Green River

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Trip Overview

Take a huge step into the geologic past and marvel at a landscape created over 260 million years ago when dinosaurs, not “cowboys,” roamed the Wild West. Many of our geology trips travel through the Colorado Plateau which encompasses a 4-state region. Geologists travel from all over the world to visit these magnificent rock formations. Centennial will provide a geology expert on these trips, available to answer your questions and explain how the canyons got there. Learn while you have fun!

This Utah canoe trip is an unforgettable odyssey. Paddling the spectacular 60-mile section of the Green River from Crystal Geyser south of Green River, UT, as it winds towards Mineral Bottom, just north of Canyonlands National Park, is the trip of a lifetime. Between the town of Green River, Utah, and Canyonlands National Park is part of the longest stretch of quiet wilderness water in the lower 48 states. As you canoe the Green River, the moving panorama is incomparable. The twisting, looping river winds its way between sheer, colorful sandstone walls, hundreds of feet high. Vast canyon systems and water channels branch in all directions, inviting hiking and exploring as well as providing excellent camping. Highlights may include hiking to Bow Knot Bend, the canyons of Trin-Alcove, plus Horseshoe Canyon. Old settler’s cabins, abandoned mines, historic outlaw hideouts, caves, ancient Fremont Indian petroglyphs (rock art panels a.d. 500-1200), and lush hidden springs await those who pass this way. Oftentimes, a layover day will be built into the trip for hiking. As you retrace Major John Wesley Powell’s 1869 route when he first floated this river and documented the area, remember his words describing his mission: “...to fill in the last white space on the map...”

The trip will begin in Moab, UT, where a local tour operator will transport passengers to the Green River entry point. Cars can be stored with the operator at no charge.

Special Information

Centennial teams up with the Colorado School of Mines (303-273-3303) to offer a geology class for teachers (K-12) and for general interest to the public. This combined one-day class session and 5-day canoe trip earns 3 continuing ed credits for teachers. The pretrip class for students will be at the CO School of Mines, Berthoud Hall #205, from 9 am to 4:30 pm, on Monday, July 28, 2008. Former participants in level I of this class can qualify for Level II credit by completing a special project to be determined by the instructor and conducted concurrently with the basic class offering. Non teachers may take the full course for the student price and have a reserved seat. Non credit, discounted seats, for the canoe trip only (at regular canoe trip prices), are based on space availability. Ages 15 and up.

Ed Adams, Geologist, will be the instructor on this trip.  While on the river, he will be conducting labs and lecturing. Ed has been teaching our river Geology trips since 2003 and continuously receives outstanding evaluations from his students.  His credentials are as follows:

• Licensed Colorado Educator 20 years
• Masters Degree in Earth Sciences
• Extensive teaching experience in both secondary and post-secondary schools
• Projects include:
• Glacial history of the Colorado Rockies
• Early history of the Pleiades star cluster
• Depositional changes in response to drought on the Colorado Plateau
• Water testing for high school students
• Particle transport in summer energy regimes
• Teaching teachers how to have fun in geology