Our Southwest Canyons courses for students ages 12 to 18 offer whitewater rafting adventures, with select courses that also include backpacking through Utah’s canyon country beginning and ending in Grand Junction, Colorado.
Outward Bound courses in the Southwest will take you through layers of geological and human history as you explore rivers, canyons, and forests by day and spend nights under expansive starry skies.
You’ll travel with a supportive crew and expert instructors, learning technical skills for adventure and facing right-sized challenges that’ll remind you what you’re truly capable of. You’ll return home courageous, inspired, and ready for wherever your path leads next.
Courses start and end in Grand Junction, Colorado, with three sessions available – one in June and two in July.
From red rock canyons to high mountain peaks, every day on this course brings a new adventure as you hike, paddle, and camp alongside your crew. You’ll raft through dramatic red rock canyons, then trade your paddle for boots as you backpack in the La Sal Mountains. Along the way, you’ll step into leadership roles as both boat captain and trail leader, building confidence, resilience, and a deeper love for the outdoors as you chart your path through stunning new landscapes each day.
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Is Outward Bound safe?
Outward Bound courses take place outdoors and include activities that present risks that can be managed but not eliminated. Running our courses safely is central to our educational goals and our safety record is excellent. Our instructors not only identify and reduce risks but also teach students to assess and address hazards with preparation and care, rather than fear and avoidance. Students and their families participate in our safety systems by familiarizing students with the course description prior to the course and by filling out our application and medical forms completely. We regularly review our safety training systems with our peers and other industry experts and continually seek to create or adopt the most effective practices. Every course is equipped with the ability to get help in an emergency. For more information, visit our Safety & Risk Management page.
How does travel work?
Southwest courses begin in Grand Junction, Colorado, at Walker Field Airport (GJT), where students are met by staff from the Colorado Outward Bound School (COBS). After meeting the group, participants travel by van to the course area near Moab, Utah.
Transportation is provided at both the start and end of the course between the airport and the course area.
What kinds of qualifications do Instructors have?
Outward Bound Instructors are highly trained professionals with extensive experience managing risk in outdoor environments. All Instructors are Wilderness First Responder certified, complete rigorous training and annual evaluations, and follow comprehensive safety plans informed by ongoing reviews. Those leading technical activities hold additional certifications, and all Instructors focus on teaching students how to assess and manage risk confidently and responsibly.
Beyond technical expertise, Instructors focus on building a positive group culture where students actively participate in safety systems, build confidence, and return home with the skills to care for themselves, others, and the environment.
Will students be able to use their phone or other devices on course?
This course is a totally screen-free adventure! Although some students are hesitant about this at first, many reflect on their experience as a well-needed break from screens and social media. No phones means more time to be present with nature and crewmates too.
Do students need experience with activities like camping or swimming?
Nope! Students don’t need prior experience with camping, backpacking, or outdoor skills. Our Instructors teach everything from packing backpacks to setting up sleep shelters, and students don’t need to be all‑star athletes to thrive. What matters most is enthusiasm, curiosity, and a willingness to try new things and step outside comfort zones. Students also don’t need to be experienced swimmers; they should simply be comfortable swimming short distances while wearing a personal flotation device (PFD). Many participants find their confidence in the water grows naturally over the course, with instructors there to support and
What's on the menu?
Our course foods are lightweight, nonperishable, and fuel your active days. Because our programs involve high levels of physical activity, carbohydrates are a key part of the menu. While on course, students will work together to prepare their own meals. Examples of foods you might enjoy include: bagels, cheese, granola, oatmeal, dried fruit, hummus, peanut butter, pita, salami, tortillas, tuna, trail mix, noodles, rice, beans, soup, and chili.
The geology of the Desert Southwest is millions of years old and the way the water and wind have shaped the landscape allows a close-up view of that history. Visible rock layers tell us stories of an evolving climate and the canyons and valleys house evidence of human presence from more than a thousand years ago.
Utah’s landscape is dynamic. In the desert, water is precious and people, plants, and animals adjust to its availability. Red rock riverbanks are lined in green, while prickly pear cacti cling to cracks in the sandstone and bloom bright red and pink in the springtime. Seasonal creeks carve through side canyons and rainfall tumbles over the edges of cliff walls. Far from modern civilization, the desert is complex and alive.
It’s common to encounter evidence of early human inhabitants in the Utah backcountry. Petroglyph and pictograph panels, cliff dwellings, potsherds, and archaeological sites tell the stories of Indigenous peoples who traveled, lived, and stewarded these lands long before they became our classroom. And Indigenous culture is still ever-present throughout the state. You’ll learn more about the people who explored the trails before you as you form your own connections with this special place.
Utah is a major source of the world’s knowledge of dinosaurs, boasting fossil records of more dinosaur species than any other state and the most complete record of prehistoric life of any geographic area on the planet. And while these magnificent creatures no longer roam the terrain, you might find lizard tracks around your campsite and see bighorn sheep, burros, or mustangs snacking on desert grasses and shrubs.
With so many views to take in, don’t forget to look up! Utah is home to dozens of Certified Dark Sky Places, which means when the sun sets, new wonders emerge. Stars, planets, and galaxies glimmer overhead and the Milky Way feels close enough to touch. It is a perfect place to rest after a day of adventure.
With a crew you can count on, you’ll learn how to navigate the challenges of land and water travel while expanding your perspective of what’s possible. You’ll experience firsthand the satisfaction and humility of achieving big things in even bigger places, and take lessons (and likely a fair amount of sand) with you well into your future. Learning looks different out here; come see for yourself.
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The beautiful landscape truly instilled a level of reflection and gratitude I’m excited to return home with. This experience is one I will cherish and I have learned so many physical and emotional skills. Being in the backcountry and surrounded by nature is clarifying for the mind, body, and soul. I have learned so much from both my instructors through the examples they set. For that I am truly grateful.
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