Green River

Getting outdoors is easy in Green River. The Green River State Park has boating, camping, fishing, and golfing steps from the town center, while Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Goblin Valley State Park, Capitol Reef National Park, and the San Rafael Swell are a day-tripping distance away. It’s fitting that this white-water hub is also home to the John Wesley Powell River History Museum, which explores the Colorado River’s natural and cultural heritage.

Green River is located 182 miles (293 kilometers) southwest of Salt Lake City and 52 miles (84 kilometers) northwest of Moab. While most visitors arrive by car, it is possible to reach Green River by both bus and train. The Amtrak station in Green River is served by the California Zephyr that has once-daily service between Chicago, Illinois, and Emeryville, California.

The Green River rafting season goes from early April through October, with the highest flow generally occurring in May and early June. Late June, July, and August expose riverside beaches great for swimming and usher in moderate river conditions suited to families with children. Green River’s famed melons are ripe starting in late July, with the Melon Days festival taking place in mid-September.

The Green River is just one way to experience white-water rafting in the area—guided trips from Moab also head to the Colorado River. Its Fisher Towers section combines fun rapids with dramatic sandstone scenery, while the 17-mile (27-kilometer) Westwater Canyon features challenging Class III and Class IV rapids. Motorized rafts traverse the 100-mile (160-kilometers) Cataract Canyon that goes through the heart of Canyonlands National Park.

If you’re a fan of melons, then head to Green River for the annual Melon Days Festival in September, which it’s been celebrating for more than 100 years. There are also loads of trails designed for dirt bikes in the area around Green River, so it is a biker destination.

The time you visit Green River depends on what activity you’d like to do. Rafting season is from April to October, but high times are between May and early June. If you want beach time, go in June, July, and August when the river is gentler and suitable for families.

Green River became a settlement in 1876. It was an important crossing for the US mail, and it was a crucial point that emigrants had to cross when they were heading west along the emigration trails. Besides mail, the local ferry transported animals, supplies, and people across the river.

Green River is an easy drive from Moab. Most visitors get there by car, but there is also a bus service. The bus takes about one and a half hours. Driving on your own takes under an hour. It’s about a 3-hour drive from Salt Lake City.

There are loads of activities to do at Green River, including rafting, freeriding dirt bikes, swimming in the summer, and hiking numerous local trails. Check out the rock formations at Goblin Valley State Park, or visit the John Wesley Powell River History Museum and stop at the gift shop.

Yes, Green River in Utah is worth visiting. The area’s history in facilitating emigration is notable, plus there are many activities you can do in the region. It’s family-friendly with calm riverside beaches, and it has more advanced daredevil stuff, like riding dirt bikes through the trails.