^TM

River Trips with a Twist

Specialty Rafting in Utah and Colorado

There’s more than epic levels of snowmelt filling the West’s rivers this season. Specialty rafting is hot and outfitters are focusing on affinity groups, skill trips, and unique local attractions.   

Adrift Adventures of Jensen, Utah is offering specialty rafting trips this summer with an eclectic range of themes.  What they all share is Adrift’s quarter-century of experience and expertise in family trips and environmental learning expeditions. 

Banjos, Bluegrass and Boats – Lodore River, launching August 26

Music lovers will swing to the beat of bluegrass music by night and rock ‘n’ roll through the rapids by day on Adrift’s five-day Banjos, Bluegrass and Boats trip.  This specialty trip is designed for persons who love bluegrass music, rafting exciting rapids at peak river flows, and beholding the sublime beauty of slickrock wilderness canyons. There is a special emphasis on providing opportunities for guests to listen to and learn about bluegrass music as it is played in natural alcoves, amphitheaters and narrow side canyons.  The package includes local airport pickup, shuttles, professional rafting guides and gear, a lively bluegrass band and tasty meals.

Writing and Rafting – Green River, launching August 18

Utah’s spectacular Slickrock canyon country is the setting for five days of literary instruction, inspiration and insight on Adrift’s Writing and Rafting trip.  Guests will discover new realms of creativity and personal fulfillment on a journey that combines outdoor adventure and outdoor writing. Against the stunning backdrop of the natural and historical features of Dinosaur National Park on the Colorado-Utah border, participants will practice the elements of creative non-fiction writing, including travel, nature, adventure, history, and science.

This course, offered in cooperation with the Extended Studies Office of Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado, will be taught by William R. Gray, a veteran writer, editor, and book publisher.  Will worked for National Geographic Society for more than three decades and traveled the world on various editorial assignments.

The first day includes writing instruction interspersed between inspirational visits to Fremont Indian rock art sites, a dinosaur fossil quarry and natural history museum, slickrock canyons and historic ranches.  Launch follows the next day on the Green River for a four-day rafting trip through exhilarating rapids, camping in wilderness canyons each night.  Each river day will feature lively instruction and critiques in the morning and around the campfire, and plentiful opportunities to hone writing skills. Preference is given to adults 18 and older, although children 15 and older accompanied by a parent or grandparent will be considered.

Paleo-Paddling – Green River, launching August 1

Children and their parents, or grandparents, get a taste of whitewater rafting, spend quality time together and explore  the canyon wilderness on Adrift’s popular Paleo Paddling trip. This popular run combines the fun of rafting intermediate rapids, hiking short trails used by Indians and outlaws, building giant sand forts, dipping in a waterfall, and keeping a lookout for eagles, peregrine falcons, bighorn sheep and river otters.

The pace is slower and special stops will be made in order to cater to the variable curiosity and energy levels of children age six and older. Adrift's owners have carefully designed this vacation based on river rafting experiences with their own family. Highlights of this four-day Green River expedition include visiting the world's largest in-situ dinosaur fossil bone collection in Dinosaur National Monument, digging for marine invertebrate fossils outside the park, and thrilling whitewater rapids.

The program is designed for families with little or no rafting experience. It is a complete package with licensed guides, boating and camping gear, all meals expertly prepared by guides, shuttles and even a fossil exploration kit for children. Adrift has a "Director of Fun and Learning" to ensure kids have many chances to learn about Lodore Canyon's wildlife and colorful history.

Additional information and pricing for all trips offered by Adrift Adventures is available at www.adrift.com or by calling toll free (800) 824-0150.

Edited by Erika Wright

Back to TravelLady Magazine