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Weber River Float Weber Canyon Tubing & Rafting            One of the best ways to enjoy a hot summer day is floating the Weber River on a tube. This adventure is perfect for friends, couples, seniors and families with older children.

General Information:
          The Weber River Float is approximately 5 miles long and will take approximately 2 hours from start to finish. Late spring, summer and fall are the ideal times for this adventure. This activity is suitable for the entire family, excluding young children.

          Utah law requires that every person on the Weber River wear a life jackets. The river is heavily 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.

          We have floated the Weber River with stream flows as high as  650 CFS and I'd feel comfortable up to 700 CFS. During severe drought conditions and early spring there are occasionally times when there is not enough water being released from Echo Reservoir to float the river. We have floated the Weber River with stream flows as little as  200 CFS. I've been told it's possible to float the river with as little as 100 CFS, but never experienced it personally. You can see the Weber River stream flow below Echo Reservoir by visiting USGS Current Weber Conditions.

          A GPS is not required for this adventure but I have provided the waypoints for the tech junkies. The USGS 7.5' Map titled "Devils Slide" shows 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 outfitters 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 Morgan, Utah take I-84 east for 5.0 miles to Exit 108 (Taggart). Exit the Interstate and park anywhere you like along the river in the large dirt parking area. This is the lower trailhead, there is ample parking for numerous vehicles. This is where you will end your float. This is where you leave your shuttle vehicle.

          From the lower trailhead get back on I-84 and continue east for 4.2 miles to Exit 112 (Henefer), exit the interstate and turn left (north) and follow the road for 0.4 miles to where it ends in a large dirt parking lot next to the river. This is the upper trailhead, there is ample parking for numerous vehicles. This is where you will begin your float.

Route Information:
          From the Upper Weber River Trailhead (N41° 02' 32", W111° 31' 09") it's really easy. Just put your tube in the water, jump on and enjoy the ride. Approximately 3/4 miles into your float you will encounter what some refer to as the "The Bowling Ally", because of the large number of huge boulders in the river. As a general rule they are easy to navigate round or push off with your feet as you approach. The Bowling Ally is the most rowdy section of river you will encounter.

          About 2 miles into the trip you will float under a train trestle followed immediately by the Croydon Bridge (N41° 03' 36", W111° 32' 21"), this is the only real obstacle along this float. The Croydon Bridge is currently under construction and requires that you to exit the river and portage around the obstacle. After passing under the train trestle and just before the temporary Croydon Bridge you want to float to the right (east) shore, where you will find a calm eddy that makes exiting the river very easy and safe. You can see this bridge coming from a long ways up river and it's really not much of an obstacle. There is a beach on the right (east) side just past the Croydon Bridge that is a popular place to stop and regroup. Some call this beach "Party Island".

          Approximately 1/2 mile below the Croydon Bridge the river crosses under a train trestle and I-84. Soon after you cross under I-84 the interesting rock formation known as Devil's Slide (N41° 03' 49", W111° 32' 52") will appear on the left (south) side of the river.

          Devil's Slide is approximately the halfway point of the float. The second half of the river is a little lazier then the first half. Just kickback and enjoy the float. You will know you have about 1 mile left in your trip when the river travels under I-84 for about 200-yards, some people call this "the tunnel" or "Pin Ball Machine", but it's not really a tunnel, it's just a long bridge built over the river. Just before the finish you will again cross under a train trestle which lets you know thing are about to get interesting.

          Perhaps the best part about this float is it ends with a grand finale at Taggert Falls (N41° 03' 29", W111° 35' 29"), this is the largest rapid on the river and is an excellent place to take some pictures. Taggert Falls is easiest to navigate if you float down the left (south) south side of the river. Exit to the right (north) immediately after Taggert Falls and climb the embankment to your shuttle.

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 Barefoot Tubing numerous times and found them to be extremely professional and well organized. Their equipment is always first rate and well maintained. Reservations are recommended. Their office is located in Morgan, Utah.

          There are several other outfitter's offering tubing services along the Weber River but I know nothing about any of them.

Weber River History:
          The Weber River is 125-miles (201 km) long. It begins high in the Uinta Mountains and empties into the Great Salt Lake. The Weber River was named for American fur trapper John Henry Weber.

Optional Route:
          The float can be extended by approximately 3 miles and 1 1/2 hours by putting in at the Optional Upper Trailhead (N41° 00' 52", W111° 29' 23"). To reach the Optional Upper Trailhead follow I-84 an additional 3 miles east from the standard Upper Trailhead to Exit 115 (Henefer). Exit the interstate and turn right (south) and turn immediately left (east) onto the Frontage Road. Follow the Frontage Road for 200-yards to the Optional Upper Trailhead which consist of ample dirt parking on the north side of the Frontage Road and the river on the south side of the road.

          Put your tube in the river and begin floating. This extended version is not nearly as popular with tubers as the standard version because many feel that 3 1/2 hours is too long of float, but the extend version is very popular with rafts and kayak as they generally float much quicker because of their maneuverability.

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