Best River Adventures

Enjoy Unforgettable Rafting on the Virgin River

America’s west is full of wonderful places to visit, including some of the most awesome National Parks found anywhere. The land is rugged and spectacular, the scenery stunning, and the opportunity for activities diverse. Zion National Park rafting is a favorite sport of many who visit this park, which is nestled in the southwest corner of Utah. The Virgin River, which flows through the park and whose waters carved the canyon thousands upon thousands of years ago, provides some wonderful whitewater opportunities.

Zion National Park rafting provides you with the unique chance to explore the beautiful Virgin River gorge. This river is un-dammed, which means that its navigability depends solely on the snow melt running off the mountains, making springtime the perfect season for rafting the Virgin River through Zion and beyond. Be sure to check the conditions on the river before you make plans to run it, as sometimes it becomes too low to accommodate rafters or kayakers.

When the river is navigable, however, the trip is exciting and the views unforgettable. The Virgin River Gorge is steep; dropping about 70 feet per mile, which is ten times steeper than the Colorado River through the mighty Grand Canyon. That makes for a fun and unforgettable ride.

Other Park Activities

Of course, while you’re planning your Zion National Park rafting trip, you’ll want to be sure to take some time to explore the park as well. Since trips on the Virgin River are usually only a day-long venture, you should plan on visiting the other awesome sights of this breathtaking natural wonder.

Zion is 229 square miles in area and provides guests with a host of additional recreational activities including hiking (trails range from easy to quite difficult); bicycling on paved, car-free trails; birdwatching; and a host of Park Ranger-led activities including lectures and guided walks. It’s also the ideal place for both amateur and professional photographers to capture that once-in-a-lifetime picture. Combine Zion National Park rafting with any of these exciting activities and you’ll have the perfect all-around, multi-sport vacation.

Zion National Park rafting is best accomplished with an experienced guide. Many local outfitters offer trips on the Virgin River as well as on many other rivers throughout the state of Utah, including the Green, Colorado, and San Juan. Combine several for a vacation full of whitewater experiences, ranging from mild float trips to wild runs through Class IV and V rapids.