Cataract Canyon
Utah – US
- Class
- III to IV
- Length
- 112 Mile(s)
- Gradient
- 16 FPM
- Put-in elevation
- 3,951 Feet
- Take-out elevation
- 3,703 Feet
- Typical season
- January to December
Current Flow
4,010 CFS
Reading from Jul 10, 2026 10:20 PM
▼ -11.67/hr (12h) ▼ -5.83/hr (24h)
Hit some laps
- Primary gauge
- [COLORADO RIVER NEAR CISCO, UT]+ [GREEN RIVER AT GREEN RIVER, UT] Gauge detail & alternatives
- Flow formula
-
[COLORADO RIVER NEAR CISCO, UT]+ [GREEN RIVER AT GREEN RIVER, UT]computes to 4,010.0 right now - Alternative gauge
- [COLORADO RIVER NEAR CISCO, UT] 1,650 CFS (estimated)
- Alternative gauge
- [GREEN RIVER AT GREEN RIVER, UT] 2,360 CFS (estimated)
Recommended levels
| Minimum | 3,500 |
| Average | 27,000 |
| Maximum | 50,000 |
Recommended use
- Kayaking
- Rafting
- Canoeing
- SUP
- Packrafting
- Fishing
Struck-through craft are not recommended for this run.
Flow history — last 6 days
No gauge history recorded in the last 6 days.
Photos
Description
Cataract canyon is the "mini" Grand Canyon trip. 112 miles of some of the best scenery, camping, hikes and whitewater anywhere in the world. Even though the whitewater section of Cataract is only 15 miles long with lots of flatwater above and below it is some of the biggest whitewater at high flows.
Most put in at Potash below Moab. From there you have around 40 miles of flat water taking you through turn after turn of Dead Horse Point scenery. In fact you will float right by Dead Horse Point. Many excellent side hikes, ruins and pictographs can be found in this upper section. From Lathrop canyon you could access the white rim trail which is epic in its own right.
Below the confluence with the Green River you have about 4 miles until the rapids begin. This is also the area where you can camp and get into the Maze via the Dollhouse hike. You need to practice appropriate back country travel in this area to prevent erosion. You also need to stash your boats and gear in a way that wind or animals can't get into food or other items.
The whitewater section contains all the action that you see on youtube. Rapids are number in sequence and can be viewed below in detail.
Below Imperial Canyon you reach the upper stretches of Lake Powell and slow going currents and flatwater to the takeout. Lake Powell's water level determines how much rowing or motoring you will end up doing. Some folks like to tie everything together and night float this section while others insist on having a motor in the group to deal with the flatwater above or below the rapids. If you do decide to run this without a motor make sure you take into account water flow, Lake Powell levels and wind forecasts. It can be done without a motor but set your expectations accordingly.
Water Level Break Down for How Scared you will be in Cataract
- 25K CFS and lower - Class III rock dodgy I can tell my Mom I did 'Cat' and survived.
- 25K to 35K CFS - Class III to IV things are serious now and I hope my gear stays in my boat when I flip.
- 35K to 40K CFS - Class III to IV cat is running in the dirty 30's and chances of getting worked are realistic
- 40K to 100K CFS - Class IV+ I hope my life insurance is paid up and bring a change of pants for when you scout the big drops.
NOTE: The CFS reported for this run is the sum total of the colorado river's cisco gauge and the green river's green river gauge. That means you are seeing the combined flow below the confluence and what is actually flowing through the rapids section of this run. When putting on on either river remember the flow will be slightly smaller until you reach the confluence. See each rivers upstream runs to see what the respective flows are.
Permits are easy to get, see the permit section. Have fun and stay safe in this magical canyon.
Rapids
| # | Rapid | Class | Recommended flow | Description | Scout |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rapid 1 - Brown Bettie | III to IV | —–— | This is the first rapid after the confluence and the beginning of cataract canyon |
|
| 2 | Rapid 2 | III to IV | —–— | ||
| 3 | Rapid 3 | III to IV | —–— | ||
| 4 | Rapid 4 | III to IV | —–— | ||
| 5 | Rapid 5 | III to IV | —–— | ||
| 6 | Rapid 6 | III to IV | —–— | ||
| 7 | Rapid 7 "North Seas" | III to IV | —–— | ||
| 8 | Rapid 8 | III to IV | —–— | ||
| 9 | Rapid 9 | III to IV | —–— | ||
| 10 | Rapid 10 | III to IV | —–— | ||
| 11 | Rapid 11 | III to IV | —–— | ||
| 12 | Rapid 12 | III to IV | —–— | ||
| 13 | Mile Long Rapids - Rapid 13 | III to IV | —–— | ||
| 14 | Mile Long Rapids - Rapid 14 | III to IV | —–— | ||
| 15 | Mile Long Rapids - Rapid 15 | III to IV | —–— | ||
| 16 | Mile Long Rapids - Rapid 16 | III to IV | —–— | ||
| 17 | Mile Long Rapids - Rapid 17 | III to IV | —–— | ||
| 18 | Mile Long Rapids - Rapid 18 | III to IV | —–— | ||
| 19 | Rapid 19 | III to IV | —–— | ||
| 20 | Rapid 20 | III to IV | —–— | ||
| 21 | Big Drop 1 - Rapid 21 | III to IV | —–— | ||
| 22 | Big Drop 2 - Rapid 22 | IV- to IV | 2,500–100,000 | High Water Info: N/A Low Water Info: This is a very rocky rapid that should be a mandatory scout. There is a very large rock just left of center that identifies the rapid. Many rocks below this. Some with water pillow cushions on them that could easily flip a boat. You have only 2 lines. 1. Far right with a mandatory pull to the left to avoid a pin on a rock 2. Just left of the giant rock. Watch out for a sleeper rock as you pull right to left to avoid the rocky left bank. Once through there you are home free until BD3. Boats 18' and smaller should have no problem with this rapid (if you take a correct line) down to about 2500 CFS (Combined flow of Green and Colorado below the confluence). |
Scout from the left bank. |
| 23 | Big Drop 3 - Rapid 23 Satans Gut | IV- to IV | 2,500–10,000 | This rapid is another mandotory scout. The gradient drop of the river here is quite noticable. Especially when standing below looking back up the rapid. High Water Info: Run the right side (Stay away from the left side) Low Water Info: At flows down to 2500 CFS you really only have 1 line to get down this. The line is about 15 feet from the left bank. If you miss the drop in or go over too far either way you will get in trouble in a hurry. If you hit the drop line you fill get flushed past the rock that forms satan's gut on your left and another rock on your right. The drop entrance is maybe 10 to 15 feet wide that you need to hit. The channel below is then mayeb 15 to 20 feet wide giving larger boats enough clearance to get through here. Make sure you scout and know exactly where to drop in or you will come to know what a ping pong ball feels like. |
Scout from the right bank beach at high water and left bank rocks at low water. |
| 24 | Rapid 24 | III to IV | —–— | ||
| 25 | Rapid 25 "Repeat Rapid" | III to IV | —–— | ||
| 26 | Rapid 26 | III to IV | —–— | ||
| 27 | Rapid 27 | III to IV | —–— | ||
| 28 | Rapid 28 | III to IV | —–— | Cataracts last official rapid not burried below the waters of Lake Powell. Boaters don't be fooled. Tie your gear down. This rapid can pack a surprising ride. |
Access
| Type | Name | Elevation | Camping | Water | Boat ramp | Vehicle access | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Put-In | Jackson Bottom - Potash | 3,951 Feet | Yes | No | Yes | All Vehicles | Follow the Potash road to the end of the paved section near the potach plant and find the boat ramp. |
| Take-Out | Dirty Devil - Low Reservoir River Takeout | 3,703 Feet | No | No | Yes | All Vehicles | This is a dirt ramp just below the dirty devil area on lake powell (on the west side). It can be hit or miss with how muddy it can be. However, if the lake is really low Hite access can be just as muddy. |
| Take-Out | Hite Marina | 3,703 Feet | Yes | Yes | Yes | All Vehicles | The Hite Marina boat ramp generally gives you a nice concrete takeout (unless the lake is low then it's just as muddy as anywhere else). There are bathrooms, scat machine and water here. You could camp here if you really wanted to but it could possibly be the worst camping area in all of Utah. Best to land, de-rig and get the heck out of here. |
Camps
| Camp | Fee | Beach | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brown Betty Camp | No | Yes | Great beach at low water with access to the dollhouse hike. Must cheat Rapid 1 on the right to make the eddy. Can be scouted using Spanish bottom 2 and hiking the trail along the river to check for availability and landing |
| Upper Ten Cent | No | Yes | Good river left camp after the main rapids. Boaters will still face imperial rapid and rapid 28 before reaching the lakes. |
| Spanish Bottom 2 | No | No | Camp has large cottonwods and great shade for a kitchen. Ideal access for the doll house hike. Can be a steep landing in low water |
| Spanish Bottm 1 | No | Yes | Nice large camp with access to the doll house hike. |
| Indian Creek Camp | No | Yes | Beautiful camp at the base of indian creek. Contains Ruins and a great waterfall hike During May thru June. |
| Imperial Camp | No | No | Last official camp in the rapids of Cataract. Great high water camp but it is a tricky landing in lowater. 2011 washed the beach away and the landing is either a hike thru the rocks or a tie off in current. |
| Big Drop Beach | No | Yes | River left camp and high water scout point for the Big Drop Rapids. A very hard place to sleep since it is directly above the roar of the true power of cataract. Low water scouts should proceed to the river left eddy above bigdrop 2. |
| Lake Cataract | No | Yes | Great river left camp. Allows a break in the middle of the rapids before Range canyon. Good play eddy for swims near shore. |
| Lower Ten Cent | No | Yes | large camp with a good landing |
| Confluence | No | Yes | Great camp at the "Center of the Universe" for a large group |
Permit
National Park Service
Reservation Office
2282 S. West Resource Blvd.
Moab, UT 84532-3298
Fax: (435) 259-4285
Apply on or after January 3, 2011 (or the first business day in January of each year). You will need to following info to apply:
Trip Leader, Itinerary (launch and take-out dates), Payment, and Special Instructions.
There is a per person permit fee of $20 on top of the permit fee.
River regulations can be found here
Essentially you need to have a groover, fire pan, pfd's, throw ropes, spare oars, etc.
Fishing
No fish species have been associated with this run yet.
Points of Interest
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