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Provo River Float Provo Canyon Tubing & Rafting            There are few ways better to spend a hot summer day than floating the Provo River on a tube. This adventure is perfect for friends, couples, seniors and families with older children.

General Information:
          The Provo River Float is approximately 4 1/2 miles long and will take approximately 2 hours from put in to take out. Late spring, summer and fall are the ideal times for this adventure. This activity is suitable for the entire family. The river is really cold until about the end of June and then it warms up to just being cold so take that into consideration. The later in the year it becomes the more the river tames down and the easier everything becomes. You can stand up in most places in the river and the water will be waist deep, but there are stretches of deep water.

          We have floated this section of the Provo River as early as Memorial Day and as late as the last week of September. The river can be safely floated when the stream flow below Deer Creek Reservoir is below 900 CFS. I recommend early spring only for experienced tubers. During severe drought conditions there are occasionally times when there is not enough water being released from Deer Creek to float the river. My experience is you need at least 150 CFS to tube the river. You can see the Provo River stream flow below Deer Creek Dam by visiting Central Utah Water.

          Utah law requires that every person on the Provo River wear a life jacket. The river is patrolled and tickets are issued for anyone caught not wearing a life jacket. The tickets are not cheap, you have been warned. Commonsense dictates that you do not bring glass or glass bottles on the river, but I have to mention this fact because commonsense isn't nearly as common as you would think it is. One other word of caution is the trailheads and nearby roads are heavily patrolled for drunk drivers.

          Hot summer days are the prime time for this adventure. Wetsuits are not normally used when floating the river. Tubes, rafts, kayaks, canoes and just about anything that floats is suitable for this trip. I always use a large inner tube. Everything not tied to you or your tube will get lost, don't say I didn't warn you.

          A GPS is not required for this adventure but I have provided the waypoints for the tech junkies. The USGS 7.5' Maps titled "Bridal Veil Falls" and "Aspen Grove" show the area described. Navigation for this route is easy. All waypoints and maps use the WGS84 datum.

Children:
          If you intend to float the river as a privateer (not using a commercial outfitter) there is no age restrictions. We have floated the river many times with kids as young as 5 years old. I would not take young children with me as a privateer if I had not done the river before, because your first time floating is a huge learning experience. If you are going to float using a commercial outfitter I suggest you check with them as the rules vary depending on what exactly you want to do. For tubing I believe most recommend 12 and over.

Pro Tip:
          If you flip your tube the first thing you should do when you surface is reach out and grab your tube as it will be right next to you and simple to remount. Unfortunately, the first thing most beginners do is surface and look around to make sure all their friends witnessed their awesome feat of skill, at which point their tube is headed downstream fast and can be difficult to catch up to. You have been warned.

Trailhead Information:
          The trailheads are accessible to all vehicles in all weather conditions. From 1-15 in Orem Utah take Exit 272 (800 North) and head east. Follow 800 North east for 4.9 miles to a Y-Junction. Take the north (left) fork onto US 189 (Provo Canyon Road). Follow US 189 east into Provo Canyon for 5.8 miles to the signed Vivian Park exit located on the south (right) side of the highway. Pull into Vivian park and find a parking spot. This is the lower trailhead and is where you will finish your float.

          From Vivian Park Continue east up Provo Canyon on US 189 for 4.0 miles to the signed Lower Deer Creek Road/Provo River on south (right) side of the highway. Turn right onto Lower Deer Creek Road and go 50-yards, turn left and go 100-yards, turn right and go 0.3 miles, turn right and go 100-yards to where a bridge crosses the Provo River. Do not cross the bridge. The parking area on the west (right) side of the bridge is the upper trailhead and where you will start your float.

Route Information:
            From the Upper Provo River Trailhead (N40° 24' 05", W111° 31' 52") it's really easy. Just put your tube in the water, jump on and enjoy the ride. About 2 1/2 miles into the float you will reach the Wildwood Train Trestle (N40° 22' 33", W111° 33' 18"), where the train tracks cross the Provo River. Exit the river to the north (right) and portage (carry) your tube to the downstream side of the trestle and re-enter the river. You can float under the trestle but most exit the river and portage as a safety precaution as your tube will get washed into one of the trestle pylons.

          From the Wildwood Train Trestle it's 2 miles downstream to where you exit at Vivian Park (N40° 21' 22", W111° 34' 25"). You can easily exit the river to the right or left before you go under the bridge that leads to Vivian Park.

Professional Outfitter:
          If you want to make this adventure really easy consider using one of the major commercial outfitters. For a very reasonable fee they will provide every member of your group with a tube, life jacket and shuttle service. This really makes floating the river a simple and stress free adventure.

          I have used High Country Adventure numerous times and found them to be extremely professional and well organized. Their equipment is always first rate and well maintained. Their office is 1/4 mile west (downstream) of the bridge leading into Vivian Park. Reservations are recommended, particularly on busy weekends.

Provo River History:
          The Provo River was originally named the Timpanogotzis (or Tumpanowach) after the American Indian tribe living on its banks. Early settlers changed the name to Provo, after trapper Etienne Provost, for whom the city of Provo, Utah is also named. The old name for the river was instead given to the mountain to the north, which later became known as Mount Timpanogos.

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