What Sheri Griffith River Expeditions does

Sheri Griffith River Expeditions is a privately held, founder-named river rafting and outdoor adventure outfitter founded in 1971 and headquartered in Moab, Utah, with a secondary operations base in Vernal, Utah. The company operates guided multi-day expeditions — ranging from half-day paddling trips to 11-day John Wesley Powell historical river journeys — on the Colorado River, Green River, and Yampa River, spanning Utah, Colorado, and Wyoming. Its portfolio includes whitewater rafting, sea kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, luxury camping expeditions using motorized Jrig rigs, women-only retreats, family-friendly trips, and specialty creative-writing journeys in partnership with writer Page Lambert. It holds Authorized Concessioner status with the National Park Service for Canyonlands National Park and Dinosaur National Monument, which permits commercial operation on premier federal river stretches and represents the company's principal regulatory asset.

The business runs a direct-to-consumer go-to-market via its website booking platform ("The Fly Book"), toll-free (800-332-2439) and local (435-259-8229) phone reservations, and walk-in inquiries at the Moab office. Marketing is concentrated on the company website, TripAdvisor reviews, Facebook organic social, an email newsletter, and a partnership with the Moab Travel Council. Revenue is generated entirely through per-participant trip fees on all-inclusive packages that bundle licensed guides, top-of-the-line equipment, gourmet meals, and permits; pricing ranges from approximately $150 (half-day Post Card Alley) to $3,399 (11-day John Wesley Powell Expedition), with 3-9% government user fees and processing fees added, a 20% non-refundable deposit on multi-day trips, and full payment due 45 days prior to departure.

There is no proprietary technology platform, no AI/ML components, and no mobile app — the company's "tech stack" is a standard WordPress-based website with online booking. The organization is closely held with 1-10 corporate employees (seasonal river guides are not included in this count), no disclosed funding rounds, no parent company, and no M&A activity in the available record. Founded-year brand equity (50+ years), the "A Touch of Class" service philosophy, certified guide talent (WFR, CPR, Swiftwater Rescue), and NPS concessioner status together constitute the primary competitive moat.

Name

Sheri Griffith River Expeditions

Legal name

Sheri Griffith River Expeditions

Website

https://griffithexp.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Sheri Griffith River Expeditions is a Moab, Utah-based river rafting outfitter founded in 1971 that operates guided multi-day expeditions on the Colorado, Green, and Yampa Rivers for adventure travelers, families, and specialty groups under NPS Authorized Concessioner status.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

River Rafting and Outdoor Adventure Services

NAICS

Tour Operators (561520), Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (487210), Inland Water Passenger Transportation (483212), Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation (487)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Whitewater Rafting, Kayaking & Canoeing Outfitters (THAAADAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Guided Tours & Interpretive Services (Ranger-Led, Naturalist, Cultural Interpretation) (THAAAGAB), Whitewater Rafting, Kayaking & River Adventures (THAJABAB), Eco-Adventure Multi-Day Expeditions (Trekking, Hut-to-Hut, Pack Trips) (THAAAEAJ)

Keywords

• River rafting expeditions
• Whitewater adventure trips
• Outdoor recreation services
• Guided river tours
• Multi-day wilderness expeditions

Headquarters

HQ city

Moab

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. River Rafting and Kayaking Expeditions: Primary revenue from multi-day river rafting, kayaking, and expedition trips on Utah rivers including the Colorado River, Green River, Yampa River, and through Canyonlands and Dinosaur National Monuments. Revenue is generated through trip fees charged per participant, with pricing varying by trip duration (half-day to 11-day expeditions), trip type (rafting, kayaking, luxury), and amenities included.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Sheri Griffith River Expeditions operates guided multi-day river rafting, kayaking, and sea kayaking expeditions on the Colorado River, Green River, and Yampa River in Utah's canyon country, including access to Canyonlands National Park and Dinosaur National Monument. Each expedition is all-inclusive with professional licensed river guides, top-quality camping and rafting equipment, and gourmet meals. Trips range from half-day paddling excursions to 11-day extended expeditions, with specialty options including luxury, women-only, family, and writing-retreat formats.

Product overview

Sheri Griffith River Expeditions operates as a river rafting and outdoor adventure company offering multi-day guided expeditions on major Western US rivers. The core portfolio includes Colorado River trips (Westwater Canyon, Cataract Canyon, Fisher Towers), Green River expeditions (Desolation Canyon, Labyrinth Canyon, Gates of Lodore), and Yampa River adventures through Dinosaur National Monument. The company provides all-inclusive experiences featuring professional guides, high-quality camping equipment (oarboats, paddleboats, motorized Jrigs, kayaks), and gourmet meals. Specialty offerings include luxury expeditions, women-only retreats with female guides, family-friendly trips with kid-focused activities, sea kayaking expeditions, and creative writing journeys. Operating since 1971 from Moab and Vernal, Utah, Sheri Griffith is an Authorized Concessioner of Canyonlands National Park and Dinosaur National Monument.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Colorado River Rafting Multi-day whitewater rafting expeditions on the Colorado River, featuring rapids ranging from Class I to Class V depending on water levels and section. Trips include Westwater Canyon (1-3 days), Cataract Canyon (2-11 days), and Fisher Towers (1-2 days). Available to individuals, families, and groups seeking Utah canyon country river experiences.
• Green River Rafting Rafting expeditions on the Green River, including Desolation Canyon (5-7 days, Class I-III rapids), Labyrinth Canyon (5-11 days, no rapids), and Gates of Lodore (4-5 days, Class II-IV). The Green River flows hundreds of miles from Wyoming to Canyonlands National Park and is suitable for families and adventure seekers.
• Yampa River Rafting Multi-day rafting on the Yampa River through Dinosaur National Monument. As the last free-flowing river in the Colorado River drainage, the Yampa offers Class III-V rapids with 12-14 feet per mile descent. Operates out of Vernal/Naples, Utah and is aimed at adventure seekers wanting technical whitewater.
• Cataract Canyon Rafting Multi-day expedition combining Labyrinth Canyon and Stillwater Canyon on the Green River with Cataract Canyon on the Colorado River. Features Class III-V rapids, hiking in Canyonlands National Park, and includes a scenic flight return. Offered in 5, 7, and 11-day formats for adventure travelers.
• Desolation Canyon Rafting 5-7 day family rafting trips through Desolation Canyon on the Green River, featuring 84 miles of Class I-III rapids. Registered on the National Register of Historic Places and one of the most remote areas in the contiguous US. Includes scenic flight to launch site and is suitable for families with children aged 5+.
• Gates of Lodore Rafting 4-5 day rafting expedition through Gates of Lodore canyon in Dinosaur National Monument on the Green River. Features Class II-IV rapids, wildlife viewing (bighorn sheep, eagles), hiking opportunities, and 45 river miles with 11 rapids. Aimed at families and adventure travelers seeking a multi-day wilderness expedition.
• Sea Kayaking Expeditions Guided sea kayaking and stand-up paddleboard trips through Labyrinth Canyon on the Green River. Features 68 miles of no-rapids paddling, ancient Native American writings, and spectacular canyon scenery. No prior experience necessary and is suitable for beginners and women-only groups.
• Moab Daily River Rafting Single-day and half-day rafting and paddling trips departing from Moab, Utah. Includes Fisher Towers Family Float (1-2 days), Westwater Canyon (1-3 days), and calm water paddling at Post Card Alley with kayaks and SUP boards. Designed for short-stay visitors and first-time rafters.
• Family River Rafting Family-friendly rafting trips designed for all ages, including Fisher Towers (Class I-II rapids, ages 5+), Desolation Canyon (ages 5+, 50 lbs minimum), and gentle float trips. Features kid-friendly guides, games, activities, and specially designed meals for multi-generational family groups.
• Luxury Expeditions Premium multi-day river trips featuring enhanced amenities, motorized Jrigs for comfort, and high-quality service. Combines luxury camping with whitewater rafting experiences on the Colorado River or Green River. Includes flagship 11-day John Wesley Powell Expedition and other premium itineraries.
• Women Only Rafting Retreats Women-only guided rafting trips featuring female guides, including Labyrinth Canyon kayak trips and women-focused adventures. Combines outdoor activity with optional writing workshops (River Writing with Page Lambert) and personal retreat experiences for women travelers.
• River Writing & Sculpting with Page Lambert Specialty combination rafting and creative writing journeys led by writer Page Lambert, partnering with Sheri Griffith Expeditions since 1997. Features 5-day Gates of Lodore trip with layover day for creative explorations, whitewater, and historical sites, including the 'River of Tranquility' itinerary with author-led instruction and nature journaling.
• All-Inclusive Trip Equipment All-inclusive camping and rafting equipment provided free of charge with every expedition, including tents, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, camp chairs, horseshoes, bocce, and personal souvenir mugs. Equipment types include oarboats (17-18 ft), paddleboats (15-16 ft), motorized Jrigs (23 ft), inflatable kayaks, and touring kayaks.

Quantifiable outcome

• Maintained excellent safety record since 1971

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Page LambertcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1997Writer Page Lambert has partnered with Sheri Griffith Expeditions since 1997 to offer combination rafting and writing journeys. The 'River of Tranquility' trip combines whitewater rafting with creative writing instruction and nature journaling, appealing to travelers seeking transformative travel experiences combining adventure and creative expression.
• National Park Service (Canyonlands National Park and Dinosaur National Monument)coreOthersSheri Griffith Expeditions holds Authorized Concessioner status with Canyonlands National Park and Dinosaur National Monument, enabling them to legally operate commercial river trips within these federal lands. This regulatory relationship is essential to their operations, requiring compliance with park regulations and payment of government user fees.
• Moab Travel CouncilminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with local Moab tourism organization for destination marketing and visitor information services, helping promote Moab as Utah's Adventure Capital and Sheri Griffith's home base.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Moki Mac River Expeditions: Family-owned Utah outfitter running multi-day expeditions on the Green and Colorado Rivers through Desolation, Labyrinth, and Cataract canyons; comparable small operator with similar family-friendly and traditional expedition product.
• Western River Expeditions: Moab, Utah-based outfitter running multi-day rafting and kayaking expeditions on the Colorado and Green Rivers through the same Canyonlands and Dinosaur corridors; competes head-to-head with overlapping itineraries, pricing tiers, and seasonal operating window.
• OARS: Established whitewater rafting outfitter with trips on the Colorado, Green, and Yampa Rivers plus other Western US waters; directly comparable concessionaire-style operations, multi-day expedition model, and similar customer demographics.
• Holiday River Expeditions: Long-running Utah-based rafting company offering multi-day expeditions on the Colorado, Green, and Yampa Rivers through Canyonlands and Dinosaur National Monuments; overlaps almost entirely on routes, trip duration, and family/adventure positioning.
• Canyon Voyages Adventure Company: Moab-based rafting outfitter running daily and multi-day trips on the Colorado River including Fisher Towers and Westwater Canyon; competes directly in the local half-day and family rafting segment where Sheri Griffith also operates.
• Adrift Adventures: Moab-based rafting company offering daily and multi-day trips on the Colorado River including Westwater Canyon and Fisher Towers; overlaps in the daily Moab rafting market where Sheri Griffith also competes for local visitor bookings.
• Tag-A-Long Expeditions: Moab-based family-owned rafting outfitter operating multi-day expeditions on the Green and Colorado Rivers including Desolation Canyon and Labyrinth Canyon; directly comparable small-operator profile with shared concessioner access to the same canyons.
• Colorado River & Trail Expeditions (CRATE): Utah-based rafting outfitter specializing in motorized and oar-powered expeditions on the Colorado and Green Rivers, including Cataract Canyon; comparable small-team operator with shared geographic footprint and product mix.

Broad incumbents

• Backroads: Premium active-travel tour operator offering biking, hiking, and multi-sport itineraries including river-based segments; comparable premium positioning, all-inclusive pricing model, and affluent experiential-traveler customer base.
• REI Adventures: Tour operator run by REI offering guided multi-day adventure trips including rafting, hiking, and kayaking worldwide; broader portfolio but overlapping whitewater and adventure-experience product aimed at similar outdoor enthusiasts.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/sherigriffithRiverExpeditions
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sheri-griffith-river-expeditions

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sheri Griffith River Expeditions