Welcome to launch. We are currently expanding our databases quickly — user input and corrections are needed and appreciated. The content and functions on this site are deep. If you find something that is out of order, please let us know.
Utah · Carbon / Emery Co.
Green River — Desolation Canyon
🌿 Wilderness
Carbon / Emery Co. · 84 mi · Class I–III
Optimal: 2000–10000 CFS · USGS #09315000
Water temp: 62°F
4,690CFS
7.41 ft gauge height
Optimal
→Stable(+140 in 3h)
⚡Flow data is live from USGS·Rapid classifications and CFS ranges need community verification·Know this river?
Through Carbon and Emery counties, the Green River cuts 84 miles of Desolation Canyon — a BLM Wilderness Study Area that drops paddlers into some of Utah's most remote desert country. At 5,200 CFS average (optimal range 2,000–10,000), this is a multiday commitment best run with commercial outfitters like Holiday River Expeditions and OARS who handle the logistics of deep canyon camping. The first 28 miles from Sand Wash to Rock Creek offer Class I-II water and Fremont petroglyphs etched into the canyon walls. Rock Creek to Three Fords covers the canyon's deepest section over 28 miles of Class II-III rapids. The final stretch from Three Fords to Swasey Rapid spans another 28 miles of Class II water as the canyon widens and desert benches appear. USGS gauge 09315000 tracks flows that can swing dramatically with snowmelt and reservoir releases upstream.
Solunar Fishing Activity
🌒
Waxing Crescent
15% illumination
Poor
★ Moon overhead
10:54 AM
Moonrise
3:29 PM
Moonset
6:20 AM
★ Moon underfoot
10:54 PM
Next full moon: May 3111 days
Permit Required
⚠This river requires a permit for overnight trips
Desolation Canyon River Permit
Managed by: BLM Price Field Office
Type: Lottery
Required for: Overnight trips
Application Window
Opens: December 1
Closes: January 31
Results announced: Mid-February
Season & Logistics
May 1 – September 30
Group size: 1–25 people
Eighty-four miles of Class II–III wilderness through the deepest canyon in the Uinta Basin. Cost is a per-person fee — current schedule on the BLM site. Trip length typically 5–7 days. Take-out at Swasey\u2019s Beach (Green River, UT) requires a separate boat ramp fee. Sand Wash put-in is reached by a 2WD-passable dirt road.
⚡
Commercial trips available
Several licensed outfitters run guided multi-day Desolation Canyon trips. See outfitters below.
Last verified: 2025 · Permit rules change annually — always confirm with the managing agency before applying.
Outfitters
Holiday River Expeditions
Desolation Canyon multi-day guided trips
OARS
Green River Desolation Canyon expeditions
10-Year Flow Patterns
See 10 years of flow patterns for this river — historical analysis is a Pro feature.Upgrade to Pro →
Your Optimal Range
Set your personal optimal CFS window per river — custom ranges are a Pro feature.Upgrade to Pro →
Data Quality
River conditions are community-verified. CFS ranges, difficulty ratings, and access points may not reflect every flow level or seasonal change. Always check current conditions, scout unfamiliar rapids, and paddle within your skill level.
Know the Green River — Desolation Canyon? Your local knowledge makes this page better for every paddler, angler, and guide who comes after you.