Moab Rafting FAQ
Planning a family rafting trip in Moab?
The Fisher Towers, or “Moab Daily” section of the Colorado River is one of the most iconic rafting landscapes in the region. It offers an excellent adventure for a wide range of visitors, including half-day and full-day family floats, with a mix of smooth water and occasional fun, splashy whitewater. These conditions make it especially beginner-friendly for guests interested in inflatable kayaks or tubing select sections of the river. Most importantly, it’s one of the best ways to cool off in the desert and enjoy a refreshing break from the summer heat.
Yes, we accept reservations. To secure your spot, please use our integrated online booking system powered by Peek Pro, which allows you to easily create, review, and manage your reservation. After booking, you will receive helpful trip details, river basics, and best-practice information to prepare for your experience.
OR
by calling Way to Moab directly. 435-210-8949 We are happy to discuss current river conditions, special requests, accessibility needs, or any other questions you may have. We make every reasonable effort to accommodate guest requests whenever possible.
Way to Moab is open daily from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM during our rafting season, April through October. From November through March, office hours may vary. For current off-season hours or help planning a rafting trip, rental, or river shuttle, call 435-210-8949 or contact us online.
We typically offer two guided rafting trips each day—a morning tour and a longer afternoon tour—so you can choose the experience that best fits your time in Moab. Our Morning Rafting Tour is approximately 4–4½ hours total, with about 2½–3 hours on the river. Our Afternoon Rafting Tour is approximately 4½–5 hours total, with about 3½–4 hours on the river and extra time for swimming, relaxing, or a short stop to explore the area’s history and geology when conditions allow. Private and custom trips can be adjusted to fit your group, and full-day options may also be available. Our goal is to stay flexible and help each group make the most of their time on the Colorado River.
Class is an International scale of river difficulty, a system that classifies whitewater rapids into six classes (or levels) based on intensity, risk, and technical challenge. – From easiest to hardest, the classes are Class I (easy, small waves, clear passage) through Class V (extremely difficult, violent, obstructed). There is even a Class VI (considered un-runnable).
Way to Moab rafts on a scenic and popular section on the Colorado River, featuring primarily Class II rapids but reaching Class III during the early season spring months. Higher water levels from spring snowmelt can make the rapids more exciting and push them into the Class III range. Expect a mix of fast-moving water and calm sections, making it great for families and first-timers.
March, April and May are great for hiking and off-roading. The snow is slowly melting and the river is on the rise. For some the river can be too cold and rapids can be a little too intense, For others – “this is why we raft!”
June, July and August are hot – and that makes the Colorado River one of the best places to be. Cool off with a rafting trip, take a swim, and enjoy the red rock scenery from the water. Early summer often brings higher flows and splashier rapids, while later summer typically offers warmer water and a relaxed, family-friendly river experience.
September and October typically have less traffic as the summer temps cool off. Mountain biking and Off-roading are super popular this time of year and we will typically stay open until the first week of November.
Absolutely-Yes! Personal flotation devices (PFDs) are included with every guided trip and rental, and they must be worn while on the river. We provide NRS Type V whitewater PFDs in adult and youth sizes. You’re welcome to bring your own PFD, but one of our guides will need to inspect it before launch to make sure it is U.S. Coast Guard approved and appropriate for whitewater use.
Quick dry shirt, pants, or shorts are highly suggested. Swimsuit under these is best, especially if you’d like to swim. Bringing a rain jacket or rain suit may be beneficial especially in cold water, early season rafting. Wearing long sleeves to provide sun protection is always a good idea. A good water shoe or “river sandal” like; Keen’s, Frog Togg’s, Astral’s or Teva’s sandals are all great for protecting your feet on shore but wearable while on the raft. For even more details check this out.
We have a small, but mighty fleet of rental rafts available:
- Aire Tributary Tomcat Tandem Kayak (inflatable kayaks which we can setup for solo or doubles)
- Rock and roller = 10 ft. Self-bailing Thundercloud RMR raft
- The family paddle cruiser = 14 ft. Self-bailing Peak 134 RMR raft
We also have RMR River Tubes available as a tag-a-long.
We include everything needed to make for a safe and fun day on the river: One PFD and one paddle per person plus one extra per raft, one large cooler, first aid kit, dry bag, air pump, and one throw bag.
Absolutely! Please know that we are not responsible for personal belongings. It is up to you to keep safe any personal electronics. We highly suggest an action camera like an Insta or GoPro have a float attached to it. We will provide dry bags to anyone in need of keeping these types of items safe/dry. Note that drybags help greatly but are not guaranteed 100% of the time.
Offroad: Outlaw Adventure Tours (Jeeps and Side by Sides)
Hiking & Biking: Arches and Canyonland National Parks, Dead Horse State Park, Corona Arch, Mill Creek North Fork, Hidden Valley, Sand Flats Rec Area, Rim Cyclery, Pedego Ebikes-Moab
Extreme fun: Tandem Base Moab, Rize Yoga, Rope Swing Moab
Places to eat (all are great, Joe’s favs are linked below):
Best Breakfast : Jailhouse Cafe
Best Coffee Shop: Love Muffin Cafe is tied with Meli’s Cone and Cup
Best Lunch: 98Center or Milt’s Stop and Eat
Best Dinner: Pasta Jays, Sabaku Sushi, Cactus Jacks, Sunset Grill, Spitfire Smokehouse + Taps, The Spoke on Center are all great eateries!
To experience Moab plan on at least 3 days and plan to be outdoors most of those days. Activities like river rafting, Jeeping, hiking and biking, canyoneering, site-seeing are all available in the local area.
Absolutely, our best recommendations are to start with rapids that are typically Class III or less (like our Morning or Afternoon Tour) then, if enjoyable AND responsible enough, try a longer trip. Full days or multi-days to Westwater, Desolation Canyon, Mexican Hat section of the San Juan or Cataract Canyon are all great next steps beyond a fun day on the Moab Daily section of the Colorado River.
We have a standard 15 passenger van and raft trailer to haul all needed gear and guests up river road to the put in and from the take out. Our tours can also include a unique ride in an open cab 30-person army truck nicknamed “Sarge” providing an open-air adventure to and from the river unlike any other outfitter, enhancing the beauty of “river road.”
Explore! Get out of your comfort zone. Find a WAY to make your journey to Moab’s Canyon Country. Get a guide to take you into the wild (on the river, on the slick rock, into the mountains.) Prepare yourself for the weather, travel with and drink plenty of water. Remember that you are in the desert… and at an elevation of about 5,000 ft. above sea level. And enjoy the amazing sites with a “Leave No Trace” mentality.
Places to Stay (all are great, favs are linked below):
Moab Rustic Inn, The Gonzo Inn, Hoodoo Moab, Apache Motel are all in the downtown and very walkable to and from our location. Just North of town (and on our route to the river is Holiday Inn Express.)
We make safety a top priority with experienced guides, well-maintained equipment, and clear pre-trip instruction. If you have enough river experience and are comfortable managing changing conditions, the Moab Daily can also be a great self-guided adventure. We can help with current river information, rentals, safety gear, and shuttle service.
As a business operating in Moab, we apply an 9.35% sales tax. Like other Moab outfitters, we also include additional fees that help cover insurances, required local permits, and the transaction expense of doing business. For many visitors, a trip to Moab is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience the natural beauty created by hundreds of millions of years of geological history. For others, it is an annual pilgrimage to reconnect with friends and enjoy recurring events. Either way, Moab is a world-renowned destination—whether you’re backpacking through or staying in a high-end hotel, there is something here for everyone to see and do. Come explore!
For our morning or afternoon tours feel free to bring your favorite snacks and drinks for the river. Each raft has a large cooler for guest use, and we keep water and light snacks available as needed. We also carry an Igloo water container so you can refill your bottle and stay hydrated throughout the trip. For full-day or custom tours, lunch can be arranged in advance based on your group’s preferences, dietary needs, and trip schedule.
Our rafts can comfortably hold eight adults plus our guide. We would really like to have a conversation on the phone if more than sixteen people will be all together. We’d be happy to flex pricing for that third raft (more than 16 people), we just need a little more time/planning to make it happen. Please call or email us for large group planning.
Heck yes! We love extra family members to enjoy the river too. Please call to confirm that one of the reserved guests is a pet. We’ll do everything possible to make sure they enjoy their time with us too.
We always plan to maintain our schedule as reserved by you. That said, we also want to make sure you experience the river safely. If weather is more than a short-lived rain storm we will work with you to rearrange our schedule and make your trip at a later date.
Yes. Guests may bring beverages, including alcoholic drinks, on their trip. We ask that alcohol be limited to a maximum of twelve standard-sized cans per cooler (or per full-size raft – 10’, 13’, or 16’). Our goal is to provide a fun, relaxed river experience—not a party environment. Consumption should remain moderate and respectful of other guests, guides, and river regulations. We provide drinking water (either bottled or from a large cooler) to help everyone stay hydrated throughout the trip.
If you have specific questions about what to bring, we are happy to discuss details prior to your launch so expectations are clear for everyone involved. Contact Us
