In 1869, Major John Wesley Powell explored the river that the Native Americans called "seeds-ke-dee," also known as the Green River. Major Powell discovered what he called the Gates of Lodore, finding a dark and forbidding canyon that appeared to be a "mountain drinking a stream." Today, many travel to this river to experience the 60 Class I - Class III rapids.

The Green River begins in Utah, and then flows into Colorado through Dinosaur National Monument before joining the Colorado River through Utah again. The spectacular red walls rise 2,500 feet up from the river, contrasting with the bright green Box Elder trees along the beaches of the river. It is not uncommon to see mountain sheep, mule deer and river otters along the river. When the McPhee dam and reservoir was constructed in 1984, rafting became limited on this river to only the spring run-off period, which usually lasts from late April to early June. The benefits of this include a beautiful wildflower show during these months, with everything from flowering cacti and Indian paintbrush to desert primrose blossoms.

The river is divided into three geologically distinct gorges, Lodore, Whirlpool and Split Mountain Canyons. Lodore is a great place for families to raft together. Here, two 800-foot buttresses are the mark of the beginning of the series of canyons. There are some larger rapids, but there are plenty of larger ones to keep things exciting. This is also where Disaster Falls, Triplet Falls and Hell's Half Mile, the river's most exciting rapids, lie.

The International Rapid Rating Scale:

• Class I: Easy. Fast moving water with riffles, small waves.
• Class II: Novice. Straightforward rapids, wide, clear channels.
• Class III: Intermediate. Rapids, moderate, irregular waves.
• Class IV: Advanced. Intense, powerful rapids, precise boat
handling.
• Class V: Expert. Long, obstructed, violent rapids.