- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Green River Today
By the People, for the People
Natural Selections: A Slow Drama in Utah's San Rafael River Canyons
The 90-mile San Rafael River flows through red rock canyons in Utah, a rugged and remote region.
Published on Mar. 4, 2026
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
The San Rafael River originates from three creeks in the Wasatch Plateau and flows 90 miles to its confluence with the Green River, just upstream of the Labyrinth Canyon Wilderness in Utah's red rock canyon country. This remote and rugged region is the setting for a slow-paced natural drama along the San Rafael River.
Why it matters
The San Rafael River and its surrounding canyons represent a unique and little-known natural landscape in Utah, offering opportunities for outdoor recreation, scientific research, and environmental conservation in a remote and undeveloped part of the American West.
The details
The San Rafael River winds through a series of red rock canyons in central Utah, originating from three creeks in the Wasatch Plateau and flowing 90 miles to its confluence with the Green River. This remote region features a rugged, high-desert landscape with towering cliffs, slot canyons, and diverse wildlife habitats.
- The San Rafael River originates in the Wasatch Plateau.
- The river flows 90 miles to its confluence with the Green River.
The players
San Rafael River
A 90-mile river in central Utah that flows through a series of red rock canyons, originating from three creeks in the Wasatch Plateau and joining the Green River.
Wasatch Plateau
A high-elevation plateau in central Utah that is the source of the three creeks that form the San Rafael River.
Green River
A major river in the western United States that the San Rafael River flows into, just upstream of the Labyrinth Canyon Wilderness.
Labyrinth Canyon Wilderness
A designated wilderness area in Utah located at the confluence of the San Rafael and Green Rivers.
The takeaway
The San Rafael River and its surrounding canyons represent a unique and little-known natural landscape in Utah, offering opportunities for outdoor recreation, scientific research, and environmental conservation in a remote and undeveloped part of the American West.
