Grand Canyon rafting trips range from short three-day trips to longer trips lasting up to 21 days, with varying levels of difficulty and types of boats. Commercial trips with expert guides are available, as well as private tours booked years in advance. Visitors are only allowed to raft the Grand Canyon once a year.
Grand Canyon rafting trips can vary greatly from strenuous trips lasting several weeks, to leisurely excursions lasting just a weekend. For those willing to brave the rugged nature of a Grand Canyon rafting trip, there’s a wide variety of options to suit nearly any preference. The trips vary greatly in services, length and difficulty, as well as the type of vessel used.
The shortest rafting trips in the Grand Canyon typically last about three days. These trips only go through half of the canyon and participants will need to either hike down the canyon to the starting point or walk up the canyon at the end of their rafting trip. These are known as partial trips.
Partial trips span the upper canyon or lower canyon. Upper Canyon trips begin at Lee’s Ferry and end at Phantom Ranch. The upper half of the canyon is home to Redwall Cavern, Marble Canyon, Upper Granite Gorge, and several rapids including Zoroaster, House Rock, and Hance. Lower canyon trips begin at Phantom Ranch and end at Separation Canyon. In this half of the canyon, visitors will see Deer Creek Falls, Havasu Canyon, and rapids such as Lava, Granite, Crystal, and Hermit.
Trips that traverse the entire canyon can last anywhere from six to 21 days depending on the itinerary and the type of boat used. Motorized trips are significantly shorter, typically taking no more than ten days. Non-motorized trips are longer. The typical duration of this type of trip is between two and three weeks.
The type of boat used on various Grand Canyon rafting trips greatly affects the overall experience. Motorized raft trips are the most popular choice. Those interested in a more strenuous trip can traverse the canyon in a rowing dory or inflatable raft. For a bit of both worlds, hybrid trips are also available, using a variety of watercraft.
Most Grand Canyon rafting trips are commercial. These are hosted by reputable rafting companies and include an expert guide who will lead guests through the canyon. Most of these trips include food and drinks, and some will even provide the necessary camping gear. Trips vary in price and itinerary, so tourists should research available options thoroughly. Rafting, hiking and camping in the Grand Canyon can be very strenuous, so inexperienced campers should take note of the difficulty and length of the various trips and select one that isn’t too difficult.
Private river tours in the Grand Canyon are also available. These have to be booked well in advance, often years in advance. Tourists interested in this type of trip should contact the River Permits Office for detailed information.
Due to the popularity of Grand Canyon rafting vacations and their limited availability, visitors are not allowed to raft the Grand Canyon more than once a year. Even if your scheduled trips are of different lengths or booked through different companies, you should wait at least a year between trips.
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