Week Long Guided Overnight Canoe Trips on The Green River Utah

Embark on a transformative journey with our week long guided overnight canoe trips on the Green River in Utah. Immerse yourself in the breathtaking beauty of Labyrinth Canyon, camp under star-filled skies, and get lost in the serene beauty of the canyon. Our canoe trips offer a unique blend of tranquility and excitement. Join us and let the Green River’s magic captivate your soul! 

JOIN OUR GREEN RIVER RETREATS

Our Themed Canoe Camping Trips

For years, The River’s Path has created themed river canoe retreats to bring people together for a purpose. Each canoe trip is combined with a particular method of expression, connection, and transformation. We have coordinated our weeklong flatwater trips with renowned artists in the fields of poetry, music, writing, and nature connection experts to offer rites of passage and craft-focused journeys for attendees from around the world. Past collaborators have included authors Craig Childs and David Abram, musicians MaMuse and Fia, and poets John Roedel, and Anne Haven McDonnell. They have guided hundreds of participants through Labyrinth Canyon on the Green River.

Many of our participants combine their canoeing journey with The River’s Path with a stay in Moab. They explore Arches and Canyonlands National Parks. They extend their adventures to see what Southwest Utah has to offer.

If the idea of experiencing a profound personal transformation is tugging away at your consciousness, then we invite you to explore one of our week long guided overnight canoe trips down the Green River. We provide all the necessary gear and guidance.

About The Green River

About The Green River

Green River in Utah originates in Wyoming’s Wind River Range near Pinedale. It flows south through Wyoming and into Dinosaur National Monument in the northwest corner of Colorado. Then, it flows generally south until it meets the Colorado River 52 miles downstream of the end of  Labyrinth Canyon in Canyonlands National Park. 

As Utah’s primary waterway, the Green River drops approximately 3,000 feet from its highest point at Flaming Gorge Reservoir to its lowest in the Uinta Basin. By the time it meets the Colorado River, it has covered over 450 miles through Utah.

The River’s Path Upcoming Week Long Overnight Canoe Trips

Our canoeing journeys are different than anything you will experience in the canyonlands of Utah. Our pace is slower so you can have the space to immerse yourself in the silence of the canyon. You will feel yourself become a part of the canyon. The canyon will become a part of you, too! This only happens when you slow down enough to fall in love with the sandstone walls. You will be mesmerized by the play of sunshine on the water. 

Everyone we partner with for our canoe retreats has their own way of touching our lives. 

It’s a natural fit to bring writing, music, meditation, and yoga into this canyon. You will have a magical and transformational experience that will impact your life.

September 28 – October 5, 2024

May 11-18, 2025

September 28 – October 5, 2025

Why Canoe in Labyrinth Canyon

Why Canoe in Labyrinth Canyon

Our goal is to offer you a life-changing experience. We do this by connecting with nature, on the water, on the land, and through community. Through this journey, we connect with each other and become family. Most importantly, we strive to help you connect with yourself.

Scenic Beauty and Adventure

Labyrinth Canyon is a gentle, winding journey on a calm river in a canyon. Its walls are up to 1500 feet high! The skies are some of the darkest in the country. You will see more stars here than almost anywhere in the world!

Unique Historical and Geological Wonders

Labyrinth Canyon canoe trips allow you to journey through time. As you paddle the Green River, you will discover ancient petroglyphs, fascinating geological formations, and historic sites along the riverbanks. It is rich in history so you can look forward to a unique experience. Plus, you will learn about the cultures that have inhabited this land for the last 5,000 years. Canoeing through this canyon is an adventure and a journey into the past.

Eco-Friendly and Sustainable Adventures

Canoeing the Green River in Utah with us means having an eco-friendly adventure that prioritizes the preservation of Labyrinth Canyon’s pristine environment. The River’s Path canoe trips emphasize sustainable practices. We use environmentally friendly camping practices and promote Leave No Trace principles. You can enjoy canoeing through Labyrinth Canyon knowing that your adventure supports the conservation of this beautiful region.

About Labyrinth Canyon on the Green River

Labyrinth Canyon is a hidden gem famous for its scenic beauty and remote wilderness setting. The canyon features towering red rock cliffs, abundant wildlife, and tranquil stretches of calm water.  From our put in at Ruby Ranch, the canyon stretches for 45 river miles to Mineral Bottom.

The canyon is aptly named for its intricate maze-like appearance. It has narrow passages and towering cliffs that rise up to 1,500 feet above the river. It offers a mesmerizing journey through a landscape rich in natural beauty and cultural history. 

Labyrinth Canyon is the unceded territory of the Ute, Timpanogos, Navajo, and Pueblo nations. This area has been inhabited for over 5,000 years. You will certainly see signs of their life here. Rock art and ancient granaries are hidden all over this canyon. Many of the locations are still undiscovered. As you paddle through the calm waters of the Green River, you’ll be surrounded by the striking contrast of red rock formations against the blue sky. You will become part of the human history of this canyon that spans thousands of years.

Labyrinth Canyon is part of the Labyrinth Canyon Wilderness Area managed by the Bureau of Land Management. This means the canyon is preserved for recreational use and ecological conservation. It is a popular destination for rafting, kayaking, canoeing, hiking, and camping. Its gentle flow is perfect for a relaxing float trip. The journey through the canyon typically takes three to five days. With our canoe retreats, we spend 6-8 days in the canyon. This gives plenty of time to explore side canyons, swim in the river, and connect even more deeply with the canyon.

The area’s seclusion and minimal human impact make it a haven for wildlife. Here, you’ll see bighorn sheep and peregrine falcons. If we are lucky, river otters, too! Its stunning scenery, historical significance, and tranquil atmosphere make it the perfect destination for anyone seeking to immerse themselves in the natural wonders of Southeast Utah.

About Labyrinth Canyon on the Green River
Why Choose The Rivers Path for Overnight Canoe Trips

Why Choose The River’s Path for Overnight Canoe Trips?

At The River’s Path, we combine adventure and comfort to create a transformational overnight canoeing experience. Canoe Green River through the stunning Labyrinth Canyon Moab Utah with one of our expertly guided trips. 

Expert Guides

Our Green River Utah outfitters are expert paddlers, naturalists, and guides. Our team has a deep passion for the rivers in Moab, Utah. We will ensure your safety and enrich your journey with fascinating insights about the local ecosystem, geology, and history. Count on us for an educational, transformational, and enjoyable overnight canoe trip. 

Variety of Activities

Beyond canoeing on the Green River, we will hike into side canyons, swim in the river, and sing around campfires. We will follow animal tracks, and watch birds through our binoculars. Also, you may just eat better here than you do at home!

Custom Trips

Are you an outdoor enthusiast eager to spend some time on the river while you are in Moab? Are you passionate about birdwatching? Do you want to see peregrine falcons and Western screech owls while you are in Utah? Is your family looking for a transformational bonding experience? Do you and your group of friends want to bring your guitars and hear the echo of your voices on the canyon walls? At River’s Path, we can create a custom itinerary based on your interests and skill level. Reach out to us and we will craft the perfect canoeing adventure for you!

TRANSFORMATIONAL EXPERIENCES

What our happy paddlers say

The 2024 Desert Writing Retreat with Craig Childs was incredible. It was well planned and executed. The group of people, both staff and participants, could not have been better.

–Nancy Clifton Ballard

I did a week-long trip down the Green River last year and it was a magical experience. It was in the fall, so the weather was perfect (except for the last day). The water was calm, the scenery was mesmerizing, the people were wonderful. The food and activities were outstanding. It was such a great escape from the world, no cell service, no distractions. Sleeping under the stars, bonding with strangers, it was an experience I will never forget and will always cherish. Note: You should be fairly physically fit as this can be a demanding experience, everyone participates in camp set-up and tear-down, but it makes the sleep that much more sound.

-Mike Shubic (Mike’s Road Trip)

Lauren and her talented, wonderful crew brought expertise, knowledge, and passion to this incredible trip. It was indeed a profound river experience, conducted in an organized, safe, and utterly enjoyable manner. The food was excellent, the company and camaraderie stellar, the experience unforgettable.

-Sarah Langwell

How to Join Our Green River Utah Overnight Canoe Trips?

Embark on an unforgettable adventure with our Green River Utah overnight canoe trips! Here’s our step-by-step guide so you can experience the beauty of the river through Labyrinth Canyon with The River’s Path.

  • Choose Your Green River Canoe Trip. Book your Utah River retreat here. Select the themed canoe camping trip you want to join in.
  • Complete Your Online Booking. Once you choose your Green River retreat, select the date and fill out our booking form with your details and payment. Typically, our trips have a minimum of 8 people and a maximum of 15. We do sometimes have smaller and bigger groups. Custom trips can be for any number of people from one or two up to a group of 20! Reach out to us at 303-859-7174 if you are looking to book within 2 weeks of the activity.
  • Receive Confirmation. We will send you an email to confirm your booking with us. All the trip details are included in our confirmation email. Be sure to read it thoroughly.
  • Join the Adventure. On the first day of your trip, we will meet you at Moab Giants Dinosaur Museum north of Moab, usually at 1:30 PM. We usually camp at the Ruby Ranch’s put-in on the first night of the journey. Anticipate an amazing river canoeing experience on the Green River in Utah.
How to Join Our Green River Utah Overnight Canoe Trips

What to Expect — Overnight Canoe Trip on The Green River

While the exact itinerary will change based on the theme of the trip, some things are common for all trips down through Labyrinth Canyon.

We’ll canoe a total of 45 miles down the Green River between the steep canyon walls of Labyrinth Canyon in Utah. The trip begins at Ruby Ranch (located just south of I-70) to Mineral Bottom (located near Canyonlands National Park). Four to five days of paddling will be interspersed with layovers at wilderness campsites along the canyon. Paddle days are usually 7-15 miles each or about 3-5 hours of gentle paddling. The river’s current is slow and there are no rapids. 

Each night, we will camp on sandy beaches or in groves of oak and cottonwood. After we work together to unload the canoes and set up camp, you will have time to swim, wander, nap, and journal before we prepare dinner. We will have several layover days built into the journey. During layovers, we can explore more of the side canyons. We can also go deeper into the offerings our facilitators have prepared for us.

The River’s Path has partnered with Outward Travel to help you plan and book all the parts of your trip before and after your canoe adventure. They can help you book flights and find a place to stay. They can assist you as well in purchasing the right travel insurance and other things to see and do around Moab or the American Southwest. We recommend working with them. They care about ensuring you have a meaningful experience just as much as we do. They will help you with all the logistics so you don’t have to worry about the details. Please reach out to Jeof for more information at 720-828-7665 or go@outward.travel.

If you’d like to arrange your own travel, please plan to fly into Canyonlands Field Airport in Moab, Utah (the airport code is CNY). Connections are available from Denver and Salt Lake City a few times daily. The River’s Path highly recommends you arrive at least one day before the trip begins. Then, fly home at least one day after the trip ends with a stay in Moab before and after the trip.

You will receive a detailed email once you book your trip with The River’s Path.

The deposit and cost of The River’s Path canoe adventures are non-refundable. We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance. Your travel insurance can cover non-refundable travel costs in case you fall ill, have severe travel delays or problems, if the airlines lose your luggage, and other problems that can arise. Some travel insurance policies even allow you to cancel for any reason, or if you are forced to cancel due to work requirements.

The River’s Path will provide all of your river gear (canoe, canoe seat, life jacket, & paddle). We also provide dry bags for your belongings. Plus, food and drinks for the trip, kitchen gear for food preparation, and coolers to keep everything cold. 

We ask that participants bring personal items. Please refer to our Personal Packing List.

Hopefully, you have arranged travel to the hotel. Please be sure to contact our travel partner, Outward Travel, to help you make these arrangements. You may reach them out at 720-828-7665 or go@outward.travel. We will send out a group text so that all the participants can reach each other and coordinate carpooling. This will also enable meeting up for lunch or dinner near the hotel or just arranging brief introductions. We have found that some of our participants like to get to know each other before embarking on the river.

The River’s Path guided canoe trips take place deep in the wilderness without electricity or cellular service. In case of an emergency, a rescue boat or helicopter will evacuate the participants. If you need to have medical equipment that uses electricity or need to stay in contact with someone at home, please inform our team. Your canoe guides will have a texting device available. We can make a plan so you can use your medical device. Please contact Lauren Bond at 303-859-7174 or lauren@theriverspath.org to discuss your special needs.

Temperature changes quickly and can be unexpected. So it is important to bring items from the packing list in case of any drastic changes. Rain and thunderstorms can pop up at any point. Temperatures for each month vary. It ranges from the high 60s and low 30s for March to the high 100s and lows in the 70s for August. Please see the NOAA graph for Labyrinth Canyon’s monthly weather averages.

The section of the Green River we will be on is considered a Class I river with no rapids. This is a flat water trip.

Each canoe accommodates two people. The canoe will have two Crazy Creek camp chairs with backrests. Canoes will carry all of the personal gear and camp supplies.

The River’s Path will supply 2 dry bags, one large and one small, to keep personal gear. For the group gear, we will provide canoes, paddles, life jackets, canoe seat-backs, camp chairs, and a full kitchen setup. Our supplies include food for the entire trip, a shade canopy, and a river toilet with a privacy shelter. 

Please note that you will need to bring your own personal camp gear. This includes a tent, tarps, a sleeping bag, and anything else that you need for the canoe trip. However, we highly recommend that you approach this with a minimalist mentality. Everything you bring, along with your canoe partner, must fit on your canoe. Kindly refer to our packing list. We have a few tents, sleeping bags, and pads available for rent. Let us know if you need to borrow some gear!

While many adventurists kayak the Green River, the amount of gear, supplies, and coolers of fresh food on our journey requires canoes. We prefer canoes anyway.

The River’s Path will provide food and drinks for all meals and snacks. We can accommodate most diets including vegetarian, vegan, paleo, gluten-free, and dairy-free. The water is too muddy for most portable water filtration devices. We will pack all drinking water. 

If you have other needs or concerns, contact the canoe camping guide, Lauren Bond at 303-859-7174 or lauren@theriverspath.org.

It’s important to note that this is a collaborative experience. Our goal is to form a strong community and have an even more powerful, life-changing, and memorable experience. Hence, all the participants must participate and share in camp responsibilities. Everyone helps with setting up and taking down camp. We will unload and load canoes together. Moreover, we cook our meals and clean up together. 

Please note also that each individual must bring their own tent, sleeping bag, pad, and other items on the packing list. Those who will use a hammock must provide an appropriate setup for that. If you are extremely sensitive to bug bites, consider packing long-sleeved shirts and pants. Bring some bug lotion and head netting as well. We run our trips in the spring and fall to minimize the presence of mosquitoes. However, there is always the possibility that we will encounter a few!

During your trip through the Labyrinth Canyon, you will find a slow meandering river with steep colorful canyon walls. Plus, you will have a chance to explore amazing side canyons and maybe evidence of ancient civilizations. You will enjoy watching the stunning sunsets and stargazing. The hushed serenity will help you relax and fall in love with this place. No matter where you look, you will indulge your eyes with unforgettable and awe-inspiring colors. You will experience all these while you recharge your soul with the sounds of nature.

You will see abundant wildlife here. Commonly seen animals are birds like golden eagles, peregrine falcons, canyon wrens, and screech owls. There are also small animals like beavers and larger ones such as desert bighorn sheep and deer.

Each paddling day will consist of 3-5 hours of paddling, covering 7-15 miles per day. The entire trip will consist of 4 or 5 days of canoeing with layover days in between.

We will take breaks during each paddling day to stretch our legs, refill water, eat snacks, and swim. Bio breaks are at your discretion. There will be no formal facilities along the way. 

You can pack your lunch in the morning. Eat your snacks at your leisure. We will have a snack barrel available anytime. 

Camping. We will arrive at each campsite in the afternoon. It is a community effort to unload the canoes and set up camp. This includes the kitchen and personal gear (tents, sleeping bags, etc).

Layover days. We will spend multiple nights at some locations. This gives ample time to explore, meditate, write, swim, participate in group activities, and more.

Meals. Volunteers for dinner preparation will assist the guides. We will begin setting up around 5:30 PM. When the dinner is ready, we will eat as a group. Additional volunteers will help clean up after each meal.

Evening. Evenings will generally consist of a campfire, conversation, and program activities at the facilitator’s discretion with input from the group. Activities will be done by 9 PM. Bedtime can be any time after that.

Morning. Wakeup is generally between 6:00 AM. and 7:00 AM. Once again, volunteers will prepare for breakfast, make coffee, and provide hot water for tea. Other volunteers will prepare the lunch for the group.

On layover days, the day is relaxed. Participants can swim, hike, meditate, chat, and write. You can do whatever else you want to connect with your purpose.

On canoe days, we will collectively pack up camp and prepare lunches. We will also load the canoes and head out after breakfast.

We typically meet at the Moab Giants Museum parking lot just north of Moab at 1:30 PM on day one of the trip. Here, we will move all gear to dry bags and pack the shuttle van to carpool to our put-in (Ruby Ranch). We set up our camp for most of the trips we do at Ruby Ranch. On the next day, we usually launch on the Green River. 

Canoe Pairing. We will pair up each morning of the journey. Switching throughout the trip is highly encouraged. 

Loading the Canoe. We will make packing assignments for the trip. 2 people are in charge of a canoe regardless of which canoe they travel in.

Then, on the last day of the trip, our goal is to get to the takeout point at Mineral Bottom between 12 PM and 1:30 PM. We will work together to load gear into the trailer and van. We aim to return to your vehicles at the Moab Giants parking lot by 4:30 PM on the last day of the trip. Be aware this is subject to change depending on the trip. So don’t plan to fly out of Canyonlands Field Airport before 7 PM on the last day of the trip. Sometimes, our return gets delayed due to bad weather. We generally advise our participants that the earliest they can get to the airport is 5:30 PM. Please plan your travel accordingly. The best option is to stay in Moab and leave the day after the trip ends!

We welcome people of all skill levels and all walks of life. Even if you have never canoed, camped, or been in the wilderness before. We will teach you everything you need to know. All of our Labyrinth Canyon canoe trips are appropriate for ages 18 to 80+. If you would like to bring your minor child, contact Lauren at lauren@theriverspath.org to find out if it’s appropriate for the specific trip. 

Here are a few things to think about when considering week-long wilderness overnight canoe trips:

  • You must be comfortable living in a tent.
  • You must be ready for an adventure without electricity, showers, or wifi.
  • You must be okay with using primitive camp latrines.
  • You must be able to get in and out of the canoe unassisted.
  • You must be able to walk up and down hills and on uneven ground unassisted.
  • You must be able to get on and off the ground unassisted.
  • You must be able to carry your own gear.
  • You must be able to set up and take down your own tent. Practice before you come!
  • You must be willing to assist in carrying camp gear, setup and takedown of camp, meal preparations, and cleanup.

We will set up a Facebook Group or WhatsApp group for each trip. This will help our participants keep in touch with each other. 

We also invite you to follow the facilitators on social media. Stay in touch with them for future developments, works, and trips that you might be interested in. 

Past Trips

May 4-11, 2024

April 28-May 4, 2024

April 5-12, 2024

October 21-28, 2023

October 7-14, 2023

September 10-17, 2023

May 15-20, 2023

September 18th – 26th, 2021

September 12th – 19, 2022

Still Have Guided Canoe Trip Questions?

Call 303-859-7174

Or Email Us