How to Get the Most Out of Family Whitewater Rafting Utah

2022-04-25

Posted In: Rafting

Plan Your Moab, Utah River Rafting Adventure Today!

Whether you’re planning for a half-day or multi-day Moab river rafting trip, your family will enjoy the float even more if everyone is fully prepared. Here at Red River Adventures, we want your family to get the most out of your Moab rafting trip with us. Here are some things you should know as your family plans your next float trip with us.

Get Your Children Ready Ahead of Time

If you want to experience the best rafting in Moab, Utah, be sure to talk to your children ahead of time so that they have the right expectations. This is especially true if your children have never been rafting before. Chances are, they’ve seen whitewater rafting on a TV show or movie — and they might feel like it’s going to be a scary or dangerous experience.

This is why we have age limits on all of our Moab rafting trips, as well as different rafting packages. Our most popular rafting trip is Fisher Towers, which has a few Class III rapids during spring runoff and drops off to Class II later in summer. That tour requires that children are at least five years old and weigh at least 40 pounds. Very family friendly!

For older children, they might be ready for the Westwater Canyon full-day trip, which has some Class III and even Class IV rapids. Kids need to be at least 10 years of age for that tour, or 12 during higher water season.

Those are just a couple of examples. You can check out a lot of the additional trips that we have available on our Day Trips page.

Preparation is Key!

Once your raft leaves the shore, it’s not entirely impossible to turn around if you forgot something in your vehicle… but it’s not easy! It’s best to have a checklist prepared of everything you think (or know) you will need during your Moab rafting trip. Snacks, bottled water, sunscreen, a towel, and other items are relatively important, so make sure you have them before your raft takes off!

Listen to Your Guide

We’re really proud of our guides at Red River Adventures. They’re incredibly knowledgeable and highly skilled and trained. We hope that our guides’ for whitewater rafting will be instilled in you and your children after taking a trip with us!

And with that being said… listen to your guides. As they prep you for the trip, they will offer important safety advice and tips so that you can have the best and safest trip possible. We hope you’ll enjoy the experience so much that you’ll come back year after year.

Choose the Right Adventure for Your Family

Is your family highly experienced in the outdoors, or is this your first trip? We have a wide variety of tailored adventures to suit every family when it comes to whitewater rafting in Utah. Whether you’re ready for a 30-mile, three-day trip down the Dolores River or a gentle Stand-Up Paddle trip for a half-day on the Colorado, we have something for every family’s skill level and comfort level.

Enjoy Yourselves!

No matter what level of adventure you choose, prepare to make your Moab rafting adventure one that will create lasting memories for your family!

Contact Us to Book Your Next Family Adventure

Red River Adventures has been the premier family Moab river rafting experience since 2003. If your family is ready for their next floating adventure, call us at 877-259-4046 or book your next trip online.

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Questions? Call (877) 259-4046 or Email Us

The River People

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We strive to ensure that time spent with us is time that you will always look back on fondly. We want to leave you with a memories that bring a smile to your face no matter where you are, no matter what you are doing, and no matter how much time has passed. In addition to a deep reservoir of personal experience, our rafting guides are licensed by the state of Utah, have Wilderness First Responder and/or First Aid/CPR certifications, and are insured. Many guides also have swiftwater rescue training. Our climbing and canyoneering guides are AMGA-certified for the terrain in which they operate. Our skiing guides are certified for the terrain, and some are world-renowned for their experience. All of our guides are intimately acquainted with not only the river, rock and snow, but also with the incredible surroundings of the areas we guide.

Erick Esparza

April 23, 2022

What a great experience! We had the best day hiring a guide to take me and my daughter rock climbing and repelling. Going with a private guide was extra special, just the 2 of us got a chance to enjoy our day without being in a large group. We will be back! Thanks Red River for helping us make amazing memories in Moab!

Doug Hanson

Great raft guides! Cold raining day. They provided rain gear. Great scenery. Made new friends paddling against the headwind. Fun. A memory!

greta Franson

Such a fun adventure repelling from cliffs in the Utah dessert! Our guide Dan was so amazing and kept us safe and kept us calm in a few times of nerve wracking adrenaline moments! We will all have memories to last a lifetime!

Geoff Cowles

April 19, 2022

Amazing half day climbing in Moab with guide Aaron Livingston. He took us to the Wall Street area and setup a bunch of toprope climbs for my girls (10 & 12) and myself in the 5.7-5.9 range that each had distinct climbing (friction, layback crack, chimney). His route selection was challenging and fun. Aaron has significant personal and guiding climbing experience and knowledge of the Moab area and was rigorous with respect to safety. I would not hesitate to hire Aaron and Red River Adventures again. Can't wait to come back!

Greg Sidberry

April 18, 2022

Great coaching and training. Highly recommend for AMGA training and outdoor trips

Maddie Watton

April 15, 2022

Had a great evening experience on Ancient Art in Fisher towers. My guide Aaron was extremely knowledgeable, encouraging and friendly. He was able to coach me through tougher sections of the climb and was patient with me during my first multi pitch trip. He also took pictures and was genuinely interested in making sure I had a fun session. Even though my climbing day had to be delayed due to weather, red river called me immediately to reschedule and worked within my schedule to make it happen. Overall can’t recommend them enough!

Nicole Drury

April 11, 2022

We did the Bow and Arrow canyoneering trip yesterday with our family. We were a group of five people from age 9-75 and everyone had an amazing time. Aaron and Sharbo were incredible guides and this was the highlight of our trip.

Stephanie Dean

April 10, 2022

Fantastic route, great views, and an amazing day ascending rock. This is my second time climbing with Red River Adventures, and there is a consistent level of quality/safety that I appreciate.

Brenda Fay

March 28, 2022

Canyoneering on the Bow & Arrow trail was great. Our guide, Brian, shared info about the petroglyphs & plant life during the walk. Brian was very reassuring & positive when we went on the rappels. The rappels were a good mix of heights (ranging from 15 ft to 120ft). Brian made us, as beginners, very comfortable. It was a great family experience and we highly recommend.

Shannon Lincoln

March 25, 2022

I was a little worried my 8 year old would be too scared to complete the rappelling, but our guide was great, talked him through it and we all had a blast. Great memories made! Thanks Red River Adventures!

Kelli Cook

March 24, 2022

We thoroughly enjoyed our canyoneering adventure with Brian and Adam! They were knowledgeable and thoughtful and funny! We would highly recommend! Our family included our 12, 13, and 16 year olds and they loved it as well! Thank you!

Ryan Melvin

March 23, 2022

Our guides Adam and Bryan were a lot of fun and also very safety minded. They did a great job of making sure everyone was comfortable and gave lots of good info along the way. Would definitely recommend Red River for adventuring.

Kathi Ried

March 21, 2022

Super awesome canyoneering trip!! We took Bow and Arrow (?) and did 4 rappels! We had Chabro (not sure if that’s how it’s spelled) and Dan and they were both awesome! They were super helpful when there was some more climbing aspects to the trail. They were both super friendly and made us feel safe and secure the whole time. They helped to make the experience that much more awesome. I would highly recommend since it’s just such a cool experience! The scenery was particularly breathtaking and included some of the coolest views in Moab.

Leah Bates

March 20, 2022

We had the best time this morning!! Family of 5 with three kids ages 15 to 8. Guides were amazing and the route was perfect!! Gorgeous views!! Highly recommend!!!

David Karp

March 14, 2022

John is a great guide - have been out desert climbing and Wasatch touring with him and both experiences were great. Really took the time to explain things and get the newer members of our group excited and confident about the adventure

Julie King

March 7, 2022

My husband and I had an awesome time this weekend in the Wasatch for our AIARE 1 Course! John and Garth were both incredible instructors and I feel grateful to have spent a weekend touring and learning from some of the best. Highly recommend!

Patrick Plaggenborg

March 2, 2022

Carl saved our week. It hadn’t been properly snowing in Utah for a long long time, and judging from the snow in the resorts we were a bit worried about our backcountry touring trip. He knew exactly where to go. Where everything else was all tracked out, and there were even moguls in some backcountry areas. Not where we went. We skinned up an amazing peak around Big Cottonwood Canyon, through the trees, up a ridge for some of the most beautiful views, and then down into the back bowl where we actually found knee deep soft snow. Carl was an amazing guide, knew his ways up the mountain, taught us some new techniques along the way, and is just an incredible fun guy to hang out with. Highly recommended.

Joshua Clutter

March 1, 2022

John was incredibly knowledgeable and able to teach effectively. He had great resources to point us toward for continued self-learning and was engaging in the field.

Michael Mckinnon

February 25, 2022

The 3 day Avi close with John was excellent.

rob conklin

February 24, 2022

My wife and I went with Carl. Incredible backcountry experience!! Powder powder powder. Really helped us get some back country experience and educate us on a path forward for newbies to be able to split board independently. He is an incredible guide with many years experience and perhaps more importantly a really cool guy.

Rob Stinner

February 19, 2022

Spent the day ice climbing with Owner/AMGA Guide Carl who was fantastic! It was my first multi-pitch climb at the Great White Icicle and Carl made it safe, fun and informative. He explained each step as we moved up the ice wall and did everything I could ask of a guide. I would highly recommend Red River and Carl to anyone and look forward to seeing them again!

Bryan Vorbach

February 16, 2022

Had a great day backcountry skiing/snowboarding with our guide John in the Little Cottonwood Canyon area near Salt Lake City, Utah. Snow is a little hard right now, even in the backcountry, but still had a great time and were able to find a few soft spots for good turns. If you are looking for a guide to do a day of backcountry touring in the SLC area, I would definitely recommend Red River Adventures.

Walt Packer

February 9, 2022

Great experience. Good customer service.

Stuarts Williamson

February 4, 2022

Great people, learned a ton, had fun, perfect course length!

Evan Blanford

February 1, 2022

Red River adventures provided and excellent learning experience! Our guides, John and Garth, were a wealth of knowledge about the area, and did a fantastic job of communicating lessons to us. I would highly recommend this company (and these guides in particular) to anyone looking to further their education.

Mark Hoffman

January 25, 2022

John and Garth were great guides for the AIARE 1 course. Super professional and thoughtful with their answers to all questions.

James Pilkington

January 22, 2022

Today was the first time I did a backcountry tour. John provided me with an excellent education and I look forward to working with him on the future.

David Shackelford

January 14, 2022

I recently took an Avy 1 course taught by John and Chris. The course was phenomenal and I'd highly recommend it. John and Chris were professional and excellent instructors. More than that, they made the lessons come to life by making applications to our local environment and the realities of ski touring (e.g., its more than just avalanche safety to consider). They also just made the whole experience fun and engaging. One thing to mention- we had a 3:1 ratio of students to instructors due to some COVID cancellations. I'd be willing to bet other companies would have cancelled because of the economics of a group of our size, but Red River went on as planned with 2 lead instructors. I cannot recommend this company enough!

Spencer Gasiorowski

January 10, 2022

I took my AIARE 1 class through them and it was a great experience. Chris was super informative and responsive in the classroom and a master in the field. The weekend of field work reinforced the learning we had done prior and I feel more confident in my ability to navigate the backcountry.

Marc Champagne

January 9, 2022

John was a fantastic guide. Skied some really cool terrain. Highly recommended

Joshua Petit

December 21, 2021

excellent course and outstanding instructors. Both John and Hannah were on top of their game, were patient and gracious with information sharing, and made us feel confident in the field while building skills. Would highly recommend RRA for AIRE courses, and plan to use their services again in the future. Stay safe out there!

Joseph Roth

December 20, 2021

Very pleased and satisfied with my decision to go with Red River Adventures to do my AIARE 1 avalanche course. The guides were super knowledgeable and helpful. Always felt informed and assisted in hands on course learning.

Brenda Bf

December 16, 2021

Fun trip along with beautiful scenery. I broke my ankle the day before my rafting trip and was on crutches. Everyone was so helpful and accommodating to me.

Ted Winkworth

December 11, 2021

I loved my AIRIE Level 1 Course with John and Garth. They were really in tune with the needs of the group and gave us all an experience that challenged us to be curious about the potential dangers in the backcountry. I feel more confident and, frankly, excited to go out and keep learning about the snowpack now that I’ve taken this course.

Jason Smith

December 7, 2021

John was an awesome instructor and the course was very instructive and worthwhile.

howard silverman

December 6, 2021

I took the AIARE 1 online education and fieldwork class through Red River this weekend (3 days). This was done “as a refresher” as I took this previously 8 years ago and I spend about 10 days a year Backcountry Skiing. The instructors (John and Chris) did an excellent job, I learned new skills, exposed some weaknesses and explored some new terrain. Great experience!!!

David Gotsch

November 3, 2021

Awesome guides- very knowledgeable and safe. I had an incredible time!

Ashley Gardner

October 15, 2021

By far our most favorite experience of the trip was canyoneering with Adam. He was so personable and had a great wealth of knowledge about the area. He kept us entertained and most importantly safe. We will be back for sure!

Jesicah Rolapp

October 5, 2021

The guides and company were absolutely wonderful!!!! We came to Moab for a wedding and enjoyed river rafting and canyoneering - the guides were super helpful and knowledgeable. Will definitely use them again!

Todd Harris

September 30, 2021

Nathan and Dan were fantastic. I took my teenage son and his friend on a canyoneering trip, and Nathan and Dan put them at ease during the long repels. They were ready to do it again! This was the second time we used Red River and they do a great job communicating during booking and pre trip to get you ready. Also, their website is easy to navigate and very accurate. This outfitter is highly recommended!

Frini Shah

September 26, 2021

Had an amazing trek with my family including 3 boys ages 12-15 with Dan on the Bow and Arrow trail. Felt very safe in his experience and ability. Nice hike up followed by 4 amazing rappels down! Highly recommend!

Kate Mattern

September 24, 2021

The hike & rapelling was spectacular! It was an awesome way to experience a day and this beautiful terrain. Kenzie was awesome. She was a great leader and tons of fun!

Eric Failes

September 11, 2021

Had such a good time canyoneering with Red River Adventures! The guides were fun, professional, and had lots of interesting information about the area. Great time for all experience levels.

James Cooper

Had a great half day trip climbing with them. Hunter was a great guide, knew a ton about the area and where we were going to climb. It was a nice relaxed environment but he still made sure safety was on the top of the list. Looking Glass Rock is a bit outside of town so it was super quiet, and the rappel down from the top was amazing.

Lisa Nye

Great rafting trip! We loved the crew and the trip. Relaxing, fun and Colton, our guide was excellent! He was informative and a ball of fun!! So many fun memories made! Thank you!

Traci Reeves

September 10, 2021

Best tour guide- Adam made the experience that much better!

Hanyan Shen

September 9, 2021

We did bow and arrow canyoneering with red river. Adam is a great guide, on the trip you’ll see some dinosaur tracks, petroglyphs, four rappelling (one short, two medium and one long ~120 ft). Adam also introduced a lot of good food options in moab. If you go to quesadilla Mobile, tell Adam from red river sent you, you got 10% off (we tried it today, it’s legit).

Bob McHenry

September 8, 2021

Went canyoneering with Dan as our guide. There were 7 people including a young girl and teenage boy. Dan did a great job instructing us on how to repel and made sure we all felt safe. It started with a fairly strenuous 30 minute hike up the mesa and then 4 repels down. Great time. Thanks Dan.

Lisa Arnold

September 5, 2021

We had a great time on our canyoneering tour! Our tour guide, Dan, was excellent!

Gil S

A wonderful first time canyoneering trip!! Our guide Nate was the perfect combination of fun, encouraging, safe, funny and laid back confident. He helped us get over our fear and nerves and made it seem easy. Great for first time repelling and canyoneering. It was a bit intense at times, but in a good way. I'm afraid of heights and it was putting me out of my comfort zone, but that's a good thing. But you do need a degree of fitness. This should not be your first physical activity if you've been on the couch for the last two years... A very professional organization and I would do any of their trips in a heartbeat!