Paddling in Canyonlands National Park

Two rivers built Canyonlands, and two rivers run through it. The Colorado and the Green converge near the center of the park, and that confluence is the pivot point around which all the paddling here turns — flatwater above it, serious whitewater below.

Above the confluence, both rivers move through deep canyon corridors at a pace that suits canoes and sea kayaks. The Colorado threads Meander Canyon; the Green runs through Stillwater Canyon.

These are long, quiet stretches of desert river where the walls rise hundreds of feet and the current does most of the work. The flatwater extends as far downstream as Spanish Bottom, just above where the gradient drops.

Non-motorized boats on these sections require a commercial upriver shuttle — there is no road-accessible put-in that allows a downstream float without one. Below the confluence, the character of the river changes completely.

Cataract Canyon runs 14 miles of rapids ranging from Class III to Class V. The NPS describes it as particularly hazardous and isolated, subject to extreme water level fluctuations, and intended for experienced river runners only.

The combined flow of the Colorado and Green through this stretch can move with serious force, and the remoteness means self-rescue is the baseline assumption.

Packrafting is also permitted in the park, and can be combined with overnight backpacking trips to reach districts that aren't accessible by river alone. Overnight trips on any section — flatwater or whitewater — require a permit issued through Recreation.

gov. Permits are available year-round. Each permit covers one group launch on a selected date, with a maximum of 40 people, for up to 14 days in the river corridor.

Flatwater and Cataract Canyon trips use separate entry points in the permit system, so choose carefully when booking.

Inflatable PFDs are not permitted on any Utah rivers; whitewater PFDs must carry a US Coast Guard label specifying whitewater, kayaking, canoeing, or paddling use.

The park's river corridor is its own district — as remote and unmediated as any section of the Colorado Plateau. Plan accordingly, and go in knowing the water level before you launch.