Spend 12 days canoeing the San Juan River through Utah’s canyon country — one of the most geologically rich landscapes in the American Southwest. You’ll travel 84 miles by canoe through a progression of whitewater up to Class III, learning how to live, camp, and travel down a big Western river. This course is designed for adults 50 and over who are looking for a genuine expedition in a beautiful place.

Your course begins at the NOLS River Base in Vernal, Utah, where you’ll learn basic canoe strokes and how to outfit and load a boat before heading to the put-in. From there, you’ll progress into eddy turns, peel-outs, ferries, river reading, and rescue techniques — learning to scout rapids and manage your group through whitewater as the river’s difficulty builds. The NOLS leadership curriculum is woven throughout.

You’ll camp on sandy beaches along the river each night, with canyon walls rising above camp and centuries of human history etched into the surrounding rock. You’ll visit ancient petroglyphs and ruins, learn about the area’s geology, and study the role water has played in shaping both the landscape and its management.
Weather in canyon country can change fast — expect anything from hot sunshine to afternoon thunderstorms. The community you build with your group will help carry you through the moments of discomfort.

You’ll leave with a well-rounded foundation of whitewater canoe skills and a deep familiarity with one of the most compelling river corridors in the West.