ON THE ROCKS Presents

Cataract Canyon

tarzan in the valley of the dolls, where modern meets ancient!

May 15 to May 20, 2027

Come join the Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists on a five-night, six-day one-hundred-mile float trip on the Colorado River through Cataract Canyon. This adventure will traverse the beautiful mesa and canyon country of Canyonlands National Park, including spectacular confluences with the Green River and the Dirty Devil River. Geological highlights include exposures of Utah’s Tar Sand Triangle, where a 12–16-billion-barrel oil accumulation in the Permian White Rim Sandstone has been biodegraded to viscous, nearly immobile tar. We hope to hike up to the breathtaking erosional pillars and hoodoos of the Doll’s House.  Near the beginning of our journey, we will compare and contrast fluvial, eolian, and marine strata of the Permian and then into the mid-Pennsylvanian marine and evaporite section in Cataract Canyon. In the lower reaches Cataract Canyon, where we descend into depositional systems associated with temporary base level at the top of Lake Powell, we hope to examine dissected and freshly exposed sequences and bed sets of modern terrigenous sediments. The strata along exposed along the Colorado River between Moab and Hite provide a veritable field encyclopedia of fracture types, and we will observe both monoclinal dip and structures related to underlying salt-cored-anticlines.  

She’s not called Cataract Canyon because the views are hazy, nor is she named for the ocular condition!  Cataract Canyon hosts dozens of named rapids, ranging from Class III to Class V.  Adrenalin-stimulating names like Little Niagara, Satan’s Gut, The Claw, and Capsize Rapid await attendees! In one thrilling stretch, the Colorado River drops 80ft in a short distance across Big Drop One, Two, and Three!

Like RMAG’s Yampa/Green River trip in 2026, we will be guided and outfitter by O.A.R.S. Fort Lewis College emeritus professors Gary Gianniny and Cynthia Dott will accompany our adventure to narrate and illuminate geological and ecological highlights! OARS is guaranteed to provide knowledgeable, safe, and entertaining boatmen, delicious meals catering to individuals’ dietary restrictions, and dry bags/tents/sleep kits for attendees who don’t wish to bring their own.  

We will launch Saturday morning, 15 May near Moab, UT, and take out of the river near Hite, at the top of Lake Powell, on Thursday afternoon, 20 May. Van transportation to the put-in and back to Moab from the take-out will be provided by OARS.  If a sufficient number of participants opt-in, an overflight from Hite back to Moab is available for an additional $350. OARS will collect payment and make these arrangements.  

Fares for members are $3300 per person, and non-member rate is $3500 per person.  A $1000 deposit is required to hold your spot, with full payment due by 1 January 2027.

Hotels:

Hotels at the start and end of the trip are not included in the price and are the responsibility of the participant to arrange. RMAG and OARs are not responsible for these arrangements.

Discounted accommodations can be procured for the night before launch (essential, as we will have a pre-launch orientation session Friday night, 14 May) and the night after we leave the river (20 May) at The Gonzo Inn (call directly at 435-259-2515) - mention that you’re floating with OARS when making tour reservations to procure the discounted rate.

Cost

$3,300 Members

$3,500 Non-Members (not a member? Join Today)

The member price includes:

• All meals, snacks, camping equipment while on the river.
• Transportation to the launch from Vernal and back from the pull out
• Miscellaneous – tips for the boat men, guidebooks, and booking fee

Deposit of $1000 is due upfront to hold the spot, the remaining $2,300/$2,500 is due by January 1, 2027, we can arrange an additional payment plan as necessary.

If you need to withdraw we will work with you to fill your spot so that you can get your money back but without substitution you could lose the entire amount, so travel insurance is recommended.