Come Play in Our Big Backyard!

Discover the thrill of Moab river rafting with World Wide River Expeditions

Whitewater Rafting in Moab, Utah

For over 50 years, World Wide River Expeditions has been connecting families and friends through some of the most amazing outdoor adventures the West has to offer. In the true spirit of family business, we aim to provide the best experience possible at an affordable price. These are values we’ve held since the company began, with a small garage and a dream. That one-time ward youth conference became a yearly event, and has since grown to embrace thousands every summer. Many guests bring their children and grandchildren back for more after experiencing the timeless beauty of the canyons and the friendly leadership of our guides. And it speaks to our company culture that we’ll soon be welcoming the first third-generation river guides, whose parents and grandparents navigated these life-changing waters years ago.


Check out this blog post from our founder, Richard Jones,  for more about our history and founding principles. And know that whether you seek the quiet conversation of a serene float, the laughter of playful whitewater, the thrill of raging rapids -- or all three — we have the trip for you!



Come play in our backyard!


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Summer Adventures, World Wide Memories

Join us for a summer filled with thrilling rivers, cozy campfires, and unforgettable moments in Moab's stunning backyard.

The Ultimate Moab Rafting Experiences

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FAMILY-FOCUSED ADVENTURES

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Budget-Friendly Prices – Enjoy the adventure without breaking the bank.

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High Safety Standards –  Relax in the knowledge that your safety is our top priority.

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Comfortable Equipment –  Experience the outdoors with ease and security.

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Unforgettable Youth Retreats

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Connection –  Build relationships and make memories with old and new Friends.

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Immersion –  Unplug from everyday and bask in the wonder of the great outdoors.

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Challenge –  Develop resilience and other skills as you dig deep through new experiences.

Why Choose World Wide River Expeditions?

We KNOW Family

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Family-Friendly Trips

We provide comfortable access to breathtaking locations.

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Expertise

We pour over 50 years of experience, passion, and skill into every trip.

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Stress-Free Planning

We handle all the details, so you can focus on the fun stuff.

Our Best Rafting Deals

Group Rafting Deals

Cataract Canyon Rafting
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★★★★★

 1 DAY

Fisher Towers

West Water Canyon Rafting
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★★★★★

 2 DAY

Westwater Canyon

Cataract Canyon Rafting
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 3 DAY

★★★★★

Cataract Canyon

fisher towers rafting
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★★★★★

 2 DAY

Family Reunions

moab rafting
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★★★★★

 3 DAY

Youth Groups

Popular River Destinations

Questions? We've got the Answers!

Did We Answer Your Question?

Below are some questions we often get...

  • Why are your trips less expensive than other Companies?

    Providing the best experience possible at an affordable price is important to us. We accomplish this in several ways but mostly by lowering much of our overhead cost by being very involved as owners.


    • We answer our own phones eliminating the need for a large office staff.
    • We oversee and assist in the day-to-day operation of the company, no manager.
    • We personally train the new guides each season and guide ourselves when possible.
    • Our location is off of Main Street in Moab, avoiding the expense of main street property.

    These practices combined with our desire to share what we have been blessed with, at a family friendly price, is how we offer the Best Value out there. We are friends with all the other companies and they do great trips as well, but you can rest assured that your experience with us will be second to none.

  • What is the best trip?

    Each river expedition was selected for a specific scenic value or activity. Some are more tranquil, while others represent all-out adventure. In their own way, each is "best" for the wilderness activity involved, be it hiking, rafting or hummer tour. Each client has to gage his/her activity level and determine whether a motorized, rowing, paddle raft or inflatable kayak trip best suits their activity needs. Some questions to consider: How many days do you want to be on the river? Do you want to want to be in the red rock country of the southwest or the pine tree country of the north? Do you want to participate in your river trip or let the guide take you on your river journey. Answers to these questions will help determine which trip is best suited for you.

  • When is the best time to go?

    Moab’s Canyon Country is known for its fantastic weather. In the spring and fall, daytime temperatures range from 60-80 degrees F, dropping to 30-50 degrees at night. Expect summer temperatures between 85 and 105 degrees during the day and 55-75 degrees at night. Rainstorms tend to be rare and short-lived in this area, but a light rain jacket may be handy for cool mornings or late afternoon showers. We recommend that you check the local weather before departing to see what is forecast during your trip. Always be prepared for the sun; wear sunscreen and a hat to protect your skin.

  • What sets World Wide apart from the others?

    Year after year, we find that our two top sources of guests are repeat rafters and referrals by friends and family. This tells us that we are meeting our goals of creating comfortable environments for outstanding adventure experiences. How are we achieving these goals? Visit our "About Us" section for a short overview of the company and family philosophy which explains how we achieve this level of service and what sets us apart from other outfitters.

  • Will the whitewater meet my expectations?

    A river trip is much more than just whitewater. In fact, on any raft trip, it constitutes only about a fourth of the total wilderness experience. Clients who appreciate wilderness beauty, who delight in discovery, who enjoy the camaraderie of others, who enjoy a camping experience and the preparation of camp cuisine will appreciate the quality of whitewater appropriate for the season of their trip. (High in the spring of the year, lower and more moderate in July and August) To enjoy all of the above first, we'll make whitewater, however large or small, seem like "frosting on the cake."

Where are we

located

LET'S START PLANNING!

RESERVE YOUR ADVENTURE TODAY

Fill out our contact form to get started, and one of our experts will be in touch to help plan your perfect trip.

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"The high level of expertise and experience that your company has is obvious. I was impressed with the planning and execution of every phase of our trip. We had a fantastic time! Thanks for a wonderful vacation!"


-Wade from Illinois

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STORIES

Special Articles for you

A group of people are rafting down a river in a red raft
By Richard Jones October 31, 2024
In essence, the Butterfly effect can be summed up in the idea that small, almost minuscule, imperceptible events can have positive or negative consequences on events far in the future, as in the flap of a butterfly wing somewhere in the Amazon jungle that effects weather patterns that ultimately result in a devastating typhoon that hits Japan months later, or life-saving rains that bring an end to a drought to the same region. Small actions can have far reaching consequences. Consider: During the 1961 Cuban missile crises, a nuclear-armed soviet submarine – B-59 lay submerged off the coast of Cuba. Through lack of communication with Russia, the sub’s captain Valentin Savitsky, decided, on his own to launch a nuclear torpedo at the American aircraft carrier above him that was raining depth charges on his vessel. To launch, all three senior officers on the vessel had to agree with the action. One-man, Russian Navy officer Vasili Arkhipov vetoed the action. He has been called the man who saved the world. He exercised his veto power to halt the launch. The consequences of a nuclear war, had it broken out are unimaginable, yet, it came down to one man, with one vote. The Butterfly effect. I think about the reality of the Butterfly effect in my life that put me on a course to do what I did in regards to founding World Wide River Expeditions and the tremendous positive effect it has had on virtually every guide who ever walked through the doors of the Moab warehouse or who have in any way been associated with the company. I have heard often from the guides who I worked with from 1971-2000 of the incredible impact the river experience has had in their lives. Likewise, Steve and Nicki Hazlett who have guided the company since acquiring the entity in 2000 and nurturing it to the present day have also frequently commented about the positive impact the total river experience has had on the employees under their watch. I think I can speak with authority in saying that no guide, from 1971 through 2021 – 50 years now, has not, in some form or another been deeply impacted, in a very positive way by their experience working as a river guide for the company either in Moab or Salmon, Idaho. Among other things, guides and associates have learned, The value of hard work The value of teamwork How to interact, and get along with others Taking responsibility for one’s decisions Recognizing that decisions and choices have consequences Leadership skills at an elevated level Respect for the world in which they live Appreciation for the beauties of the world Acquiring positive, exciting, and adventurous memories that will last them a lifetime And perhaps best of all – for some, finding their life’s eternal companion Gratitude for the privilege of working in one of the choicest environments on planet Earth Gaining self-awareness of their personal worth and potential as a human being Growth in life’s perspective and gaining down-to-earth experiences that will assist and help them throughout the rest of their lives. Learning the lesson embodied in the statement, “Yes, I can do hard things.” And not only do they survive, but they willingly come back for more of the same, only this time, stronger, and more determined, more resolute, and showing greater leadership skills. Discovering one’s self, who I really am, realizing that I’m capable of so much more than I ever thought possible. The list goes on – each guide could add to this list according their own personal experiences. I think of Steve who was hired, but just barely, and what would the company be without him. I was in Houston/Dallas doing convention shows and in speaking to my office manager Bonnie, she said, “I just hired another guide, but he’s so skinny, I’m not sure he’s up to the job.” And several years later, Both Steve and I were at BYU interviewing potential guides when Nicki came for an interview. With her, as we all know, the rest is history. So, what was the impetus for the creation of the company that has resulted in so much good. What was the Butterfly effect in my life that set everything in motion? It’s mind-boggling to try and imagine how varied and different the outcome would be for every guide that has ever worked for Worldwide River Expeditions if the company never came to fruition. Only the individual guide will know the depth of the change that would have occurred in their life, had they not guided for the company. I’ve scrutinized my life looking for the Butterfly effect that I could say was responsible for setting the whole river experience in motion and I think I’ve found it. It was a seven-year-old boy in Phoenix, Arizona in 1950 that went to the cotton fields to pick cotton. Any guide, any employee who has ever been associated with World Wide River Expedition, who was influenced by their experience as a guide on the Colorado, Green, of Salmon Rivers can attribute the positive effects of these experiences to a small boy who answered an advertisement, from the Murphy School District in 1950, to meet at the school on a particular Saturday morning, to be bussed to the nearby cotton fields to pick cotton. On learning of the opportunity to make a couple of dollars, I opted to go pick cotton, as did my brother and a friend. We had to bring our own lunch and Gunny sacks to hold the cotton and we were paid by the pound for our work. I was good for two Gunny sacks full of cotton, and then my energy and lack of enthusiasm for the work waned. I think I made $1.50 ($16.50 in 2021) for my day’s effort. It wasn’t the money that I earned that day, that was important, but the realization that if I worked, I could earn money, and that excited me, even as a 7-year-old, for it gave me money to buy comic books – 10 cents each, candy bars at 5 cents each and movies for 10 cents each. In 1950, my parents moved the family from Phoenix back to South Salt Lake City where they were from. Work was scarce for a 10-year-old boy, but I did secure a job as a Newsy, hawking newspapers on the city streets in Salt Lake. Papers sold for a dime and newsies got to keep 50%, or a nickel for each paper sold. If I sold all 25 of my papers, I came home with $2.50 in my pocket. ($27.60 in 2021) Again, the lesson learned was that if I worked, I could earn money. I advanced from selling newspapers on Salt Lake street corners to having my own paper route. All through Jr. High School, I delivered papers, by bike, throughout my neighborhood, which gave me plenty of spending money, especially to buy clothes which were important in Jr. High School. In my local church, I attended Scouts. At one troop meeting, in 1958, a representative from the Great Salt Lake Council of scouting came to our scout meeting and announced that the council was offering one week river trips on the Colorado River through Glen Canyon, now Lake Powell at a cost of only $50.00 per person. We needed only to bring our own clothes and a sleeping bag. Of the twenty boys in my troop, I was the only one that had any interest in going on the trip. In addition to lack of interest, I’m sure the cost of the trip - $50 was more than most boys or their parents could afford. Fifty dollars in 1958 is the equivalent of $552.00 in 2021. The boys didn’t have the money and neither did the parents. I know mine didn’t. But I had a paper route, which easily allowed me to pay my own way. That first trip through Glen Canyon was a wonder to behold. I was hooked. In high school, I organized trips for my classmates and took several trips each summer from 1959-1961. Following my mission – 1962 – 1965, I attended the U and BYU, but could never find my niche for a profession, all the while I continued to work as a river guide during the summer. Finally, in 1971 I bagged school altogether, hung my shingle out and stated to all the world that I’m now a professional river runner and open for business. The rest is history, and 50 years have now passed, and thanks to Steve and Nicki, World Wide River Expedition is better and stronger than ever, but it all began with a seven-year-old boy answering the call to go pick cotton, which became the Butterfly Effect for many. We all have a Butterfly effect in our lives. What was yours!
A group of people are in a raft on a river with an american flag.
By Nikki DeSantis October 30, 2024
Discover the best times for whitewater rafting in Moab, Utah, with World Wide Ride Expedition. From thrilling rapids in May and June to family-friendly floats in July and August, plan your perfect adventure.
A group of people are sitting on a raft on a river.
By Dawn Gaddy July 5, 2024
Family-Friendly River Trips: Perfect Destinations For All Ages with Worldwide River Expeditions When it comes to planning a family vacation, finding activities that everyone can enjoy can be a challenge. Fortunately, river trips offer the perfect blend of adventure, relaxation, and natural beauty that can captivate all ages. At Worldwide River Expeditions, we specialize in creating family-friendly river trips that cater to both the young and the young at heart. Here are some of our top destinations and tips for planning the perfect family river adventure.