Trip reports, guides, and gear systems for desert rivers, overland travel, and human-powered expeditions in the American West. https://desertmaritime.com/ Desert Maritime https://desertmaritime.com/articles/yampa-river-rafting/ 2026-05-29

Plan a Yampa River rafting trip through Dinosaur National Monument — permits, Class III–IV rapids, spring season, and 5–7 day itinerary from Deerlodge Park.

https://desertmaritime.com/articles/westwater-canyon-rafting/ 2026-05-29

Raft Westwater Canyon on the Colorado River — 17 miles of Class III–IV whitewater near Moab. Covers permits, Skull Rapid, trip logistics, and best seasons.

https://desertmaritime.com/articles/packrafting-in-escalante-utah/ 2026-05-29

How to packraft the Escalante River in Utah — route options, access points, water levels, permits, gear, and the best time of year for spring snowmelt flows.

https://desertmaritime.com/articles/do-you-need-permit-for-white-rim-trail/ 2026-05-29

Yes — the White Rim Trail in Canyonlands requires a backcountry permit. Here's how to get it, how far out to book, campsite details, and what happens if you go without.

https://desertmaritime.com/articles/dispersed-camping-rules-utah/ 2026-05-29

Utah dispersed camping rules across BLM, USFS, and state lands. Fire restrictions by season, LNT in desert environments, and popular dispersed areas near Moab and San Rafael Swell.

https://desertmaritime.com/articles/desert-expedition-planning/ 2026-05-29

How to plan a multi-day desert expedition in Utah — water caching, vehicle recovery, communication, heat logistics, and what makes desert planning different from mountain trips.

https://desertmaritime.com/articles/colorado-river-rafting-permits/ 2026-05-29

Colorado River permit requirements by section — Westwater BLM first-come, Cataract NPS seasonal release, Stillwater NPS first-come. How to apply, timing, and cancellation strategy.

https://desertmaritime.com/articles/colorado-river-rafting-guide/ 2026-05-29

Compare every Colorado River rafting section in Utah — Westwater, Cataract, and Stillwater. Permits, difficulty, seasons, and trip length covered in full.

https://desertmaritime.com/articles/cam-straps-a-boaters-best-friend/ 2026-05-29

Cam straps are the backbone of raft rigging. Learn which sizes to buy, how to cinch without overtightening, and how many straps to bring on a multi-day trip.

https://desertmaritime.com/articles/book-green-river-float-trip/ 2026-05-29

Book a Green River float trip in Utah — permits, outfitter vs DIY costs, what's included in a guided trip, when to book, and BLM permit fees for Labyrinth Canyon.

https://desertmaritime.com/articles/best-dry-bags-for-desert-rivers/ 2026-05-29

A field-tested dry bag guide built around use, not brand. Personal duffel, day bag, electronics, kitchen, repair. Sized and chosen for sand, sun, and a six-day desert trip.

https://desertmaritime.com/articles/backcountry-trip-planning/ 2026-05-29

A full backcountry trip planning framework for Utah desert trips — permits, shuttles, food, gear, water, and safety. Start planning months before you go.

https://desertmaritime.com/articles/backcountry-permits-utah/ 2026-05-29

How Utah backcountry permits work — NPS, BLM, USFS, lottery vs first-come, deadlines, and tips for actually winning the permits you want.

https://desertmaritime.com/articles/raft-frame-setup/ 2026-05-19

Set up your raft frame from scratch — choosing the right frame for your raft size, assembly steps, height and oar mount adjustment, and a comparison of NRS, Alumacraft, and Hyside.

https://desertmaritime.com/articles/packrafting-in-utah/ 2026-05-19

An intro to packrafting in Utah — what it is, why Utah's canyons are ideal, best starter rivers, gear from Alpacka to Kokopelli, and how it differs from kayaking.

https://desertmaritime.com/articles/nrs-raft-review/ 2026-05-19

An honest review of NRS rafts — what they do well, where they fall short against SOTAR and AIRE, and which NRS model fits your use case. New vs used buying advice included.

https://desertmaritime.com/articles/maze-district-overlanding/ 2026-05-19

Overlanding the Maze District of Canyonlands — Flint Trail, Doll House access, Hans Flat Ranger Station, permit requirements, and what to expect in Utah's most remote 4x4 country.

https://desertmaritime.com/articles/how-to-strap-down-a-rowing-frame-on-a-raft/ 2026-05-19

Secure a rowing frame correctly using D-ring attachment points, proper strap routing, and tension testing. Learn what happens if the frame shifts in a rapid and how to prevent it.

https://desertmaritime.com/articles/how-to-rig-the-ultimate-raft/ 2026-05-19

The complete raft rigging guide for multi-day expeditions — frame, oars, dry bags, cooler, kitchen box, shade systems, safety gear, and how to balance access with security.

https://desertmaritime.com/articles/how-to-rig-a-raft-frame/ 2026-05-19

Mount and rig a raft frame correctly — covers frame types, D-ring placement, alignment, securing before launch, and the mistakes that cause frames to shift in rapids.

https://desertmaritime.com/articles/how-to-rig-a-gear-raft/ 2026-05-19

Learn how to set up a gear raft for expedition trips — frame layout, weight distribution, dry bag placement, oar setup, and how rigging changes from Class III to Class IV water.

https://desertmaritime.com/articles/how-to-rig-a-cooler-to-your-raft-frame/ 2026-05-19

Rig your cooler so it stays put through rapids. Covers stern vs center placement, D-ring attachment, X-strap vs parallel patterns, and lid security on multi-day trips.

https://desertmaritime.com/articles/how-much-water-for-desert-overlanding/ 2026-05-19

Per-person water requirements for desert overlanding in Utah heat. Vehicle water storage systems, field sourcing, and what to do when you run short.

https://desertmaritime.com/articles/desert-river-trips/ 2026-05-19

An overview of desert river travel in the Southwest — what sets it apart, the best multi-day rivers (Green, San Juan, Colorado, Escalante), and how to choose your first trip.

https://desertmaritime.com/articles/desert-river-navigation/ 2026-05-19

How to navigate desert rivers where canyon walls look identical — using GPS, counting miles, identifying campsites from the water, and avoiding common flatwater mistakes.

https://desertmaritime.com/articles/desert-overlanding-routes/ 2026-05-19

Best desert overlanding routes in Utah — Escalante, San Rafael Swell, Canyonlands, and Kanab Creek area. What distinguishes desert travel and seasonal planning advice.

https://desertmaritime.com/articles/best-vehicle-for-utah-overlanding/ 2026-05-19

What Utah's terrain actually demands from an overland vehicle. Toyota Land Cruiser, 4Runner, Tacoma, Bronco, and Jeep Wrangler compared honestly for desert travel.

https://desertmaritime.com/articles/best-river-tent-for-sand/ 2026-05-19

Best tents for sandy river camping — Big Agnes Copper Spur, MSR Hubba Hubba, and REI Half Dome compared. Ventilation, stakes, and footprint picks for desert trips.

https://desertmaritime.com/articles/best-river-sandals/ 2026-05-19

Best river sandals for rafting and canyon hiking — Chaco Z/1, Teva Original, Bedrock Cairn, and Keen Newport compared. Grip, security, and camp comfort tested.

https://desertmaritime.com/articles/best-packrafting-rivers-utah/ 2026-05-19

The top packrafting rivers in Utah — Escalante, Green River, Coyote Gulch, Dirty Devil — with skill levels, permits, and what makes each route packraft-friendly.

https://desertmaritime.com/articles/best-maps-for-overland-routes/ 2026-05-19

Nat Geo Trails Illustrated, Caltopo, Gaia GPS, and BLM Motor Vehicle Use Maps compared. How to choose the right map for Utah overland routes and set up offline navigation.

https://desertmaritime.com/articles/best-coolers-for-river-trips/ 2026-05-19

Best coolers for multi-day river trips — YETI Tundra, Pelican 70QT, RTIC 65, and Igloo BMX compared. Ice retention, raft frame fit, and group sizing guide.

https://desertmaritime.com/articles/beginner-overland-routes-utah/ 2026-05-19

The best Utah overland routes for beginners — Burr Trail, Shafer Trail, Monitor and Merrimac, and Onion Creek. Vehicle requirements and what to bring on your first trip.

https://desertmaritime.com/articles/4x4-expedition-routes/ 2026-05-19

What makes a route a true 4x4 expedition — remoteness, technical terrain, and self-sufficiency. Utah's best runs including White Rim, the Maze, and Lockhart Basin.

https://desertmaritime.com/articles/best-kid-friendly-hikes-near-moab/ 2026-05-15

Top kid-friendly hikes near Moab — Corona Arch, Grandstaff Canyon, Gemini Bridges, Courthouse Wash — with trail lengths, difficulty, and what to bring.

https://desertmaritime.com/articles/best-satellite-communicator-river-trips/ 2026-05-06

A field-tested guide to satellite communicators for remote desert river trips. Garmin inReach picks, phone-based satellite messaging, group protocols, battery, subscription, and where the device actually fails.

https://desertmaritime.com/articles/green-river-utah-float-trip/ 2026-05-06

Everything you need to plan a Green River float trip in Utah — permits, shuttles, campsites, water levels, and gear. Covers Labyrinth Canyon and Ruby-Horsethief.

https://desertmaritime.com/articles/best-lightweight-outboard-for-rafts/ 2026-05-06

A decision guide for choosing a small outboard for raft support, river transit, and reservoir take-outs. The 2-3 hp, 4-6 hp, and 8-10 hp classes — and the tradeoffs that decide between them.

https://desertmaritime.com/articles/best-river-camp-kitchen-setup/ 2026-05-06

A practical river camp kitchen system — stove, table, dish system, water, cooler, shade. Built around 4–8 person crews on Cataract, Desolation, and the San Juan.

https://desertmaritime.com/articles/honda-2-3-outboard-river-review/ 2026-05-06

An honest, field-tested review of the Honda 2.3 outboard for raft support. Where the lightweight 4-stroke wins, where it falls short, and how it compares to heavier 8–10 hp motors.

https://desertmaritime.com/articles/master-river-trip-checklist/ 2026-05-06

A field-tested doctrine for a multi-day desert river trip — permits, flows, rigging, camp, repair, first aid. Built on what fails when you get it wrong.

https://desertmaritime.com/articles/cataract-canyon-rafting/ 2026-05-06

Plan your Cataract Canyon rafting trip — permits, Big Drop rapids, trip length, flow levels, and guided vs self-guided options on the Colorado River in Utah.

https://desertmaritime.com/articles/how-difficult-is-cataract-canyon-rafting/ 2026-05-06

Cataract Canyon difficulty explained — Class III to V depending on flow, Big Drop rapids, experience requirements, and whether you need a guide. Honest assessment.

https://desertmaritime.com/articles/cataract-canyon-packing-list/ 2026-05-06

A field-tested packing list for Cataract Canyon. Heat planning, Big Drop rigging, the flatwater approach, Lake Powell takeout reality. Built on what fails when you get it wrong.

https://desertmaritime.com/articles/how-many-days-for-westwater-canyon-trip/ 2026-05-06

Deciding between a 1-day or 2-day Westwater Canyon trip? This guide covers the 17-mile run, shuttle logistics, camping, pacing, and what to do with extra time.

https://desertmaritime.com/articles/best-rafting-companies-on-colorado-river/ 2026-05-06

How to choose a Colorado River rafting outfitter in Utah — what to look for, questions to ask, price ranges, trip types, and DIY vs guided tradeoffs. Honest guide.

https://desertmaritime.com/articles/raft-trailer-outboard-transport-system/ 2026-05-01

A practical system for trailering a raft with an outboard secured. Why outboards fail in transport, how to brace the transom, the pre-shuttle field check that catches every common failure.

https://desertmaritime.com/articles/best-river-repair-kit/ 2026-05-01

A practical river repair kit guide for rafts, frames, oars, pumps, valves, and camp gear. The day-access kit that fixes problems in 5 minutes, and the deep-repair kit that handles everything else.

https://desertmaritime.com/articles/best-first-aid-kit-desert-river-trips/ 2026-05-01

A river-specific first aid kit guide for desert multi-day trips. Heat illness, wound care, burns, blisters, stomach issues, allergies, splints. Trip-leader doctrine and when to use the satellite communicator.

https://desertmaritime.com/articles/san-juan-river-packing-list/ 2026-05-01

A field-tested packing list for the San Juan. Hot, silty, low-water, culturally significant, family-capable. Built on sun discipline, silt strategy, and Leave No Trace at scale.

https://desertmaritime.com/articles/desolation-canyon-packing-list/ 2026-05-01

A field-tested packing list for Desolation Canyon. 66 miles, 6–7 days, family-capable but serious. Built on bug strategy, camp organization, and the long-trip discipline Deso rewards.

https://desertmaritime.com/articles/san-juan-river-rafting/ 2026-05-01

Plan a San Juan River rafting trip in Utah — permits, flow levels, campsites, canyon scenery, and Goosenecks. Mexican Hat to Clay Hills, 4–5 days.

https://desertmaritime.com/articles/packrafting-utah-green-river/ 2026-05-01

How to packraft the Green River in Utah through Labyrinth Canyon — permits, put-in and take-out, solo logistics, water and food planning, and what to expect solo.

https://desertmaritime.com/articles/best-camps-desolation-canyon/ 2026-05-01

Not every Desolation Canyon camp is the same. Some work better for layovers, some for kitchens, some for the kind of evening you'll remember years later. Here's how to choose.

https://desertmaritime.com/articles/expedition-planning-guide/ 2026-04-26

Comprehensive expedition planning guide for Utah river and overland trips — timeline, permits, logistics, gear, food, safety, and contingency planning.