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Combine technical rappels through secluded sandstone slots with an afternoon packraft on the Colorado River. This guided full-day tour covers rope skills, river safety, and local geology while showing parts of Moab few visitors see.
Combine technical rappels through secluded sandstone slots with an afternoon packraft on the Colorado River. This guided full-day tour covers rope skills, river safety, and local geology while showing parts of Moab few visitors see.
The canyon walls close in like pages of an old book as you step off the slick sandstone and lower into a narrow slot; the desert wind pushes a fine spray of sand across your face while the Colorado River, hours away, continues to call from below. This full-day combo stitches technical canyoneering and a packraft float into one continuous Moab experience — rappels and tight squeezes in the morning, a riverside lunch, then inflatable boats on water that alternately dares you with riffles and soothes you with glassy pools.
Verified experiences and guided adventures in the surrounding area.
Operated by Desert Highlights · Moab, Utah
The canyon walls close in like pages of an old book as you step off the slick sandstone and lower into a narrow slot; the desert wind pushes a fine spray of sand across your face while the Colorado River, hours away, continues to call from below. This full-day combo stitches technical canyoneering and a packraft float into one continuous Moab experience — rappels and tight squeezes in the morning, a riverside lunch, then inflatable boats on water that alternately dares you with riffles and soothes you with glassy pools.
The landscape here is carved from Jurassic Entrada and Navajo sandstone, cut by seasonal runoff and ancient river systems. Human history runs alongside geology: Ute and Puebloan peoples left petroglyphs and trails, 20th-century uranium and potash roads opened access, and modern river-running culture shaped local skills and safety practices.
Expect steep sandstone approaches, two technical rappels, short exposed hiking, and a put-in on a calm stretch of the Colorado that can include small rapids depending on flow and chosen route. Guides teach rope technique, anchor management, and safe packraft handling — no prior expertise required, but a steady head for exposure helps.
Plan for changing desert temperatures, sun exposure, and cold river spray. Bring sturdy shoes with good grips, layered clothing that dries fast, ample water, and a small dry bag for phone and snacks. Morning light gives the best canyonside photos; late afternoons on the river are quieter. With a competent guide you’ll move confidently between vertical rock and current, gaining context on the flora, fauna, and conservation efforts that keep this rugged playground open for future adventurers.
challenging.
6–8 hours.
Moderate fitness: able to hike uneven terrain, manage short steep sections, and follow rope-work instructions; not ultrafit but comfortable on sustained activity.
No — guides teach rope techniques and basic packraft handling; previous exposure helps but is not required.
This tour is suitable for most fitness levels; participants should be able to hike uneven terrain and follow guide instructions. Check with the operator for age limits.
The guide supplies all technical canyoneering gear, a personal Alpacka packraft with paddle and PFD, and options for hotel pickup if requested.
Guides assess flow and pick a put-in that matches the group’s skill and desired difficulty; life jackets and river briefing are standard.
Moab’s canyons record both deep geological time in layered sandstones and human history from Indigenous use to 20th-century river-running and resource roads.
Practice leave-no-trace; guides minimize rope anchor impact and choose river put-ins that avoid sensitive riparian vegetation. Water flows and seasonal access dictate when specific routes are appropriate.
Desert Highlights operates guided outdoor trips and adventures with an emphasis on safety, stewardship, and memorable experiences.
The canyon walls close in like pages of an old book as you step off the slick sandstone and lower into a narrow slot; the desert wind pushes a fine spray of sand across your face while the Colorado River, hours away, continues to call from below. This full-day combo stitches technical canyoneering and a packraft float into one continuous Moab experience — rappels and tight squeezes in the morning, a riverside lunch, then inflatable boats on water that alternately dares you with riffles and soothes you with glassy pools.
The canyon walls close in like pages of an old book as you step off the slick sandstone and lower into a narrow slot; the desert wind pushes a fine spray of sand across your face while the Colorado River, hours away, continues to call from below. This full-day combo stitches technical canyoneering and a packraft float into one continuous Moab experience — rappels and tight squeezes in the morning, a riverside lunch, then inflatable boats on water that alternately dares you with riffles and soothes you with glassy pools.
The landscape here is carved from Jurassic Entrada and Navajo sandstone, cut by seasonal runoff and ancient river systems. Human history runs alongside geology: Ute and Puebloan peoples left petroglyphs and trails, 20th-century uranium and potash roads opened access, and modern river-running culture shaped local skills and safety practices.
Expect steep sandstone approaches, two technical rappels, short exposed hiking, and a put-in on a calm stretch of the Colorado that can include small rapids depending on flow and chosen route. Guides teach rope technique, anchor management, and safe packraft handling — no prior expertise required, but a steady head for exposure helps.
Plan for changing desert temperatures, sun exposure, and cold river spray. Bring sturdy shoes with good grips, layered clothing that dries fast, ample water, and a small dry bag for phone and snacks. Morning light gives the best canyonside photos; late afternoons on the river are quieter. With a competent guide you’ll move confidently between vertical rock and current, gaining context on the flora, fauna, and conservation efforts that keep this rugged playground open for future adventurers.