Packrafting the Lower Price River

The Price River is a 137-mile long tributary of the Green River that flows through Wasatch and Carbon counties, Utah. Like most desert rivers in Utah, the Price is small and typically unnavigable except for a small window each year during spring runoff. While the upper and middle portions can also be packrafted, this trip focused on the lower section, which begins at Woodside (Highway 6), and ends at the confluence with the Green River. The Lower Price River is not paddled often, and there is not a ton of information about it online. This run is best suited for packrafters with a sense of adventure who enjoy floating lesser-known rivers and creeks. 

The Lower Price River put-in is right off of Highway 6 at the town of Woodside. Thousands of people drive right past the put-in on their way to Moab and hardly even notice the trickle of water that is the Price River. There is a dirt road right before the put-in that will take you directly to the river, right next to the Highway 6 bridge. Start here. For the first few miles, the Price river meanders slowly through grassy plains. The river channel here is narrow and deep. Keep an eye out for beavers! After a leisurely first few miles, you'll encounter the first set of rapids. The Lower Price feels more like a creek than a river, and the rapids come in quick succession with few places to eddy out, so be prepared for consistent action. 

Camping opportunities are abundant and no permits are needed, so go as far down the river as you please and then make camp. While this trip could be done in one very, very long day, it makes the most sense to do it as an overnighter. This area of the Book Cliffs and Desolation Wilderness is rarely seen, so it is best to spend some time in the area. An additional day could easily be added for a day hike if possible. 

Eventually, the Price River merges with the mighty Green River, just a few miles upstream from the takeout location for the Desolation Grey Canyons multi-day raft run. After running the price for 15+ miles, the Green River looks and feels like an ocean. While none of the rapids on this section of the Green are too big, the water here is incredibly pushy for small packrafts, so be careful. 

The takeout is on the river’s left and is hard to miss. Drive time back to the put-in is roughly one hour.

Make sure to check the river's conditions on USGS before heading out. Anything lower than 150 CFS (cubic feet per second) would not be advisable, and higher water levels could bump up the difficulty significantly.