LGBTQ+ Rafting - Gates of Lodore, Colorado & Utah
Arrive: 7pm July 16, 2026. On River: July 17-20, 2026
For our sixth season in a row, TVOP is partnering with Holiday River Expeditions to invite LGBTQ+ folks to join us on the Green River.
Float through an isolated, majestic canyon from Colorado to Utah while enjoying delicious meals, thrilling sections of class 3-4 whitewater, and plenty of time to unwind and relax. This 4-day adventure is the perfect length and pace of a trip to disconnect from the “real world” & relax into a deeper sense of yourself and the natural world around you.
While Holiday’s expert guides cater to your needs and desires, the Venture Out Project team will build an intentional container to feel seen and brave in. As we like to say, “they bring the gear, we bring the queer.”
A bit about the river…
Deep in the heart of Dinosaur National Monument in northwestern Colorado and northeastern Utah, Lodore Canyon rafting trips are great for families and first-time river runners. The Gates of Lodore waterways carry you over some of the West’s best rapids, including Disaster Falls and Hell’s Half Mile. There are also dozens of smaller rapids that are great fun to paddle inflatable kayaks through. Hike to secret waterfalls and swimming holes; marvel at thousand-year-old pictographs and petroglyphs left behind by some of the canyon’s original inhabitants; watch bighorn sheep, bears, osprey, eagles, and other wildlife roam the river banks. This is an especially relaxing trip, with easy days on the water and plenty of time for hiking as well as playing and relaxing on the beautiful sandy beach camps. Nowhere else are the folds and faults of our planet’s crust so colorfully or clearly displayed. Lodore is one place that has to be seen to be believed.
This trip starts and ends in Vernal, Utah. All accommodations will be provided beginning on your first ‘river day’. Participants are responsible for arranging their own accommodations (food, stay, and transportation) before and after the river dates, including for the night of the pre-trip orientation meeting on July 16th. For more info on Holiday’s travel policies and recommendations, click here.
This event is BYOB for anyone 21+ - we ask those who decide to drink alcohol to do so responsibly. For more on our trip substance policies, you can click to view our General Trip and Refund Policies here.
GENERAL INFO
Location: Vernal, UT
(Núu-agha-tʉvʉ-pʉ̱ (Ute) Land)
Start Date: Arrive: 7pm July 16. Trip starts July 17, 2026.
End Date: July 20, 2026
Cost: $1130 - $1500 sliding scale per person
Estimated value: $1395
To find out where you fall best in our sliding scale, see the “Why does this trip cost money?” dropdown below.
Includes: All food & rafting gear from trip launch on July 17 (dry bags, camp chair, utensils, cups, bowls)
Doesn't Include: Carpool to trip location, tents & sleeping supplies, personal items, clothing, boots, toiletries, flights
COVID SAFETY
Masks are not required during this event, however they are welcomed if wearing one allows you to better engage with the group.
-
Our sliding scale is meant to make our trips and events more accessible for those who experience financial barriers, are looking for reparations pricing, and/or have high travel expenses. Paying a higher amount allows us to provide more opportunities to others. Paying a smaller amount is recommended for those who would not otherwise be able to afford the estimated value. Please choose an amount that you will be able to pay, but will not hinder your ability to afford food, housing, etc. By paying as much as you can, we are able to serve more of our community members.
Our sliding scale recommendation:
- Low: Yearly income $30,000 or under, struggles to meet basic needs
- Mid (pays estimated value): Yearly income $40,000-$75,000, some expendable income
- High: Yearly income $80,000-$100,000, comfortable, never struggle with basic needs
Need more examples? We follow the Green Bottle principle. Click here to view and find out where you fall.
-
Information for our land acknowledgment was gathered from nativeland.ca, which provides an estimate of original indigenous land occupation, but does not take into account migratory patterns or movement of the many surrounding communities. We recognize the historical complexity of indigenous movement across the land, and honor with gratitude the many, many surviving native nations whose land we benefit from in our work to diversify the outdoors.
