A Cataract Canyon Guide’s Take on What to Love about the Late Season
By Codi Coghlan • September 27, 2024
A Cataract Canyon Guide’s Take on What to Love about the Late Season
Scotty began guiding four years ago after attending Mild to Wild’s guide school. Today, he’s a seasoned multi-day guide, specializing in motoring through Cataract Canyon’s mega rapids during high water. While the challenge of making it through big waves is his passion, he loves witnessing the Colorado River’s natural flow and how it changes throughout the rafting season.
For our interview, we decided to float in a motorized raft near the Potash boat ramp, a common launch point for Mild to Wild’s Cataract Canyon trips. Towering layers of crimson and pink rock formations loomed above the muddy, iron-rich waters. The sky was unusually overcast for Moab — a welcome respite from the hot sun.
The goal was to delve into what to love about the late season in Cataract Canyon. Scotty’s responses covered this and so much more.
“What I love most about the late season in Cataract Canyon is getting to witness the river’s natural progression — like watching the changing seasons. It’s a living, evolving thing, unlike the predictable flow in river sections controlled by dam releases.”
Read on to discover the ins and outs of rafting this wild and spectacular place during one of our favorite times of year.
Cataract Canyon’s Conditions during the Late Season
In July and August, you can expect monsoons, but in September and October, there’s less rain. The temperatures are much nicer, too — 70s and 80s instead of the scorching 90s and 100s you get earlier in the summer. The water warms up as well after soaking up the sun all summer long, making it more comfortable for swimming.
Once the snowmelt runoff subsides and water levels drop, we start to see a few changes. The water becomes murkier, lacking the clarity brought by the spring runoff. According to Scotty, this is the river’s natural state — when it’s clear, that’s actually unusual. So, when people comment on the muddy water, he reminds them that this is how the Colorado River is meant to look.
A big perk to late season trips is less mosquitos. The high water season attracts the mosquitoes, and they congregate around the beaches where rafters camp. The late season brings more exposed beaches in some areas as the water ebbs and mosquito season ends.
With less moisture in the late season, the land tends to dry out, leading to occasional fire bans. But fear not! On Mild to Wild trips, we can almost always enjoy campfires in the evenings.
The Rapids
As water levels drop, the rapids transform. Scotty loves how, in the late season, guides get to tap into a different skill set, as the rapids shift from roller coaster waves to technical challenges with more exposed rocks to navigate. Furthermore, some rapids that are hidden during high water, like rapid 5, make formidable appearances in the late season.
This phenomenon is also visible near the old Lake Powell at the end of Cataract Canyon. According to the Returning Rapids Project, Gypsum Canyon Rapid is reemerging after being buried for years. High flows have accelerated its return by shifting sediment and exposing rock features, creating new rapids.
Recent observations suggest Gypsum Canyon Rapid is nearly back to its “pre-reservoir” state, with only a few areas still covered in sediment. Increased runoff and localized flooding have scoured away more debris, revealing hidden boulders and channels — especially noticeable during the low-water season.
How Guides Prepare for Late Season Cataract Canyon Trips
As the season progresses and conditions change, guides take several key steps to prepare for late-season Cataract Canyon trips. With lower runoff slowing the water flow, they launch from the boat ramp earlier in the morning to arrive at camp on time.
They also pack less bug spray, since mosquitos are less of an issue by the late season, and they stay informed about fire bans, which often come into effect as snowmelt diminishes and the terrain dries out.
Guides make a point to collect firewood early on, especially before reaching the end of the rapids where driftwood becomes scarce. Gathering enough firewood is essential to ensure there’s plenty for fires at camps downriver.
Two Strokes for Late Season Folks
In the late season, guides prefer using two-stroke motors due to their lighter weight, making it easier to lift them out of the water and avoid rocks as river levels drop. These older models, which run on a mix of oil and gas, are no longer in production and lack available replacement parts. However, they remain practical in low water conditions, offering reliability where modern motors might struggle.
In contrast, four-stroke motors, such as the newer Tohatsu models, are ideal for high water. Originally designed for use in lakes and oceans, these motors feature an oil injection system that draws directly from a reservoir, eliminating the need to mix oil and gas as in two-stroke engines.
The use of boat motors in rafting is part of a long tradition of creative problem-solving that dates back to the 1930s. Pioneers like Buzz Holmstrom, who rowed his hand-made wooden boat through Cataract Canyon, relied on army surplus gear to power through massive rapids. Holmstrom, a legendary figure in river running, perfectly captured the spirit of rafting:
“Some people have said, ‘I conquered the Colorado River’ — I don’t say so. It has never been conquered, and never will, I think. Anyone whom it allows to pass through its canyons and witness its wonders should feel thankful and privileged.” — Buzz Holmstrom, from his 1937 log, A Final Thought.
The Rewards of Late-Season Rafting in Cataract Canyon
For Scotty, the true reward of running Cataract Canyon trips is navigating the rapids. His eyes lit up as he described the experience:
At high water, the waves can tower up to 30 feet, resembling a turbulent brown ocean. The sheer scale of the water demands focus and precision, while at low water, the satisfaction comes from simply making it through the technical challenges. Whether it’s high or low water, the sense of accomplishment is immense — like reaching the summit of a mountain. That excitement remains strong even in the late season.
According to Scotty, the other best aspect of Cataract Canyon trips is how the river transforms throughout the season — you never experience the same river twice. In June, it flows differently than in August, allowing you to witness the natural progression of the river without the influence of dams regulating its flow, as seen in the Grand Canyon.
Cataract Canyon remains largely free-flowing, bolstered by significant tributaries like the Gunnison, Dolores, and Green rivers, which contribute to its volume. Plus, it’s situated over 250 miles from the nearest man-made barrier — the Grand Valley Diversion Dam in Palisade, Colorado.
Even then, the Grand Valley Diversion Dam does not operate like a traditional dam that stores and releases water; rather, it merely diverts a portion of the Colorado’s flow without completely obstructing it. As a result, the canyon’s beaches, campsites, and rapids evolve naturally with the river’s changing form.
A Piece of Advice
As our interview came to a close at Potash boat ramp, Scotty offered a piece of advice to late season rafters: approach the experience with a good attitude, a sense of adventure, and a hearty appetite.
By the end of summer, shadows grow longer, and the water returns to its natural, silty state, revealing sandy beaches along the banks. Each rapid speaks its own language, shaped by shifting currents and exposed rocks. The late season, often overlooked, is a hidden gem, inviting us to experience Cataract Canyon at one of its most pleasant times.
