Colorado River › Cataract Canyon
Colorado RiverCataract Canyon Rafting
Below the Confluence of the Green and the Colorado, inside Canyonlands National Park, the river changes character entirely. Cataract Canyon holds the biggest whitewater in Utah, rapids that at high water draw honest comparison to the Grand Canyon. It is a multi-day expedition, not a day trip, and it is the serious end of Moab-area river running.
Class III to V depending on flow, typically three to six days, starting above the Confluence and running into Canyonlands. Flatwater for the first stretch, then concentrated big-water rapids. The permit is easier than its reputation suggests, with no lottery and no daily cap. The water is not. Most people run it guided.
At a glance
- River
- Colorado, below the Confluence
- Difficulty
- Class III to V, flow dependent
- Trip length
- 3 to 6 days
- Location
- Canyonlands National Park
- Group limit
- 40 people (private)
- Maximum stay
- 14 consecutive nights
- Private permit
- Canyonlands permit, no lottery, no daily cap
- Permit office
- Moab · (435) 241-3110
What the Trip Involves
Cataract is a trip of two halves. The approach, down Meander or Stillwater to the Confluence, is flatwater, quiet and slow, and can take days. You drift, you hike side canyons, you get used to the scale of the place.
Then the Confluence, and the river doubles in volume. The whitewater that follows is concentrated into a relatively short stretch, and at spring flows it is genuinely large: fast, deep, cold and consequential. This is the reason the trip exists.
After the rapids the canyon opens toward Lake Powell, and the character shifts again to slower water and, depending on reservoir levels, a long final push to the take-out.
Cataract's rapids, including the Big Drops, have changed substantially over time as reservoir levels have fallen. Use a current printed river guide for rapid-by-rapid detail.
How Hard Is Cataract?
Class III at moderate flows, Class V at peak runoff. That range is not a hedge, it reflects genuinely different rivers. A Cataract trip in late May and one in September are not the same undertaking, and gear, crew and planning need to match the flow you'll actually meet.
International Scale ratings assume a range, not a fixed number. The same rapid at spring runoff and at September low water are different problems. Check current flows before you commit, and treat any rating, including ours, as a starting point rather than a promise.
During spring runoff, water temperature will incapacitate an unprotected swimmer far faster than most people expect, well before the rapids become the problem. Wetsuits or drysuits are standard early season for a reason. Judge the water temperature, not the air temperature.
When to Run Cataract
- Late May to June, peak runoff and the biggest water of the year. This is when Cataract earns its reputation, and when it demands the most.
- July to August, dropping flows, hot weather, more moderate rapids. Popular for guided trips.
- September to October, low, technical water, comfortable temperatures, few people.
Going With an Outfitter
Licensed outfitters hold their own permits, supply the boats and gear, and handle the shuttle. For most visitors this is the sensible way to run Cataract Canyon, and on the harder sections it is the only realistic way without significant whitewater experience.
Publishing soon: Trip comparison Moab outfitters What trips cost
Private BoatingRunning It Yourself
The permit is more obtainable than most people assume. Canyonlands uses rolling reservation windows on Recreation.gov, no lottery, no daily launch limits. Windows open 14 December for launches 14 April to 15 October, and 15 June for the rest of the year. Group size is capped at 40 and permits run up to 14 consecutive nights.
An overnight permit costs $36 plus $25 per person, all non-refundable. Full detail in our Cataract permit guide.
Because there's no lottery and no daily cap, permit availability is not what limits private Cataract trips. Experience, equipment and logistics are. Plan the take-out, plan the flatwater approach, and be honest about whether your group can handle big water a long way from help.
Cataract Canyon FAQ
How difficult is Cataract Canyon?
Class III to V depending on flow. At peak runoff it holds the largest rapids in Utah; by autumn it is substantially more moderate but more technical.
How long is a Cataract Canyon trip?
Typically three to six days, including the flatwater approach to the Confluence. Permits allow up to 14 consecutive nights.
Is there a lottery for Cataract Canyon?
No. This is the most persistent misconception about the permit. Canyonlands uses rolling reservation windows with no lottery and no daily launch limits.
Can beginners go to Cataract Canyon?
As a passenger on a guided trip, yes, outfitters run people with no experience regularly. Organising a private trip requires substantial big-water experience and self-sufficiency.
How many people can be on a private trip?
Forty, which is the Canyonlands private-trip group limit.
Sources
- NPS Canyonlands. River Permits (updated 16 October 2025)
- Recreation.gov. Canyonlands river permits
Last reviewed: July 2026. River conditions, access and regulations change. Confirm current details with the managing agency before your trip, and if something here is wrong, tell us.