Whitewater Rafting - San Juan River

Wandering through painted canyons, the San Juan River traverses the Northwest corner of New Mexico bending into Utah near the Four Corners National Monument. The San Juan River joins up with the Colorado River in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area forming the infamous Lake Powell.

Most river rafting tour guides begin their trek at Sand Island, near the historic town of Bluff, Utah. With the river's fast-moving waters, it produces Class II and III river trips. History is told in the various cliff dwellings, Navajo tribes, explorers, Mormon pioneers, and the gold seeking prospectors that used this river in some way shape or form.

However, the San Juan River is most noted for its Butler Wash Petroglyphs and numerous other Indian rock art form, making it the mostly highly concentrated area of rock art in the Southwest. Not only can you raft down this spectacular river way, but short hikes from your beached raft, gets you up close to these famous panels.

There are several river rafting outfitters offering expeditions along this pristine river, many based out of Moab and Bluff Utah. Each company has its own version of rafting down the San Juan River and choosing one is a matter of your personal preference.