Upper San Juan River Trip

Family friendly camping, rafting and short hikes

  • Where: Sand Island (Bluff) to Mexican Hat, Utah
  • What months available: NEXT TRIP WILL BE IN 2014 - DATE TO BE DECIDED (email us at info@cfimoab.org if you are interested in being alerted when the date is set)
  • Number of Days/Nights: 4 Nights - 4 Days includes 1st night lodging at Recapture Lodge, Bluff, UT
  • Time: Evening Day 1 through Afternoon Last Day
  • Group Size: Minimum 4, maximum 12
  • Age Group: Family or Adult Adventure - Adults and children 6 years old and up
  • Cost per Person: $860 adults $660 youth 6-17 plus $6 BLM Special Area Fee
  • Deposit: $300 Non-refundable Deposit applies to total due
  • Notes:
    • Trip meets and ends in Bluff, UT
    • Call to arrange a custom private trip for different dates for 2013.
    • Click here to read our cancellation policy.

Raft Through Time on the Upper San Juan River!

400 w riverhouseJoin CFI’s Naturalist guides on this rafting trip on the scenic San Juan River. Learn about the Ancestral Puebloan (Anasazi) culture, historic settlements, fossils, geology and more while rafting Class I-II rapids and enjoying beautiful sandstone canyons. Suitable for range of abilities, craft used depends on season and water level. Adults and children 6 years and older.

Our trip starts in the town of Bluff, UT, a small community with a vibrant history. Check into Recapture Lodge for the first night where there will be a CFI orientation to your trip. Have dinner on your own. Next day, we launch at Sand Island Recreation site and will float 26 miles to Mexican Hat with plenty of time to explore the river and its many sites. Native Americans including the Ancestral Puebloan or Anasazi culture have left their mark on the landscape and we will see ruins, petroglyphs, and pictographs along the way. The famous Butler Wash Petroglyph Panel and River House Ruin are two of our stops along the river. The early history of settlement and exploration in the region will also be talked about as we make our way downstream.

Starting in the San Juan Mountains in Colorado, the San Juan River cuts through a unique and varied landscape to get to its ultimate destination, Lake Powell. The sandstone canyons provide a dramatic landscape for our trip and we will share with you a layman’s geology of the area to help you understand the land around us. The fun, splashy rapids are Class I-II and suitable for the whole family. The trip will be conducted in oar and paddle rafts along with some fun 2 man inflatable kayaks (duckies) for the more adventurous members of the trip. The wildlife we may see includes big horn sheep, rabbits, deer, hawks and other birds but many other animals live in the region. CFI Naturalists are always available for your questions about the land, animals, and history and will share their knowledge of the area.

On the last day, enjoy the final calm stretch of the river before taking out at Mexican Hat around 2 p.m. Return to Bluff to collect cars and say goodbyes around 4 p.m.