Fun Facts About Utah's Desolation Canyon Rated One of America's Top Rafting Adventures

SALT LAKE CITY - March 28, 2023 - PRLog -- Ranked one of the "Best Whitewater Rafting Trips in America" by Outside Magazine, a rafting journey down this canyon with Western River Expeditions is something to consider.

This may be the year to do it. The snowpack covering the watersheds (http://snowpack.water-data.com/uppercolorado/index.php) of the Green and Colorado rivers is 143.59% of the historic March 28th average. Best it has been in over ten years.

Here are 11 fun facts about Utah's Desolation Canyon.

1.    Desolation Canyon, carved by the 730-mile Green River, was traversed first in its entirety by Major John Wesley Powell in 1869.

2.    Named a National Historic Landmark in 1968 as part of the centennial celebration of the Powell expedition, it is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP).

3.    Desolation Canyon and the surrounds of its accompanying Green River compose one of the most remote (no roads, towns, cell service) destinations in the continental United States.

4.    At 290,845 acres, the Desolation Canyon Wilderness Study Area (WSA) is the largest WSA managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in the contiguous 48 states.

5.    At its deepest point, a relief of over 5,000 feet (1,500 m) exists from river level to the unseen rim of the Tavaputs Plateau.

6.    The entire eastern side of the river and canyon sits entirely on the Unita-Ouray Reservation, the second largest Indian Reservation in the U.S.

7.    There are around 75 discovered archaeological sites throughout the canyon. Fremont and Ute pictographs and petroglyphs are abundant.

8.    Fremont granaries testify to the agricultural potential of riparian alluvial fan landforms sited between steep slopes and valleys. The landforms are larger in Desolation Canyon than in any other canyon of the Colorado - Green River system.

9.    Over 60 named class two and three rapids challenge boaters. The gradual increase in size and difficulty of rapids make it an ideal place for beginner boaters to develop their skills.

10.  Elk were transplanted into the area in 1988. Today, Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep frequent the WSA. Other inhabitants are cougar, black bear, mule deer, bald eagle, and peregrine falcon.

11.   David McPherson started ranching with his family up Florence Creek in 1889. The  homestead sat right along the path of the Outlaw Trail, used by the infamous robbers Butch Cassidy and the Wild Bunch.

The per person rate for adults (age 16 and up) is $1,955 and youth (age 5-15) $1,255. For details please see  https://www.westernriver.com/desolation-canyon

For a copy of Western's 2023 catalog, questions, availability and reservations call toll-free: 866.904.1160 (Local: 801.942.6669) or visit the website at: http://www.westernriver.com/.

Press contact:
Dave Wiggins: 720.301.3822 / dave@travelnewssource.com