Sound and Light Show Jet Boat Tours
Evening Dinner and Boat Tour on the Colorado River
For an old-time show and the finishing touch on a perfect day, come along and enjoy a cowboy-style Dutch oven dinner and a slow-moving evening boat ride on a calm part of the Colorado River. Canyonlands by Night and Day has been offering the Sound and Light Show evening program since 1963, and it is by far one of the most unique sound and light shows in the world. It has been hailed by many as “the highlight of our vacation.” The Canyonlands area is unlike any other in the world, making this boat ride one of the most outstanding events you’ll experience.
Sound and Light Show Jet Boat Tour Details
Your evening begins at our Colorado Riverside location two miles north of Moab, Utah. You will be served a cowboy-style Dutch oven dinner in a dining room overlooking the Colorado River. After dinner, you will be our guest on a flat-bottomed boat as we head upriver with a knowledgeable and entertaining guide who will highlight interesting things and ignite your imagination.
Once darkness settles in, the formal part of the evening begins with 40,000 watts of natural light illuminating the canyon wall. Lights, shadows, music, and narration make the stories of the canyon’s formation, creation, and history come to life on the walls above the river—as learned from the area's early settlers (the Catholic conquistadors, Native Americans, and Mormon pioneers).
Passed down for generations, our Sound and Light Show is a unique blend of tradition and innovation. It’s a piece of Moab history brought to life every night on the river.
The Canyonlands by Night and Day Sound and Light Show is a not-to-be-missed, unique experience and a great end to a perfect day in Moab.
Please Note:
The Canyonlands by Night and Day Sound and Light show is an old-fashioned light show. There are no colored or laser lights, and the music is appropriate for the historical references. The stories included in the show relate to how the settlers of the area believed the area was created and clashed with the Indians of the area. If you prefer a tour without religious references, consider the Sunset Jet Boat or Daytime Jet Boat Tour, which do not include narrative stories.
We are always happy to help you find the right tour!
Cowboy-style Dutch Oven Dinner Menu
Before the show begins, gather riverside for a hearty cowboy-style Dutch oven dinner. The family-style Dutch oven dinner is served at long, communal tables right by the river. This isn’t just a meal, it’s a chance to relax, share stories, and connect with fellow travelers from all over the world. It’s the perfect way to relax, recharge, and enjoy the flavors of Moab before your evening adventure.
The cowboy-style dinner is cooked all day to perfection and includes BBQ beef, BBQ pork, BBQ chicken, roast beef, roast pork, cowpoke potatoes (cut potatoes with spring vegetables and cheese melted through), sweet baked beans, corn, homemade rolls (regular and garlic), a full salad bar (leafy greens with all the toppings, a pasta salad, and coleslaw), dessert, and bottomless soft drinks. Beer, wine, and mixed drinks are available for purchase at the bar. All items, except for the meat dishes, are vegetarian-friendly.
Seats fill fast, especially in spring and fall. Book your Sound and Light Show today and end your Moab adventure with something truly spectacular.
Pricing
Adult (Dinner & Boat Tour): $99*
Youth 4 – 12 (Dinner & Boat Tour): $89*
Adult (Boat Only): $89
Youth 4 – 12 (Boat Only): $79
Family Pack (2 adults + 2 youth): $312
*Please note: The meal is valued at $24.99. To make the dinner & boat combo a great deal for guests we take a portion off the boat and the meal to make the price for guests only $10, but in fact, they are getting a great meal because of the deal. If we have to cancel the boat portion due to bad weather, you will be charged for the meal at the regular price.
Timing
The evening jet boat tour in Moab operates nightly March through October. Departure times vary with the setting of the sun. Please call our friendly customer service representatives if you need additional information about timing.
If you need more information about the Colorado River dinner curise, check out some of the most frequently asked questions shown below.
Duration
The dinner part of the tour is one hour and the boat part of the tour is a little over two hours, so the total time is a little over three hours for the experience.
Premium Seating
If you would like to sit at the very front of the boat, add $10 per seat. The area is limited to eight front-row seats. Additional restrictions apply.
Age Requirements
The Canyonlands by Night and Day Sound and Light Show Tour cannot accommodate children under the age of 4.
To qualify for youth pricing, your child must be between 4 – 12 years of age.
Great unique experience Tasha was fun and informative. Put this on your list when you visit Moab!!!
— Don Guy
A great trip, and the food was pretty good, too. This place is a 60+ year Moab business - support it. We were a bit concerned about it being a “jet boat”, but that means it is the type of propulsion, not that it is a speed boat.
— Kevin Drees
A different experience whilst travelling along the river towards dusk. Different images were projected along the walls during low light that looked spectacular during daylight. A slow meander along the river with a guide talking about the vast images during this time. A true highlight was the light show that lit up the walls of the surrounding vista. Commentry high lighting the history of the area was interesting to say the least. I will forever remember this trip.
— Ian Smith
We loved our night trip with the lights and music. Michael was a perfect host from the front door and all thru the tour. Highly recommend !
— Lisa Oster
We heard about this via word of mouth and were not disappointed. The entire staff was awesome, Capt Ron giving our boys special Capt’s pins at the start, Michael our greeter and boat guide, Matt the lighting man, the bartender (sorry i foget her name), and the cooks and helpers too, it truely is a great team. Plus having a cash bar was a great surprise! Michael did a great job on the boat talking about the Colorado river, history of the business, the rock formations, and Utah’s awesome public lands. Plus he had a bunch of dad jokes that were delivered awesomely. The music/spoken word and lighting portion were not what we expected…and that was fine, because it was awesome. Our group was a varried age group, 6,11, 23,23,42,43, and 78. Everyone loved it. The music/spoken word part, if i had to guess has not changed in 40years(or more) and it shouldn’t. It was nostalgic, and campy, and not something we get to experience much in 2025. My 78yr old inlaws could not stop talking about how great it was, our 23 yr old neice and bf loved it and our boys 6 & 11 really thought the stories were cool. No ipads needed. In an age were everything is digital, overproduced and rapid fire in your face, this experience blended showmanship and nature into one, and provided a memory our family will have the rest of our lives. Thank you!
— Timothy Wright
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