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Program Overview

Location
Southwest
Start Location
Grand Junction, CO
End Location
Grand Junction, CO
Program
High School
Length
15 - 22 Days
Expeditions
Backpacking
Rafting
Activities
Alpine Backpacking, Canyon Backpacking, River Navigation, Service, Whitewater Rafting, Canyoneering, Rafting

Skills

Technical
  • Basic First Aid
  • Basic Paddle Strokes
  • Campcraft
  • Food Preparation and Cooking
  • Knots
  • Map and Compass
  • Navigation
  • River Reading
  • Safety and Risk Management
  • Self Care
  • Sheltering Strategies
  • Travel Techniques
Interpersonal
  • Character
  • Communication
  • Conflict Resolution
  • Empathy
  • Independence
  • Leadership
  • Positive Risk Taking
  • Problem Solving
  • Resilience
  • Responsibility
  • Self Awareness
  • Self Confidence
  • Service

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Southwest Rafting & Backpacking

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Among rugged peaks and red rock canyon walls, take time to unplug and connect with yourself, your group and the natural world.

Experience the vast diversity of landscapes in southeastern Utah. Feel the exhilaration of rushing waves as you paddle through whitewater rapids in steep, red rock canyons. Camp along sandy shores and search for shooting stars. Spot ancient dwellings and rock art tucked within the canyon walls. Then trade your river shoes for hiking boots to traverse over high passes in the southern region of the Rocky Mountains. Starry skies and alpine lakes will be your classroom as your Instructors teach you to load a backpack, cook on a camp stove, and navigate the backcountry. By the end of your expedition, you and your crewmates will be the expedition leaders and you’ll work together to attempt to summit a high mountain peak. At the end of it all, you’ll emerge a confident and resilient leader with the tools to be your best self in the backcountry and at home. 

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Program Overview

Location
Southwest
Start Location
Grand Junction, CO
End Location
Grand Junction, CO
Program
High School
Length
15 - 22 Days
See More Details
Expeditions
Backpacking
Rafting
Activities
Alpine Backpacking, Canyon Backpacking, River Navigation, Service, Whitewater Rafting, Canyoneering, Rafting

Skills

Technical
  • Basic First Aid
  • Basic Paddle Strokes
  • Campcraft
  • Food Preparation and Cooking
  • Knots
  • Map and Compass
  • Navigation
  • River Reading
  • Safety and Risk Management
  • Self Care
  • Sheltering Strategies
  • Travel Techniques
Interpersonal
  • Character
  • Communication
  • Conflict Resolution
  • Empathy
  • Independence
  • Leadership
  • Positive Risk Taking
  • Problem Solving
  • Resilience
  • Responsibility
  • Self Awareness
  • Self Confidence
  • Service

UPCOMING COURSES

This course is closed for the season.

APPLY NOW
This means a course has several open spots and is actively processing applications.

APPLY NOW – Almost Full
This means there are three or fewer currently available spots left on a course. To secure your spot click Apply Now to begin an application!

JOIN WAITLIST
Once a course has reached capacity, three waitlist positions become available. To join a course’s waitlist, click “Join Waitlist” to begin the application process. A $500 deposit is required. This $500 deposit includes a $150 non-refundable application fee and a $350 tuition payment. The $350 tuition payment is refundable only if you cancel your waitlist application or if an open position does not become available. If a position does become available, the applicant will be applied to the open position and the Application and Cancellation Policies of the Regional Outward Bound School will be followed, including forfeiture of the $500 deposit if you cancel 90 days or less prior to the course start date. 

Waitlist applicants are encouraged to complete all required admissions documents while awaiting an open position. Positions may become available up to two weeks prior to the course start date. Applicants may only apply to one course. We recommend applying to a course with open positions instead of a course that is accepting waitlist applications. If you have questions, please call 866-467-7651 to speak with one of our Admissions Advisors.

CALL TO APPLY
This means a course is very close to its start date. Although it is unlikely to secure a spot this late, you can call the National Admissions office at 866-467-7651 to discuss your options.

COURSE IS FULL
When a course has reached maximum capacity, meaning all spots and the three waitlist spots are occupied, a course will read “Course Is Full.” This means applications are no longer being accepted.

CLOSED
As a course nears its start date, the availability status may read “Closed.” In this event, a course roster has been finalized and applications are no longer being accepted or processed.

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Sample Itinerary
15-Day Courses
DAY1
Course start
DAY2-8
Rafting Desolation & Grey Canyons: learn to navigate swift water in a six-person raft. Learn paddling techniques, reading the river, desert ecology and natural and human history. Opportunity for day hikes.
DAY9
Potential service project, re-supply, & transfer to the La Sal Mountains.
DAY9-14
Backpacking: learn to camp and navigate in the mountains. Potential for peak attempt, solo experience and group challenge event.
DAY15
Course end celebrations and transportation home.
22-Day Courses
DAY1
Course start
DAY2-15
Backpacking: learn to camp and navigate in the mountains. Potential for peak attempt, solo experience and group challenge event.
DAY16
Re-supply, & transfer to the river.
DAY16-21
Rafting Cataract Canyon: learn to navigate swift water in a six-person raft. Learn paddling techniques, reading the river, desert ecology and natural and human history. Opportunity for day hikes.
DAY22
Course end celebrations and transportation home.

On this course I have experienced challenge, hardship, fun and best of all, achievement. Because after all the paddling, rapids, mosquitoes, flies and heat, you are left with that sense of accomplishment, that you have gotten through it and you're still standing strong.

— Ujaiah Outward Bound alumnus
Classic Courses

Make new friends, sleep under the stars, and learn skills for outdoor adventure. Outward Bound’s Classic expeditions are designed to empower middle and high school students with the tools and confidence they need to navigate life’s ever-changing tides. By taking on challenges outdoors, students discover their strengths, make meaningful connections and return home with the skills needed to embark on bold futures. 

  • Develop Connections. Bond with your crew by having fun and engaging in meaningful conversations.  
  • Learn Outdoor Skills. Cook delicious meals outside, navigate with a map, and build a backcountry campsite.  
  • Practice Leadership and Teamwork. Learn to be both a leader and team player.  
  • Build Confidence that Lasts a Lifetime. Discover your unique strengths. 
Rafting
Using paddles, a raft is propped up upside down. A group of people use buckets to clean out the inside of the raft.
An empty raft rests on the shore of a river. In the background there are tall canyon walls.
Photo courtesy of Harmony McCoy
People paddle a raft through whitewater framed by tall canyon walls.
Photo courtesy of Olivia Schneider
People paddle a raft through whitewater framed by tall canyon walls.
Photo courtesy of Olivia Schneider
A person wearing a life jacket smiles in chest-deep water. Behind them are rafts with other people and tall canyon walls.
A group of people wearing life jackets smile for the photo as they sit in rafts floating on a calm river.
A group of people wearing life jackets and helmets navigate the choppy waters of a river. Behind them are tall canyon walls.
A group of people wearing life jackets stand in shallow water beside a raft. Many of them raise their arms or oars in the air in celebration.
A group of people sit in a raft wearing life jackets and smile for the photo. Each person holds an oar, and there are tall canyon walls in the background.

While rafting, each day is spent practicing paddle strokes and learning to read the water – all while taking in the beauty of the canyon. Crewmates will become a team, coordinating their paddling and taking turns as boat captains. Between rapids are flat water sections where students can swim, relax and enjoy the view. Time in a raft is ideal for getting to know each other, laughing and singing throughout the day. Afternoons can bring strong winds, leading to challenge and adventure as crews paddle hard to reach camping destinations. The canyon rims can rise hundreds of feet above the river, enclosing participants in a remote world of rushing water and delicate ecosystems. Most courses get the opportunity to take day hikes away from the river. These hikes provide stunning views and often the chance to see archaeological sites, petroglyphs, pictographs and remarkable geological formations. 

Backpacking
A group of people wearing backpacks examine a map. In the distance, there is a snow-capped mountain.
Photo courtesy of Dave Erbe
A group of people wearing backpacks stand above a vast green landscape, There are snow-capped mountains in the background.
Photo courtesy of Dave Erbe
A group of students wearing backpacks and smile while standing in a shady area with green trees.
Photo courtesy of Matt Nunez
A group of students wearing backpacks pose for a photo in a green meadow. In the background there are snow-capped mountains.
Photo courtesy of Conner O'Shea
A group of students wearing backpacks hike along a trail. They appear to be at high elevation. There are mountains in the background.
Photo courtesy of Dylan Lincoln
Six people jump into the are in a green meadow. They appear to be at high elevation.
Photo courtesy of Dave Erbe
A person crosses a creek over a log while another reaches out their arm to support them.
Photo courtesy of Matt Nunez
From under a tarp shelter, people smile and give the camera thumbs up.

Backpackers carry everything they need - food, shelter, clothing and gear – allowing them to go deep into nature where few people go. Students feel a sense of freedom from the stresses of modern life and technology. The simplicity of hiking gives students the opportunity to focus internally on their own thoughts. They also grow to be more present, connecting deeply with nature and their crewmates as they talk, sing and spend time together without distraction. 

The course begins with lessons in basic packing and hiking techniques. Along the way, students learn Leave No Trace techniques, map and compass navigation, and outdoor cooking. As students explore remote regions of the Rocky Mountains, they get to sleep under the stars, feel the sunshine on their face, and watch the sun set over rugged mountain peaks. By the end of course, most crews will have the chance to attempt to summit a high mountain peak.

Service
Two people roll up a large tarp. Behind them is a river and very tall red canyon walls
Photo courtesy of Sophie MacMillan
Two people work with buckets as part of a service project. They are in a desert environment.
Photo courtesy of Sophie MacMillan
Two people use a large pot to prepare food. Behind them is a river and tall canyon walls.
Photo courtesy of Sophie MacMillan
A group of tarp shelters rest in desert grasses. They are propped up by paddles.
Photo courtesy of Sophie MacMillan

Service is a pillar of the Outward Bound experience. On each course, Students learn to practice intentional service to themselves, to others and to the environment. This may look like practicing self-care or supporting a crewmate who is having a hard day. Participants also learn to Leave No Trace ethics, practicing service to the environment by preserving and respecting the fragile ecosystems they encounter. Students experience firsthand the social and emotional benefits of acts of service. They are encouraged to bring this ethic of care to their life back home.  

Solo

In order for profound learning to take place, there must be time to reflect on the experience. Weather and time permitting, Solo provides an important break from the rigors of the expedition and gives students the opportunity to reflect on their Outward Bound experience. Many students use this reflection time to make decisions about their future, journal and enjoy the beauty of their surroundings unencumbered by the constant external stimulation of modern life. Solo is that opportunity, and that time can range anywhere from 30 minutes to 24 hours or more, depending on the length of the course as well as the competency and preparedness of the student group.

With all the food, skills and supplies they need, participants are given a secluded spot to reflect alone and are monitored by Instructors at regular intervals, as safety is always a top priority. Students find that Solo provokes profound and powerful learning in a short period of time and often becomes one of the most memorable parts of their Outward Bound experience.

Outcomes

Our expeditions help students grow into the best version of themselves. We use challenge in the outdoors to allow students to discover their strengths and build authentic connections with their peers. Compassion for oneself and others is foundational to our educational approach. As students realize that they are stronger than they know, they develop confidence and resilience that will last a lifetime. Social and emotional learning outcomes include:

  • Belonging – students form deep connections founded upon respect, inclusion, and compassion
  • Reflection – students learn self-awareness and practice empathy towards others
  • Physical Engagement – students develop awareness and confidence in their bodies
  • Courage – students develop the confidence to speak up for themselves and persevere through challenges
Course Area
A group of people hike along a trail in a green wooded area
Photo courtesy of Sophie MacMillan
A body of water lies in a grassy meadow, with evergreen trees and a mountain in the background.
Photo courtesy of Sophie MacMillan
A group of backpackers hike along a rocky trail overlooking a mountainous landscape
Photo courtesy of Dave Erb
A group of backpackers hike at high elevation.
Photo courtesy of Dave Erb
A river winds through red canyon walls
A body of water lies beneath tall canyon walls
A green valley is framed by red canyon walls
A group of people swim in a river framed by canyon walls

La Sal Mountains

The La Sal Mountains rise dramatically out of the desert, towering 9,000 ft. above the surrounding canyonlands. These majestic mountains are known for their groves of aspen, rich amount of wildlife, high summits, and incredible views overlooking Canyonlands and Arches National Parks. Hidden lakes and fields of wildflowers dot the landscape. Students may also spot wildlife like elk, mountain goats, marmots and eagles. Most courses will also get the opportunity to attempt to summit a mountain peak.  Peaks in the La Sals range from ten thousand to just under thirteen thousand feet and include the highest mountains in Southern Utah. These regions are the ancestral lands of the Ute, Cheyenne, Arapaho, Sioux, Eastern Shoshone, Jicarilla Apache, and Pueblos Nations.

The Green River

The Green River is one of the largest and grandest rivers in the Southwest. It is famous for its world-renowned whitewater rapids and towering red rock canyon walls. Whitewater river sections may give students the opportunity to navigate Class 2 or 3 rapids while slow water sections provide time for swimming and relaxing. Throughout the canyon, there are spectacular cultural wonders including ancient dwellings and pictographs. As crews descend deeper into the canyons, they will get to observe a variety of unique geologic formations and layers of pink, red, and orange rock. Sagebrush, cottonwood, juniper, and willow trees pepper the shores. Beaches provide an opportunity to stop for lunch or set up camp along sandy shores. Many of our longer rafting courses will travel through Canyonlands National Park, reaching the confluence of the Colorado and Green Rivers. This section of the Green River is the ancestral land of the Ute Nation.

The Colorado River

The Colorado River is one of the largest and most significant rivers in the Southwest, and home to Cataract Canyon, a world-renown whitewater rafting destination that cuts through the heart of Canyonlands National Park. Archaeological sites and petroglyphs can be spotted along the water. The river boasts 31 iconic rapids that are comparable to those of the Grand Canyon in power, difficulty and beauty. Students may have the chance to encounter some of the most famous of these rapids including the Mile Long Rapids and “The Big Drops.” Slower sections of the river offer time for relaxing, bonding, and sometimes even swimming. Sandy shores offer perfect spots for camping. This section of the Colorado River is the ancestral lands of the Ute, Pueblos, and Navajo Nations. 

Course Stories

I have experienced challenge, hardship, fun and best of all, achievement.

On this course I have experienced challenge, hardship, fun and best of all, achievement. Because after all the paddling, rapids, mosquitoes, flies and heat, you are left with that sense of accomplishment, that you have gotten through it and you're still standing strong.

— Ujaiah Outward Bound alumnus
I have taken so much from this course.

I have taken so much from this course. Being able to work and live as a group. The backpacking and the beautiful mountains we were on. I was challenged in so many ways that have improved my life and will continue to benefit me throughout my life. I have made so many memories that I will cherish and love forever and will be able to think about time and time again.

— Torin

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Getting Started

If you are ready to enroll on a course click the enroll button next to the course you wish to select or you can enroll over the phone by speaking with one of our Customer Success Specialists (toll-free) at 866-467-7651.

To secure your spot on a course you must submit an enrollment form and $500 deposit that is applied toward the total cost of the course and includes a $150 non-refundable enrollment processing fee. 

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