Self-Guided Multi-Day Canoe Trips: Stillwater Canyon

Self-Guided Green River through Stillwater Canyon to the Confluence

There are 52 miles of calm water paddling on the Green River as it travels through Canyonlands National Park.  The Green meanders quietly through Stillwater Canyon on its course to the Confluence with the Colorado River.  The river widens and slows in pace through Stillwater, passing by the canyon walls that rise in ever increasing heights along its shores.  Abundant remnants of the ancient Anasazi culture remain in the form of ruins and rock art.  Hiking opportunities are plentiful.  The large bottom lands along the river are home to an array of wild life, including deer, coyotes, and herds of desert bighorn sheep.

Five miles past your put-in at Mineral Bottom (which we drive down to on a very steep and precarious 1 1/2 mile, one lane switchback dirt road that descends 900 feet!), the river enters Canyonlands National Park.  Once you launch, there is little road access to the river, increasing the wilderness quality of your trip down Stillwater.  There are no vehicle access take-outs below Mineral Bottom.  To return to Moab, you will be met at the Confluence or Spanish Bottom by a pre-arranged specially chartered jet boat service (not through us) and travel up-river on the Colorado River.  A backcountry permit is required by the National Park Service for the time spent within Canyonlands National Park.  This section is suitable for all paddling abilities.  Please allow a minimum of 4 days to complete this trip through Stillwater.  Extra days are recommended for exploring off-river sites.  For longer trips, you may combine this stretch with Labyrinth Canyon for 100 miles of continuous premier flat water paddling with a put-in at Ruby Ranch.

THIS IS A SELF-GUIDED TRIP which means that this expedition is self-governing where you navigate and are responsible for all of the paperwork, planning, footwork, packing/unpacking, and knowledge of equipment/gear, the area, the river, weather conditions, and navigating the route yourself.  The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) can be a great place to start with providing suggestions, maps, instructions, directions, and items to see or do during self-guided tours.

This Self-Guided Trip requires a high level of responsibility and your due diligence in extensive research, as you will be going into backcountry wilderness.  This is not just a river that you can hop on without preparation!  As navigator, you will have to pay attention to river mileage and your travel speeds.  You are your own captain!  The area is remote and services are non-existent.  Your group must be self-contained and self-reliant to deal with emergency situations.  Cell phone service is not available within the canyons.  A satellite phone is optional, but highly recommended. 

**There are inherent risks and dangers to any river trip, even calm, flat-water, and those are magnified by taking a trip in the backcountry.  If this is looking like too much responsibility and you cannot handle yourself in an emergency situation in less than ideal circumstances, you should not be doing a Self-Guided Trip and really need start with a GUIDED Green River Labyrinth Canyon Canoe Trip.**

 

Stillwater Canyon to the Confluence Trip Summary:

• Class: I, no rapids
• Location: Southeastern Utah
• Put-in: Mineral Bottom Boat Ramp
• Take-out: the Confluence (by jet boat pick-up only)
• Mileage: 52 miles
• Trip length: 4 to 10+ days
• Camping areas: Numerous sites atop of the cut bank or beaches and sand bars at low water
• Permit needed: Yes – Prior to your trip, you need to get this well ahead of time from Canyonlands National Park (435-259-4711), with a NPS Reservation Fee of $30 + $20 per person.  

**Additionally, jet boat pick-up/transportation is required to return to Moab from the Confluence. 

WE DO NOT ADMINISTER THE JET BOAT PICK-UPS! 

Your FIRST STEP IS TO BOOK YOUR JET BOAT PICK-UP!  However, we do run the put-in shuttle (drop-off only) and service your rental equipment needs for the Stillwater stretch.  As we cannot answer on their behalf, please first contact one of the National Park Jet Boat Permit holders, Tex’s Riverways at 435-259-5101 or Canyonlands by Night and Day at 435-259-5261 with any questions about the jet boat, including their current pricing (not included in our pricing), reservations, operation, etc.  Once you have secured your pick-up reservation with them, we can then help you with canoe and camping equipment rentals, put-in shuttle, etc.**

On the morning of your Self-Guided Green River Stillwater to the Confluence Canoe Trip, you will meet us at a pre-arranged time at our shop in Moab, at 2480 South Highway 191.  At this time, we will finalize any outstanding billing and have you complete some paperwork (Acknowledgement of Risk Form, Rental Agreement, etc.).  In addition, there will be a 10-minute briefing to go over the river map and possible camps and hikes, if you purchase a map from us.  You must be able to follow a map according to the twists and turns of the canyon, as there are no river markers/mileage designations along the way.  It is your responsibility  to be prepared and ready to go when you arrive at our shop the day of your launch.  You need to arrive with your gear already packed!  You will unload your gear from your vehicle and load it into our shuttle.  It is about 1 hour and 45 minutes to the river from the shop.  Your Shuttle Driver will not make any “pit stops” between our shop and the river. 

**NOTE: If there is inclement weather such as rain, snow, ice, etc., Mineral Bottom road becomes impassable for shuttle vehicles (which means hiking down and back up the switchbacks with only as much gear/belongings that can be carried).  Weather is only one of the many reasons that we strongly advise against traveling to and from Moab on your put-in and take-out dates.

All times are approximate, in the best of conditions.  We will do everything in our power to reach your group on the scheduled take-out time and day, however, in the remote backcountry, forces beyond our control can happen both with weather and road conditions.  We drive rough, rugged, unpaved roads (often in extreme temperatures) that can flatten tires, damage vehicles, and foil put-in and take-out plans.  This is why most outfitters do not drive these roads for this trip every single day as MRCC does!

What you will need to bring:

• Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Permit (If also going through Labyrinth Canyon, you need to get this Permit from the BLM ahead of time and bring your copy and a copy for us as your outfitter.) and Canyonlands National Park Permit

• Possible Launch Fees (not included in MRCC’s total.  YOU MUST HAVE EXACT CASH the morning of your launch.): Ruby Ranch: $5 per person and $10 per vessel

• River map, River toilet system (mandatory/required by the BLM.  YOU MUST BRING YOUR OWN TOILET PAPER), ROPE: 50+ ft. to tie up the canoe(s), group camping equipment/kitchen commissary, staples, coolers, stove, tent, sleeping bag, sunblock, insect repellent, sun hat, and meals from lunch on the first day to lunch on the last day (Please visit our Packing List for a more extensive list.)

• Fresh drinking and cooking water must be carried in, not filtered, as it is extremely silty! – The BLM recommends 1 gallon per person per day, along with ½ to 1 gallon per meal for cooking (Consider menu, group size, and days out on the river).  You may fill water jugs at our location.  A filter should be packed as an emergency back-up source.
  

Consumables are not provided for Self-Guided Trips, i.e. ice, toilet paper, propane gas, food, etc.

 

Trip Planners & Considerations:

• Green River Stillwater Canyon Canoe Trips (4-10+ days) Four days is the minimum number of days for this trip launching from Mineral Bottom.  More days are needed if launching from Ruby Ranch.  It is also a good idea to have an extra day as a buffer in case you run into weather, which is very possible!  This section of the Green River is suitable for paddlers of all abilities who are self-sufficient and well prepared for the backcountry wilderness.  With a Self-Guided Trip, it is up to you to know your own abilities.  We cannot and will not speak to your abilities to do a Self-Guided Trip.

• Ideally, this particular calm, flat-water section of the Green River, Stillwater Canyon (in our opinion, as a rafting and canoe company), is best canoed!  A canoe is streamlined and cuts through the water and allows you to bring the necessities and enough creature comforts and gear (water jugs, river toilet, tents, coolers, camp chairs, etc.) with you to backcountry explore, without being cramped.  In high water, you are able to paddle up deep into narrow canyons (that may be only the width of a canoe), and in low water, the canoe does not have as much drag as other vessels.

• In a “normal, non-COVID year,” our River Season is from March 1^st to October 31^st.  Regarding Mother Nature and the river, as much as you want (and ask), we cannot give you absolutes, especially in terms of the extreme desert conditions and variances that occur in our environment daily.  This is why we speak in generalities and tell you to be well prepared for your trip!  The desert is a lesson in extremes and unpredictability and can be very unforgiving (Please do blame us for weather or bugs!)!  YOU NEED TO BE PREPARED for rain, wind, blazing sun, intense heat and cold, etc.  If you have an issue with the sun, this is not the trip for you!

• Seasonal differences necessitate flexibility.  Again, the weather is unpredictable and can change in an instant in the high desert!  You will have different concerns depending on the time of year you will be traveling.  If you are waiting for the “perfect” weather, you may never take this trip!  Temperatures range from 100+ degrees in the summer to sub-zero some winters.  Day and night temperature differences can also be extreme.  Thunderstorms can build quickly, bringing with them lightening and flash floods.  The one predictable element you can rely on is the up-canyon winds.  These can happen at any time of the day, as the weather is extremely unpredictable here, but are likely in the afternoon.  High, gale-like winds usually accompany storm fronts.  Water levels fluctuate seasonally.  Be aware that during high water, you will have powerful water, currents, and strong eddies, and your travel time can be much faster.  When the river is low, you will be moving more slowly and need to paddle more…sandy beaches make for good rest stops.  Boaters can paddle, enjoy a picnic lunch on a sandy beach, and go for a swim in the river during the warm months.  Drink plenty of water along the way and put on that sunscreen and lip balm.

• Put-ins: Ruby Ranch (100 miles) or **Mineral Bottom (52 miles)

• There are no designated campsites along the river.  You will be camping in backcountry wilderness…you will get dirty, wet, sandy, and muddy!

• Your group is responsible for knowing and adhering to all Utah boating laws and backcountry laws and river regulations, as well as being aware of any current fire ban in effect.

• April to June (for the most part): In the afternoon, up-canyon winds are an almost daily occurrence (however, winds can occur at any time!).   An early camp will help minimize the time spent paddling in the wind.

• May and June (for the most part): During “high water,” your travel time can be faster, so you should know how to paddle in river currents and strong eddies.

• March, April, July to October: When the river is low, the sand islands come out.

• Know if there is a current fire ban in effect, as this can impact your meals!  Have a back-up plan in place because it can be instituted at the last minute.

• You are required to check that you have all necessary equipment such as PFDs, throwing device, bail bucket, whistle, fire pan, river toilet, and paddle(s) with a spare, before we can take you to the put-in.

• Dogs are not allowed on your river trip through the National Park, per NPS rules.

 

*The Green River is not a river that you can hop on without preparation.  It is not Disneyland.  If you are not willing to do the extensive research involved and YOU CANNOT HANDLE YOURSELF IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION IN LESS THAN IDEAL CIRCUMSTANCES in our unique, extreme terrain and weather, YOU SHOULD NOT BE DOING A SELF-GUIDED TRIP and really need start with a GUIDED Green River Canoe Trip.  As one of the few outfitters who put people out on this river everyday in season, we are finding more and more people going out unprepared, not heeding our advice and direction, and needing the intervention of emergency services.  So, in support of our extremely hardworking and busy Search and Rescue team in Moab, we are putting out this PSA.  The most common issue we see every year: Kayakers/SUP-ers or others trying to filter the extremely silty river water instead of taking a vessel large enough or having a support vessel, such as a canoe, to carry the required minimum amount of fresh water to avoid dehydration in our extreme desert conditions.  Also, we are finding many people creating websites and blogs with a lot of incorrect information on Labyrinth Canyon.  We would be remiss if we didn’t present the not-so-great with the all extraordinary when it comes to the Green.*

 

Leave no trace of your stay. You must pack out everything you pack in! Visit: lnt.org

“Take only memories, leave only footprints.”

*By state law, all who go out on the river must be a minimum of 40 pounds in weight.  Additionally, children 12 years and younger must always wear a PFD on all Utah State waters.

 

Self-Guided Prep-Work “Time to Get Out Your Calculator”

Canoe Rental: What canoe do you want/need?

The Wenonah is a must have for the serious canoeist and one of the many reasons people seek out Moab Rafting and Canoe Company.  We offer the best brand canoes and are the only company in town that rents these award-winning, high performance Wenonah Canoes!  These are larger, yet lighter weight, more stable canoes, each individually handcrafted in the United States.  Our Wenonah’s canoes are either made of Tuf-weave® (a composite material of interwoven fabric made of 50% polyester and 50% fiberglass that outperforms either material on its own) or Royalex® (a composite material, comprising an outer layer of vinyl and hard acrylonitrile butadiene styrene plastic (ABS) and an inner layer of ABS foam. The layers are bonded by heat treatment). 

 

Our tandem canoes are 2-person riders ONLY.  YOU MAY NOT SHUTTLE OUR CANOES.

Wenonah Cascade: 17 ½ feet $50 a day

Wenonah Champlain: 18 ½ feet $55 a day

Wenonah Spirit II: 17 feet $55 a day

Wenonah SOLO Wilderness: 15 ½ feet $45 a day

Osagian Classic Aluminum: 15 feet $45 a day

Wenonah Cascade

17 ½ feet $50 a day.  A great general use, canoe camping, and family boat.

Dimensions

Overall Length: 17′ 6″  (533.4 cm)
Gunwale Width: 36″  (91.44 cm)
Maximum Width: 37″  (93.98 cm)
Waterline Width: 34.5″  (87.63 cm)
Stern Depth: 22″  (55.88 cm)
Center Depth: 13.5″  (34.29 cm)
Bow Depth: 22″  (55.88 cm)
Rocker: 2″  (5.08 cm)

Wenonah Champlain (Our largest canoe and usually the 1st to be rented out/reserved.)

18 ½ feet $55 a day.  A versatile design with enhanced efficiency and seaworthiness.  A larger, more stable version of our versatile Spirit II and our largest canoe available to rent, the Champlain has the efficiency and capacity to haul heavy loads long distances.  Its length and profile give good speed and glide, which it retains very well with a load.

Dimensions

Overall Length: 18′ 6″  (563.88 cm)
Gunwale Width: 36.5″  (92.71 cm)
Maximum Width: 37″  (93.98 cm)
Waterline Width: 36.75″  (93.345 cm)
Stern Depth: 20″  (50.8 cm)
Center Depth: 14″  (35.56 cm)
Bow Depth: 22″  (55.88 cm)
Rocker: 1.5″  (3.81 cm)

Wenonah Spirit II

17 feet $55 a day.  Like a Swiss Army Knife, the Spirit II does everything.  As efficient as a long-hulled canoe and as maneuverable as a short one, the Spirit II strikes a balance between all good things.  Roomy enough for Boundary Waters style trips, it’s even more stable when loaded.

Dimensions

Overall Length: 17′ 0″  (518.16 cm)
Gunwale Width: 35″  (88.9 cm)
Maximum Width: 36″  (91.44 cm)
Waterline Width: 35.5″  (90.17 cm)
Stern Depth: 19″  (48.26 cm)
Center Depth: 14″  (35.56 cm)
Bow Depth: 22″  (55.88 cm)
Rocker: 1.5″  (3.81 cm)

Wenonah SOLO Wilderness

15 ½ feet $45 a day.  This is for a single boater with the seat in the middle.  Its well-rounded stability and moderate rocker make it a great down-river boat, while inspiring confidence whether on a loaded tour or evening paddle.

Dimensions

Overall Length: 15′ 4″  (467.36 cm)
Gunwale Width: 27″  (68.58 cm)
Maximum Width: 30.5″  (77.47 cm)
Waterline Width: 29.75″  (75.565 cm)
Stern Depth: 17″  (43.18 cm)
Center Depth: 14″  (35.56 cm)
Bow Depth: 19″  (48.26 cm)
Rocker: 1.25″  (3.175 cm)

Osagian Classic Aluminum Canoe

15 feet $45 a day.  The Canoe that made Osagian famous!  It is the best all-around choice for entry- and intermediate- level canoeists in a wide variety of applications.  GREAT for school groups, Scout Troops, big groups, and the young, etc.

Dimensions

Overall Length: 15′  (466.36 cm)
Gunwale Width: 36″  (67.58 cm)
Maximum Width: 30.5″  (77.47 cm)
Waterline Width: 29.75″  (75.565 cm)
Stern Depth: 13″  (41.18 cm)
Center Depth: 14″  (35.56 cm)
Bow Depth: 19″  (48.26 cm)
Rocker: 1.25″  (3.175 cm)

WE DO NOT RENT RAFTS, KAYAKS, INFLATABLE KAYAKS, OR STAND UP PADDLEBOARDS. 

1.) Shuttle Cost for this Trip

(Again, this does not include your Jet Boat pricing from the other company.)

Moab to the Green River with a pick-up of GEAR at Tex’s Riverways or Canyonlands by Night and Day:

1 – 4 people $265

5 – 7 people $375

8 – 14 people $525

15 – 20 people $755

One way from Moab to the Green River (Put-in only: Ruby Ranch or Mineral Bottom):

1 – 4 people $195

5 – 7 people $315

8 – 14 people $475

15 – 20 people $675

TOTAL SHUTTLE COST = $_____________

 

Shuttle prices are fixed per your specific group size reservation.

SHUTTLES ARE NOT PRIVATE! If you would like a private shuttle, you must pay for each seat in the 15 Passenger Van(s).

We are a small company that books up throughout the season because of our service, expertise, and dedication in offering our specialized trips.  ALL PRICES ARE FIXED, SO PLEASE, NO DISCOUNTS OR HAGGLING.

**Our Shuttle Cost DOES NOT INCLUDE the shuttle cost of either outfitters’ jet boat shuttle pick-up.**

2.) Canoe Rental Cost Per Trip

Which canoe?                       

• Osagian Classic Aluminum Canoe 15 ft. $45 a day How many ______x $45 = ________
• Wenonah Cascades 17 ½ ft. $50 a day                     How many ______x $50 = ________ 
• Wenonah Champlain 18 ½ ft. $55 a day                  How many ______x $55 = ________ 
• Wenonah Spirit II 17 ft. $55 a day                            How many ______x $55 = ________ 
• Wenonah Solo Wilderness 15 ½ ft. $45 a day         How many ______x $45 = ________

Total Number of Canoes____ Daily Canoe Cost = $________

Daily Canoe Cost=

$

x # of Days

=

TOTAL CANOE COST=

$

 

Equipment we INCLUDE, at no additional charge, with TANDEM (2 person) canoe rentals: PFDs (Personal Floatation Devices, a.k.a. Life Vests) (2), Paddles (3), Emergency Throwing Device (Type IV Throw Cushion), Bail Bucket, Whistle, and a Fire Pan

Equipment we INCLUDE, at no additional charge, with SOLO (1 person) canoe rentals: PFD (Personal Floatation Devices, a.k.a. Life Vests) (1), Paddles (2), Emergency Throwing Device (Type IV Throw Cushion), Bail Bucket, Whistle, and a Fire Pan

 

2.5) Personal Boat Transportation Rates

In addition to the shuttle charges for individuals and their gear, fees are charged for the handling and transport of each boat that is not rented from Moab Rafting and Canoe Company.

Personal Boat Type	Price
Canoe ($45), Sea Kayak ($45), deflated Inflatable Kayak or SUP ($30)	How many ____x $____ = $_______

If you are not renting our vessels, it is your responsibility to make sure you have all necessary permits and required safety gear to legally be on Utah state riverways for your boats and with a BLM approved river toilet system.

 

MRCC Rental Equipment (See prices below.  Pricing is per trip, not daily rates.):  Due to the popularity of rentals, if you do not reserve Rental Gear ahead of time, we do not guarantee that it will be available the day of your launch.

When renting equipment, consumables are not included for Self-Guided Trips.  Meaning, you need to purchase your own ice, propane gas, food, toilet paper, etc.

We reserve the right at any time to change prices, products, policies, and services without prior notice.

The rental fee for our River Toilet System includes us disposing of the contents for you, no extra Dump Fee!

Due to customer inquiries, we are now offering for rent our Canoe Catamaran connecting system for Multi-Day Trips.  This added configuration creates a craft that is more than twice as stable as a single canoe because it is actually two individual canoes braced together to form one catamaran for extra stability and support, great when paddling open stretches of water, especially in windy conditions.

IF arrangements are made ahead of time to pick-up rental gear (such as coolers, dry bags, etc.) the day before your trip, it will be available after 5:30 pm.  Due to the popularity of our rentals, this may not always be a possibility.

We also have a bench seat for an additional “Child” Rider in a tandem canoe for $25 per trip.

*Full Kitchen set includes: plates, bowls, cups, knives, forks, spoons, cutting knives, can opener, salad bowl, fry pan, pot & strainer, pot holder, cutting board, dish soap, sponge, bleach, and washing bins inside a 24 gallon Action Packer storage box for transporting for a group up to 6 people ($20 per couple after 6)

Dry bags: Generally, the sizes are as follows: small is 10 liters, medium is 45 liters, large is 65 liters, and the x-large is 110 liters

Tents: Technically, they are 3-person tents, 7′ x 7′, but we list them as 2-person tents… you have room to be comfortable.

 

RESERVATIONS:

Feel free to call or email us for date availability.  We will be more than happy to email a trip packet with more information and a worksheet for you to fill out and submit.  We will ask for credit card to process the reservation and rental gear.  RESERVATIONS ARE NOT BOOKED UNLESS WE HAVE A VISA OR MASTERCARD ON FILE.

 

CANCELLATION POLICY:

A $100 non-refundable per person deposit is required to secure your trip date for Self-Guided Multi-Day Trips.  Due to the extensive planning of Multi-Day Trips for customers, it is not likely that we will be able to rebook your reserved dates if you cancel.  Also, we more than likely have had to turn others away for your booked dates.  The full amount of your trip (including rental equipment) is due and will be charged to your Visa or Mastercard only given 30 days from the date of your trip.  CANCELLATIONS WITHIN 30 DAYS OF YOUR RESERVATION WILL NOT RECEIVE A REFUND.  Regarding the possibility of having to cancel, we strongly suggest you purchase Trip Cancellation Insurance to protect your vacation investment, as there are NO EXCEPTIONS OUTSIDE THE CANCELLATION POLICY.  It is our policy to reserve the right to cancel any trip at the last minute for any reason.  Should this occur, no money will be exchanged.  If conditions allow, we will postpone for a few hours or to the next day.

**ALL MULTI-DAY TRIPS GO OUT in wind, rain, snow, sleet, shine or extreme heat!  This is not Disneyland!  We are in the high desert and our weather is extreme!  There are inherent risks and dangers to any river trip, even calm, flat-water, and those are magnified by taking a trip in the backcountry.  YOU NEED TO BE PREPARED for rainstorms, wind, blazing sun, intense heat and cold, etc.  If this is looking like too much responsibility and YOU CANNOT HANDLE YOURSELF IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION IN LESS THAN IDEAL CIRCUMSTANCES, YOU SHOULD NOT BE DOING A SELF-GUIDED TRIP and really need start with a GUIDED Green River Canoe Trip.**

Again, over the years of booking trips, we have to say we know the river.  But, every trip is different.  The time of season, water levels, weather the day you have booked for, and much more, make the river fun all of the time!

**MRCC’S Policy: BE NICE OR LEAVE…River trips are supposed to be fun, right?!  We go out of our way to be exceedingly nice and, therefore, reserve the right to refuse service and trips (now AND in the future) to those who do not follow our policies and who are rude, disrespectful or abusive to our staff, company, and/or equipment.

NO CAMPING OR SLEEPING IN VEHICLES ON THE PROPERTY!

Moab Rafting and Canoe Company is licensed in the State of Utah as a River Outfitter and Livery Company.