Green River: Split Mountain Canyon

Within the western borders of the Dinosaur National Monument is a beautiful stretch of the Green River called Split Mountain Canyon. A handful of whitewater rapids give you an adrenaline boost between the calm stretches that allow you to enjoy the stunning scenery. The 7-mile trip can go a bit quickly, so make sure to break it up by stopping at one of the beaches along the way, and enjoy your lunch in the quiet canyons. The cliffs of the river valley have several sections that are just incredible and that resemble southern Utah. You may even see bighorn sheep along this float if you keep your eyes peeled. Several distinct geological sections greet you along the way with their beautiful layered sandstone that even occasionally swirls upward like giant waves of stone.

There are four named stretches of whitewater: Moonshine, SOB, Schoolboy, and Inglesby Rapids. Moonshine is the Class III, and the rest are Class I or Class II. Moonshine starts right after the large white sand beach on the right just a short ways into the tour. To float the Split Mountain Canyon section, launch your vessel from the Rainbow Park Campground and exit at the Split Mountain Campground, which is the next boat ramp you'll see on the journey. On the way to the launch you can stop by the McKee Springs Petroglyphs; these large and unique rock drawings sit up on a wall that hugs the road out to Rainbow Park. This trip can go quickly and takes a fair bit of effort, so make sure to take your time. There are local companies in Vernal that will drive your cars from the launch to the exit, which can save you a ton of time.