Base Camp Green River
A quaint little town combines rich heritage and relaxing moments with rugged landscapes and adventures.
So you want to get into the Utah desert, but you're looking for a new perspective? Maybe you’ve done The Mighty Five but find yourself longing for the red rock and rivers of the Colorado Plateau. It’s a familiar call and we won’t question you.
Let’s continue down this path of thought. Maybe you’re looking for a hub-and-spokes couples or family vacation that offers adventurous days but nights in comfortable accommodations — a base camp in Southern Utah, but somewhere different.
Look no further than Green River, a quaint little town with a dynamite location central to some of southeastern Utah’s greatest outdoor attractions and undiscovered gems. Think you’ve seen everything Utah has to offer? Think again.
It’s time to leave the city and the suburbs behind and drive through the mountains and canyons into the Utah desert. True, Green River is barely an hour away from Arches and Canyonlands national parks, so those are options to extend your 3-day trip. But for this itinerary, we’re focusing on the local secrets: the hidden labyrinth of slot canyons and whimsical hoodoos of the San Rafael Swell and the dining and heritage that are part of the unique fabric of Green River.
Feel that? That new perspective is already beginning to form. Read through this helpful itinerary to find the top activities in and of Utah’s favorite adventure towns.
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Western Heritage and Green River Dining
150 Miles
Take a break on the road to Green River to learn some coal mining and railroad history at the The Helper Museum in art-enclave of Helper, Utah — about two hours south of Salt Lake. Snap a photo with Utah’s tallest coal miner in front of the library and grab a coffee at Happiness Within. In Green River, stop by the John Wesley Powell River History Museum to learn the history of the grand Green and Colorado rivers and the river runners who explored them. If you’re interested in more local history, head downstairs and browse the John Wesley Powell Research Center and Archives to hear about the town's first residents. Once you’ve gotten your fill of history, head across the street for an amazing dinner at the Tamarisk Restaurant, set against the scenic Green River.
San Rafael Swell and Goblin Valley
110 Miles
Time for some outdoor adventure! Make sure the car has plenty of gas and stop by the Melon Vine Food Store on Broadway to grab snacks and lunch for your day out. Admire the San Rafael Swell and its magnificent, otherworldly rock formations that reach hundreds of feet into the sky as you take Highway 24 south for some excellent canyoneering.
Little Wild Horse Canyon is one of the most spectacular and easily accessible slot canyons in Utah. A mile further are Ding and Dang Canyons. This 5-mile loop provides some more intense scrambling and climbing than Little Wild Horse, but doesn’t require technical skills or gear. For a true canyoneering experience, get in touch with Get in the Wild Adventures, who host technical canyoneering trips and tours in Goblin Valley’s Goblin's Lair and Robbers Roost. Learn how to rappel and access otherwise forbidden canyon treasures.
Then head for the ghoulish and goofy natural sculptures of Goblin Valley State Park for some exploration before the return trip to Green River and a stop at Ray's Tavern, crowned “best pit stop on I-70” by Salt Lake Magazine and one of Utah’s favorite road-food eats by The Salt Lake Tribune.
Green River Relaxation
50 Miles
You’re probably a little tired and maybe a bit sore from all your adventuring yesterday. Take it easy all day today. Stop by the Green River Coffee Company for your fix of fresh-roasted coffee or choice of other extensive menu items.
First, check out the Crystal Geyser, a truly unique geologic marvel. One of a handful of cold-water geysers in the entire world, the Crystal Geyser draws sightseers for its vigorous eruptions and for the brilliant orange travertine formations the mineral-rich water creates. Pick up lunch at the Chow Hound, which has been at the center of social life in Green River since 1973. Consider taking your order to-go, because the next stop is the beach — Swasey’s Beach. Shallow water gives children plenty of opportunity to frolic, and bighorn sheep frequent the water’s edge. Rapids upstream from the campground provide a kayaking playground. Other options are rafting or floating the Green River in a canoe. You can put-in further up-river at Nefertiti (a rock formation in the cliff walls resembles the Egyptian Queen’s famous profile) and ride the rapids down to the beach boat ramp. Or spread out a blanket and get lost in a good book, browse a magazine or nap. Don’t forget the sunscreen though.
What better way to end an amazing, relaxed day than with tacos! Check out Tacos La Pasadita, a friendly-roadside Mexican taquería in a food truck.
Green River
The city of Green River was once a stomping ground for Butch Cassidy and his Wild Bunch, and is a haven for river runners who raft places such as Desolation and Gray Canyons.
What's Nearby
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Goblin Valley State Park
Goblin Valley State Park could almost be mistaken for a martian landscape with intricate and bizarre geologic formations. Bring the family and experience this amazing place by hiking, camping, mountain biking and exploring the surrounding canyons.
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John Wesley Powell River Museum
Few Western trailblazers are more famous than the one-armed boatman, John Wesley Powell. Here in Green River, the John Wesley Powell River History Museum pays homage to Powell, and teaches you about his expeditions, the history of the West’s exploration, and the geography of the area.
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San Rafael Swell
San Rafael hikes and bike rides offer unique terrain and jaw-dropping scenery. Learn about the area’s trails and start planning your trip!
Read the Stories
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A Grand Tour of the San Rafael Swell
This grand tour goes into the heart of Utah's Swell from north to south, connecting the uplift’s spectacular views with playful slot-canyon hikes, bike excursions, rock art, dinosaur bones, and soft-serve cones in town.
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A Guide to the Many Faces of Utah's Green River
The mighty Green River carves a path through a dramatic and varied landscape of mountains, canyons and desert for 730 miles across Utah. Whether you have a few hours or a few weeks, experience the diversity of this river yourself by getting on the water.
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Ancient Pictographs, Petroglyphs and Timeless Mysteries
Exploring Horseshoe Canyon isn’t for everyone. First of all, the effort to get there is an adventure in itself, but those efforts make the reward — namely, the chance to see up close some of the most significant pictograph panels in North America — even more noteworthy.
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Bikepacking through Time in the San Rafael Swell
We're miles away from civilization here in southeastern Utah’s San Rafael Swell, and we carry everything we need on our bikes. This is the type of adventure I've longed for, a trip that reminds us of our self-worth, resilience, and how little we actually need to survive.
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Dog-Friendly Utah: The Road to Mighty
Want to bring your furry friend on your next vacation? Utah is home to several great dog-friendly national parks and other fun destinations. Check it out and plan your trip!
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Eat Your Way Through Utah
Utah is filled with festivals that highlight the state’s agricultural products, local brewers, winemakers and other creators of delicious dishes. You’ll find festivals and events featuring all kinds of agricultural products all over Utah, but here are 10 of the best to sample what the state has to offer.
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Filmed in Utah: 7 Itineraries Through Hollywood's Most Iconic Settings
Whether hitting the Sundance Film Festival in Park City and Salt Lake City in January or visiting Utah throughout the year, you’ll find yourself near some Utah’s most iconic and most filmed places.
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Fly Fishing Guide to The Green River Less Traveled
If you are in the Flaming Gorge area and fish, even just a little bit, you shouldn’t leave without spending at least one day in your waders throwing a line across the blue-ribbon waters of the Green River.
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Green River Scene: Tamarisk Restaurant, Green River Coffee Company
Tamarisk Restaurant in Green River near Moab offers river-side views and great food.
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Guided Rafting Through the Gates of Lodore
Explore guided rafting expeditions through the Gates of Lodore, one of Utah's most sought-after whitewater rafting trips with Dinosaur River Expeditions.
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Lost and Found in Desolation Canyon
Fully unplug on a return trip down the Green River through the remote Desolation Canyon. Along the way, read as the author navigates a few friends through tricky rapids and pauses on stillwater and at night to appreciate the beauty, stillness and solitude of desert wilderness. It's a 100-mile journey for dedicated adventurers, but it comes with real healing power.
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Ray's Tavern
Ray’s is the way to hamburger bliss after a weekend of concurring and communing with Mother Nature at her most brazen — namely, Moab and the surrounding Southern Utah recreational areas.
