⚡Flow data is live from USGS·Rapid classifications and CFS ranges need community verification··Know this river?
46 mi
Length
Class III–V
Difficulty
5000–30000 cfs
Optimal
12,000 cfs
Avg Flow
10,500 cfs
Hist. Median
#09180500
USGS Gauge
Canyonlands National Park
Cataract Canyon begins at the Confluence of the Green and Colorado Rivers in the heart of Canyonlands National Park and delivers 46 miles of escalating whitewater through some of the most dramatic desert canyon scenery on Earth. The Big Drop rapids — a mile-long sequence of three Class IV–V drops — are among the most powerful whitewater in the American West at peak flows. At 30,000 cfs the Big Drops become truly enormous hydraulics.
Trip sections
Confluence to Dark Canyon — 14 mi, Class II–III, building rapids in deepening canyon
Dark Canyon to Big Drop — 12 mi, Class III–IV, major rapids begin
Big Drop rapids to Lake Powell — 20 mi, Class IV–V then flatwater, climactic sequence
Permit Required
⚠This river requires a permit for overnight trips
Cataract Canyon River Permit
Managed by: National Park Service — Canyonlands NP
Type: Reservation
Required for: Overnight trips
Application Window
Opens: Reservations open year-round
Season & Logistics
Year-round – Year-round
Group size: 1–40 people
Reservation-based, not a lottery. Permits become available on a rolling basis and the most popular spring/fall launch dates fill quickly. Cost is a per-person fee plus a non-refundable application fee — current schedule on the NPS site. Trips typically launch from Mineral Bottom (Green River) or Potash (Colorado River) and take out at Hite Marina, 100+ miles downstream. The Cataract Canyon rapids in the middle are Class III–V depending on water level.
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Commercial trips available
Multiple outfitters run 4–6 day guided Cataract trips, often with jet boat takeout from Hite. See outfitters below.
Last verified: 2025 · Permit rules change annually — always confirm with the managing agency before applying.
Outfitters
Sheri Griffith Expeditions
Cataract Canyon multi-day whitewater trips
Tag-A-Long Expeditions
Cataract Canyon and Canyonlands river trips
72-Hour Flow Forecast
NOAA NWPS
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10-Year Flow Patterns
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Data Quality
River conditions are community-verified. CFS ranges, difficulty ratings, and trip sections may not reflect every flow level or seasonal change. Always check current conditions, scout unfamiliar rapids, and paddle within your skill level. If you spot an error, use the Improve This River button at the top of the page — your local knowledge is what makes this atlas accurate.