offices in Moab, Utah and Fredonia, Arizona.

Annual Guests
Western services approximately 17,000 people each year.

Expected Number of Trip Departures in 2004
3,060

Points of Departure
Western River currently has seven points of departure for its trips, depending on which adventure you choose. They include:
Salt Lake City, Utah
Moab, Utah
Las Vegas, Nevada
Marble Canyon, Arizona
Stanley, Idaho
Boise, Idaho
Grand Junction, Colorado

Waters to Raft
Western River provides professionally guided rafting trips on:
Colorado River
Grand Canyon (188 or 100 miles)
Cataract Canyon (100 miles)
Westwater Canyon (16 miles)
Moab Day Trip (14 miles)
Green River
Desolation & Grey Canyons (84 miles)
Main Salmon River (89 miles)
Middle Fork Salmon River (100 miles)

Vacation Variety
Everything from day trips to week-long escapes, from everyday adventurer to first-time fun-seekers, from extreme thrills to tame chills, from roughing it in the elements to pampering at four-star resorts and spas.

Price Range and Duration
Fully-equipped, multiple-day expeditions range from $450 - 2,050. Rafting day trips cost $51 for adults, $39 for children under 17 and seniors over 60. River trips are available for 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 days. Group rates are available on select trips.

Western’s Guides
Western’s staff includes over 60 licensed and professionally trained guides, all with their own stories and experiences to share. Each Western guide experiences nearly 300 hours of training before escorting his or her first guest down the river. This training includes swift water rescue certification, CPR and First Aid Certification, a state licensing test, food handler's education, on-river cooking courses, geology and interpretation classes, and Western's renowned custom guide-training program.

Western’s Fleet of Vessels
Western uses 4 different types of vessels to navigate the waters, including:
20 J-Rigs
25 Row Rafts
20 Paddle Boats
30 Inflatable kayaks

Western’s Special Hummers®
Western’s professional guides operate custom Hummer® vehicles with raised seating in the rear for optimum passenger viewing. With 16 inches of ground clearance and an extremely low center of gravity, the Hummer® can navigate virtually any terrain imaginable.

Moab Adventure Center
At Western's Moab Adventure Center, you can create your own experience with as many half to full-day activities as you wish, plus stay in a comfortable hotel each night. The center is your place for all the gear and souvenirs for your trip too.

Season
Western River offers trips March through October on selected waterways.

Other activities
In addition to the best rafting vacations in the West, Western River offers tours via Hummer, horseback, jet boat, 4x4, airplane and mountain bike.

Specialty Trips
Western offers trips for everyone and every group, including:
Singles Retreat – Cataract Canyon
Women’s Adventure – Green River
Corporate Retreats
Group Trips

Western’s Culinary Arts
Western’s guides are not only trained in the outdoors and geography of the area, they are also talented campfire cooks. Expect anything but your normal camping food on trips with Western River. Look forward to plates of steaming flapjacks, fresh fruit and scrambled eggs every morning and tasty chicken and veggie wraps or perhaps chicken salad pitas as part of Western's mid-day buffet. Dinner every night is different including grilled chicken breasts, tender steaks, pasta, or fresh fish.

Reservations
Western River Expedition’s helpful reservations specialists are available Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. MST at (801) 942-6669 or toll free at (800) 453-7450. You can also book your trip online.

Guest Comments » The Best Rafting Vacations in the West!

As a local I am often asked why I don’t go on Vacation in California or Nevada. One look at some of pictures from some of our river trips (this is my third trip with Western River) and what does Disneyland or Las Vegas have to compare. Disneyland has no ride to match thrills you get when you hit white water. As for the glitter of Las Vegas, the Milky Way far out shines anything Las Vegas has to offer. The food is great and you just can't beat the ambiance, Dinner served at sunset with the red rock in the back ground is quite breath taking. Will I do another river trip? The answer is yes I will.
Mary Speirs - Salt Lake City, UT