Moab, Utah -- Colorado River Rafting

I was apprehensive when Kevin suggested we try river rafting while we’re here in Moab.  Prior to today, my only experience rafting has been floating down the Salt River in an inner tube with a beer in hand.  But Kevin eventually wants to do a multi-day trip down the Grand Canyon, so we figured I might as well get my feet wet now.  And what better place than Moab?  It’s known for great rafting trips in the canyons along the mighty Colorado River.

I was leery of booking an all-day trip – what if it was too scary?  What if I fell out and was swept away by the current?  But I needn’t have worried.  Kevin found a tour that listed the minimum age as five.  If a five-year-old can do it and live to tell the tale, then I guess so could I.

Kevin chose Moab Adventure Center’s all-day trip.  From the start, our river guide Melaina reassured us that all the rapids we’d be going through were only Class I, due to the low water level on the Colorado.  (When the river is high, some of the rapids we went through today would be Class III).  So the rapids were fun, but nothing scary at all (note the happy smile on my face).

Our guide was great, pointing out all the interesting natural features and formations as we leisurely floated our way through wide and narrow canyon country.  Every once in a while, we’d approach a rapid and she’d yell “Paddle!” so we got in a decent upper body workout, too.  In our group, there actually was a five-year-old child so I definitely felt at ease.  (Although he did fall into the water at one point – not during a rapid, so he was fine.  Just a little shaken.) 

For lunch we docked at a restaurant along the river and had a delicious buffet with grilled burgers and hot dogs.  (Moab Adventure Center is the only raft tour that does this, all the others just get PB&J sandwiches on the beach.)

One of the other rafters in our group had taken several days to raft the Grand Canyon a few years ago.  As she described the trip it sounded more and more like something that would be thrilling but worth it.  After today, I feel like that will be one to add to our “future travel” list.