Desolation Canyon, Green River

Region of the Wildest Desolation

Rafting Desolation Canyon (often run with Gray Canyon as the Deso-Gray trip) on Utah’s Green River offers an epic 84-mile multi-day float through one of the West’s most remote Wild and Scenic canyons, from Sand Wash launch to Swasey’s takeout near Green River town. Towering red and brown sandstone walls rise up to 5,000 feet, ancient Fremont and Ancestral Puebloan rock art graces alcoves, and the river cuts through dramatic geologic layers amid wildlife like bighorn sheep, eagles, and deer. The route features over 60 mostly Class II-III rapids—playful wave trains such as Cow Swim, Three Fords, and Wild Horse—with fun hydraulics and boulder dodging, plus long serene flatwater stretches ideal for side hikes to petroglyphs and ruins, and sandy beach camping under starry skies.

River Class / Skill Level

• Class: II–III whitewater with numerous splashy rapids and scenic canyon stretches.

• Skill Level: Suitable for intermediate paddlers and family multi-day trips.

Season / Permits / Weather

• Boating Season: April through September depending on runoff and summer flows.

• Permit Required: Yes — permits issued by the Bureau of Land Management.

• Best Time to Run: May through June during peak snowmelt flows.

• Weather: Hot desert summers with cool spring and fall temperatures.

Water Levels / River Character

• Typical Flow Range: ~1,000–20,000 cfs depending on snowmelt runoff.

• Low Water: Slower current with exposed rocks in rapids.

• Optimal Flows: 6,000–12,000 cfs provides classic wave trains and fast current.

• High Water: Powerful hydraulics and large standing waves.

• Special Considerations: Numerous archaeological sites and remote canyon camping.

Put-In / Take-Out

• Standard Put-In: Sand Wash Boat Ramp.

• Standard Take-Out: Swaseys Beach near Green River, Utah.

• Trip Length: Approximately 84 miles, typically run in 4–5 days.

River Trip Launch Pad

Rec.gov

River Permits/Regs

Aquatic Species

Boat Inspections Map

Camping

Local Camping

Directions

Google Maps

Weather

Local Forecast

River Map

Rivermaps

Shuttle

Local Shuttle Company

Gear

Local Gear Shop

Hot Springs

Nearby Hot Springs

Solid Block Ice

List of solid Block Ice

Groover

Map of Dump Stations

Snow to Flow

Snowpack and Water Forecasting

Take Out Directions

Swasey’s Beach Boat Ramp

Your Desolation Trip

Google Docs PDF