Utah Kayaking & Arches Hiking
DAYS
Intensity
$1699
Get ready, this is a good one! We designed an itinerary to kayak through some of the most spectacular landscapes on Earth, then hike among the world’s most stunning natural rock arches. We kept the intensity mild, to makes the trip accessible to a lot of people. Yet, we travel deep into the backcountry for an adventure that feels way off the beaten path.
If you’ve dreamed of a big western river trip, but don’t want the giant whitewater, this adventure is for you. If you feel the calling to explore epic red rock landscapes, this trip has your name on it.
This September, join me for an adventure of a lifetime. Register today!
Matt Stan, Bad Adventures founder
Is this for me?
We keep it to no more than 10 amazing travelers plus a guide or two.
We spend the first three nights of the trip backcountry camping along the Green River. The final two nights of the trip are spent at our comfy base camp in the heart of Arches National Park. Dome-style backpacking tents and self-inflating camping mattresses are provided.
Most of our meals are cooked together at camp. Your guides have prepared scrumptious recipes, will provision the trip, and lead meal preparations. This is gonna be yummy!
We paddle single-person sit-on-top touring kayaks for the first four days of the trip. The physical activity is mild, but the paddling is sustained for a few hours each day. All kayaking gear is provided!
On our final two days, we explore Arches National Park. The hiking intensity is mild. The scenery is breathtaking.
Traveling Solo?
This trip works well for couples, friends, and solo travelers. The adventures we plan seem to attract like-minded people. Odds are, you'll enjoy the company of your fellow travelers.
There’s no singles supplement fee!
Here's the plan...
Off We Go!
Your guides can pick you up from either a hotel near Grand Junction Regional Airport between 6:45 and 7:15 AM or from Moab’s Canyonlands Field Airport at about 9:15 AM (after the morning fight from Denver arrives).
Adventure awaits! The kayaking portion of our trip begins today. We organize our personal gear and head to the put-in in the town of Green River, UT. Your guides lead an expedition kayaking skills workshop to bring everyone up to speed. Then we begin our 4-day kayaking trip!
We paddle at a mild pace for about 3.5 hours to our first camp.
Trin-Alcove Bend
Our first backcountry breakfast sets the bar high! As our second day unfolds, we begin to fall into the routine of georgeous canyon paddling, delicious eating, and starry night camping.
Our camp tonight at Trin-Alcove Bend is the most spectacular of the trip.
Enter the Labyrinth
Red sandstone cliff walls loom large us as we paddle into the heart of Labyrinth Canyon. Our kayaks are accompanied by great blue herons wading in the water. Each bend in the river brings more stunning canyon views.
Bowknot Bend Saddle
Our last morning on the river features an epic side-hike to view the jaw-dropping saddle of Bowknot Bend. Here, the river meanders more than 7 miles, before doubling back on itself. We ascend to the saddle that separates the upstream and downstream sections by only a couple hundred yards. It’s an amazing view!
After a final few miles of paddling, we reach our takeout. We load gear, then head to the town of Moab for optional showers, free time, and dinner at a restaurant.
In the evening, we drive into Arches National Park to set up our comfortable basecamp for the final two nights of the trip.
Devils Garden Hiking
After a hearty breakfast, we leave camp on foot for a 7.5-mile hike, past desert landscapes and incredible natural sandstone arches. We tackle the National Park’s Primitive Loop trail, then stand in awe of the longest arch in North America.
We return to camp for our final dinner feast together. That sense of dread that the trip is almost over beings to set in.
Delicate Arch at Sunrise
On our last day, we rise early for a sunrise hike to Delicate Arch, the breathtaking, free-standing sandstone formation that adorns “Welcome to Utah” signs and state license plates. What a way to bring the trip to a close!
We enjoy a little more free time in Moab and a final group lunch at a restaurant in town.
You have three choices for leaving the trip: your guides can drop you off at a hotel in the town of Moab between 2:15 and 3:00 PM, at Grand Junction Regional Airport by 4:40 PM (in time for the 6:40 PM flight to Salt Lake City), or at a hotel near Grand Junction Regional Airport between 4:30 and 5:00 PM.
What's Included?
Fully guided paddling trip on a flatwater river.
We stay at beautiful sites! Tents and camping mattresses are included.
We'll bring a single-person 16-foot sit-on-top touring kayak, paddle, lifejacket, dry bags, and more for you to use!
Friendly, accommodating, fully credentialed, and always professional.
We’re talking about meticulously planned yummy provisions.
Sit back and relax! We've got the red tape covered.
Ride in style in a comfortable Ford Transit passenger van.
Medical kit, satellite phone, navigation supplies, and more.
Your flights or other transportation to and from the trip, your accommodations the night before and the night after the trip, optional shower on day 4, dinner on day 4, lunch on day 6, your personal clothing and gear on the packing list, travel insurance, and guide gratuity.
Important Details & FAQ
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You don’t need to be a professional athlete to take part in this trip! However, you do need at least a little base level of fitness. If you lead an active life or are willing to spend a couple of hours per week preparing for the adventure, it’s likely you’re up to it!
We hike up to 8 miles per day over rugged terrain with 8 to 12-pound daypacks.
Still have questions about whether this trip is appropriate for you? Don’t hesitate to contact us!
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Our day hikes on the trip are 3 to 8 miles long with less than 1,000-feet of elevation gain. We travel at a mild to moderate pace and promise to not leave you behind!
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We kayak 10 to 15 miles per day at a mild to moderate pace. We stay together as a group and won’t leave you behind!
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It’s no problem if this is your first kayaking trip! Our guides have decades of experience and will provide paddling instruction, beginning with the absolute basics.
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You have some options! You'll be able to join us on the first morning via your choice of:
- Pickup by Bad Adventures from Moab's Canyonlands Field airport after United Airlines flight UA 5176 arrives from Denver (scheduled for 9:04 AM) (Recommended)
- Pickup by Bad Adventures from one of the following hotels near Grand Junction Regional Airport between 6:45 and 7:15 AM:
- Making your own way to the Moab area
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You bet. You’ll need to park at Moab’s Canyonlands Field Airport during the adventure. There’s a fee of $5 per night for parking, payable via cash or check to Grand County using a dropbox. Be sure to display the tab from your payment envelope on your windshield.
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Weather varies, but we expect daytime highs in the high 70's to low 80's and nighttime lows in the 40's.
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Be sure to review the packing list carefully and follow it closely! The higher-value items you need to bring include a sleeping bag, a pair of hiking shoes, a pair of sport sandals or water shoes, and a rain jacket.
Try to avoid overpacking. Bringing too much stuff will just slow you down!
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No problem. Just please let us know if you’re packing anything that’s not on the packing list, so we can load for the trip accordingly.
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You may! Please start by contacting us with a description of your boat. Large touring kayaks, tripping canoes, and sea kayaks are all appropriate for the trip. Recreational kayaks lack the carrying capacity required for this adventure.
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We tent camp all 5 nights of the trip. Our first 3 are spent in the backcountry on beaches along the Green River. We set up a comfortable basecamp in the heart of Arches National Park for our final 2 nights.
Dome-style backpacking tents and self-inflating camping mattresses are provided. (You may also bring your own.)
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Yep. Optional showers are available at a commercial campground for $10 on day 4 after we get off the river.
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We can accommodate common food allergies, sensitivities, and dietary requirements. If you have specific questions, please contact us. A food preferences survey will be emailed in advance of the trip and will inform how we arrange provisions.
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Not really. The Labyrinth Canyon section of the Green River is flatwater. There’s one set of class I+ to class II riffles which we splash though.
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Nah. That’s pretty unlikely. This trip is solo traveler friendly!
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You have three choices:
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You may book a return flight itinerary that begins by departing Grand Junction Regional Airport for Salt Lake City on Delta Flight 4302 (departs Grand Junction at 6:40 PM) on the last day of the adventure. Your guides will drop you off at the airport by 4:40 PM. Connections to major US airports are available from Salt Lake City. Please note that we won't get to Grand Junction in time for you to make any flight earlier than the 6:40 PM departure.
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Your guides can also drop you off at any hotel within the town of Moab between 2:15 and 3:00 PM on the last day. You can arrange a shuttle to Moab Canyonlands Field airport via either your hotel or an authorized shuttle service if you choose to fly out the day after the trip ends. Please note, the guides cannot drop you off at hotels in Green River, Monticello, or Castle Valley.
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You may book a room at a hotel near Grand Junction Regional Airport the night the trip ends. The guides can drop you off between 4:30 and 5:00 PM. Please note, the guides are not able to get you to Grand Junction in time for flights departing earlier than 6:40 PM on the last day of the trip. We suggest any of these seven hotels:
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You can reserve your spot today by paying a $299 deposit. The balance is due 60 days before the trip. Be sure to read the complete Trip and Course Policies.
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We recommend taking out a travel insurance policy. Bad Adventures reserves the right to cancel trips and a travel insurance policy keeps you protected. See the Travel Insurance Page for more information.
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There's no cancellation fee if you decide to cancel 90 days or more before the trip and we'll even refund your deposit! However, if you cancel less than 90-days before the trip, your deposit is nonrefundable. Additionally, there are significant cancellation fees if you decide to cancel your registration 59 days or less before the trip. Be sure to read the complete Trip and Course Policies.
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We only advertise trips we plan to operate. Since our founding in 2013, Bad Adventures has never canceled a multi-day trip. However, we must reserve the right to do so. Be sure to review our Trip and Course Policies and purchase travel insurance.
Real People.
Real Reviews.
I have many adventuring experiences with Matt Stan over the years. Matt has created a team of knowledgeable and...
Posted by Megan Lundy on Saturday, June 29, 2019
Meticulously planned adventures. World class guides. Friendly people. Delicious food. Spectacular sights. Epic experiences. I could go on....
Posted by Chris Nadovich on Sunday, June 16, 2019
Don't let the pun fool you. These are FANTASTIC ADVENTURES. The guides are some of nicest people you will ever meet. ...
Posted by Steve Hnath on Saturday, June 22, 2019
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