At summer winds down, river runners rue the drop in water flows, especially across the western United States. But while some of the most popular whitewater runs are no longer runnable even by July or August, other options abound for fall whitewater trips or mellow floats. Fall river float trips usually mean fewer crowds, cooler temperatures, and spectacular scenery as the leaves start to change color.
Here’s a guide to family-friendly river trips—both day trips and multi-day trips—that are reliably runnable in the fall.
Table of Contents
Day trips and overnighters
1. Deckers Chutes, South Platte River in Colorado
Less than 90 minutes from Denver, the “Deckers Chutes” section of the South Platte River is a low-stress, beautiful fall float with convenient access points so you can tailor your run to nearly any length. The Class II/III Chutes rapid offers some excitement with low consequences. A fairly low-volume section—good fall flows are about 500 cfs to 600 cfs—this section is a good choice for kayakers, SUPs, and smaller rafts. The fishing is prime as well: This section of the South Platte is a gold-medal trout fishery.
Developed campsites are available along the river, with easy access from Colorado Highway 97, which runs along this stretch. Fall water flows come from Cheesman Reservoir releases that typically continue through late fall.
Check out this guide to planning a Deckers Chutes/South Platte River trip for more information about access points, campsites, and a video of the Deckers Chutes rapid.
2. Arkansas River in Colorado: Stone Bridge to Rincon
Although the choice whitewater stretches (such as Browns Canyon and the Numbers) are down to a trickle by mid-August, the lower sections of the Arkansas River above and below Salida, Colorado, have a terrific mix of Class II riffles and outstanding trout fishing. Access points are plentiful, making any stretch along this section a good choice, especially for families who want to squeeze in an early fall weekend getaway before academic schedules kick in for real.
Several river access points along this section of the Arkansas offer big boat ramps, some with camping. Although this isn’t a remote river section, it’s a fine option for a day float that serves up beautiful scenery and good fishing. For more information about floating the Arkansas River from Stone Bridge to Rincon, check out the RiverMaps Guide to the Arkansas River in Colorado. Also check out our guide to paddling Browns Canyon on the Arkansas River.
3. Upper Colorado River below Pumphouse Recreation Area
The Upper Colorado from Pumphouse Recreation Area through Dotsero Landing is packed during the summer, but in early fall—September through mid to late October—you can usually squeeze in a less crowded trip in this beautiful stretch before the river drops below 900 cfs, which is considered the lower cut-off for runnable. Optimal flows are 1,500 cfs or above, but lower levels are fine especially for IK, kayaks, and small rafts.
The Upper C offers great camping, beautiful scenery, fun Class II rapids (and some Class III at higher levels), top-shelf fishing, and several good hikes from the river. With plenty of access points, you can design trips of varying lengths: The most popular section is Pumphouse Recreation Area to Rancho del Rio, a commercial compound with lodging, a food stand, and a small general store.
Check out Planning an Upper Colorado River Trip for a complete guide to the sections from Pumphouse through Dotsero, including information about rapids, camping, access points, and more.
4. Ruby-Horsethief Canyons on the Colorado River
A classic choice for families throughout the summer, the Colorado River stretch through Ruby and Horsethief canyons is even more appealing in the fall as the temperatures drop. With just a few Class II rapids, this is another good choice for beginning kayakers and paddleboarders.
Although you don’t need a permit to run the river itself, you do need a permit to camp overnight. Camping permits become available on the Recreation.gov website two months before the day of the permit. The logistics are easy for this stretch as the launch areas at the Loma put-in and the Westwater take-out have big, easy-access boat ramps. For more information, see Paddling Ruby-Horsethief Canyons on the Colorado River.
5. Escalante-Dominguez Canyons: Gunnison River in Colorado
This section of the Gunnison River in Colorado runs through the 210,172-acre Escalante-Dominguez National Conservation Area, a wonderland for paddlers and hikers. Kid-friendly and dog-friendly, this is an easy overnight with one Class II rapid and soaring red canyon walls. The waterfall at the mouth of Dominguez Canyon is a key feature.
For now, this area is still self-permitted (you can fill out the form at the launch site), so it’s a perfect fall weekend get-away. The typical put-in is at the Escalante Boat Ramp off US 50 near Delta, CO, and the take-out is 29 miles downstream at Whitewater (the take-out is probably the least pleasant part of the trip as you can’t back a trailer down to the river). For more information, check out Floating the Gunnison River Through Escalante-Dominguez.
Multi-day river trips
6. Desolation and Gray Canyons: Green River in Utah
The smartest time to run Desolation and Gray Canyons on the Green River Utah is probably fall as you can avoid some of the most scorching temperatures. A remote, stunning canyon, Deso is a true wilderness experience with spectacular starscapes at night. Lower daytime temps in the fall make the endless hiking options more feasible. Deso starts slow and gradually builds in whitewater intensity, with Class III/IV rapids coming near the end, an ideal setting for beginner and intermediate paddlers and rafters.
Deso-Gray is a popular family trip that requires a permit (allotted through the river permit lottery system) from February 1 through November 30. But you can likely snag a late-season Deso-Gray permit by watching for available slots. Deso is typically a 5- to 6-day trip even at higher flows: You’ll want to set aside at least a week for this adventure in fall, when flows are about 2,500 cfs.
Check out Running the Green River Through Desolation Canyon in Utah for more information about acquiring a permit, shuttle information, camping info, must-have gear, and other tips.
7. Labyrinth Canyon: Green River in Utah
Devoid of whitewater but huge on scenery, Labyrinth Canyon on the Green River in Utah is an immersion in red canyon walls and starry skies that fits the bill for anyone who needs to unplug. Ideal for canoes, IKs, and SUPs, Labyrinth is so quiet that every bird call and bug noise seems to suspend in the air.
You can run Labyrinth as a 68-mile trip by putting in at Green River State Park (in the town of Green River) or as a 45-mile trip by putting in at Ruby Ranch, a private property that provides river access. Permits are self-service (you fill out a form online at the Bureau of Land Management website), so you can put together a Labyrinth trip on short notice.
Check out Running the Green River Through Labyrinth Canyon in Utah for information about launch sites, camps, hikes, and other information.
8. San Juan River in Utah
Another popular family trip made even more pleasant with cooler temperatures in the fall, the San Juan River in southeastern Utah has reliable water flows through early fall. Sandy camping beachse are plentiful especially at lower water levels, and cooler fall temps are conducive to leisurely hikes to the multiple petroglyph panels along the river corridor. One warning about floating the San Juan: Monsoon season starts in late summer, bringing heavy rainfall and flash flooding. Stay flexible and change your plans if heavy thunderstorms are in the forecast for your float days.
Several put-in and take-out options are available: The typical stretches with Class II and Class III rapids are Sand Island to Mexican Hat (about 27 miles) and/or Mexican Hat to Clay Hills, which adds another 57 miles. The regular permit season (regulated through the lottery system) is April 15 through July 15. You can pick up a late-season permit at Recreation.gov. For more information, check out Planning a San Juan River Trip.
9. Lower Salmon in Idaho
The Lower Salmon in Idaho is sheer fun: Big, straightforward whitewater, stellar cliff jumping, huge white sandy beaches, and excellent fishing. This is one of our favorite family trips, especially for middle- and high-school age kids who want to hone their kayaking or rowing skills. The Lower Salmon is self-permitted even at the height of the season: Simply fill out the application at the put-in.
Multiple access points give you plenty of options for the length of trip. A typical stretch is Hammer Creek to Heller Bar, about 72 miles, which makes for a 5- to 6-day trip. For more information, check out Planning a Lower Salmon River Trip.
10. Rogue River in Oregon
A bona fide whitewater run that is viable through the fall, the Rogue River in Oregon is a gem with great whitewater, fine fishing, and classic Oregon scenery. The Rogue permit season is May 15 through October 15. After that, you can pick up a self-issue permit at the Grave Creek launch site. If you want to float the Rogue during the permit season but don’t win a permit through the lottery, the BLM offers multiple opportunities for picking up a canceled Rogue River permit.
The Rogue whitewater is significant: Rainie Falls and Blossom Bar are challenging and worthy of scouting. As a fall trip, the Rogue is outstanding with superb hiking opportunities, historical sites, and abundant waterfalls. For more information, check out our guide to planning a Rogue River trip, and the River Maps Guide to the Rogue River, Wild & Scenic River.
Even west of the Mississippi, the rafting season doesn’t have to end after Labor Day. You can still squeeze in a weekend float or even a multi-day float by looking for rivers that have consistently good fall flows and picking up permit cancellations or focusing on self-permitted rivers. Before you know it, it’ll be time to apply for next year’s river permits.
