Rafting the Grand Canyon is a great way to start checking off the dream adventures on your bucket list. Not only will you experience the beauty of Arizona at its finest, but you’ll gain a different perspective of the natural beauty of the Colorado River.
Get to Know the Grand Canyon
Millions of years ago, the Colorado River cut its way through rock and sediment, gradually forming the Grand Canyon. It is located northwest of Flagstaff, Arizona, and is one of the largest canyons in the world. Artifacts and other findings have dated human activity in the area as early as the Ice Age. The Grand Canyon is the ancestral home of the Paiute, Navajo, Zuni and Hopi peoples.
In the 1540s, the first European visitors were Spanish explorers. The first U.S. traveler entered the Grand Canyon in 1858. The canyon’s last measurements revealed a depth of one mile at its deepest, a width of 18 miles at its widest, and a total length of over 270 miles of the Colorado River.
The Colorado River
The headwaters of the Colorado River begin in Rocky Mountain National Park; the river stretches 1,450 miles to the Gulf of California. Two hundred and seventy-seven of its miles flow through the Grand Canyon, which can be rafted. Rafting the Colorado River is perhaps the best—and certainly the most exciting—way to see the canyon.
Best Times to Raft
Anytime between May and October is ideal for a rafting trip in the Grand Canyon. Some rafting seasons begin as early as April, but this depends on weather conditions. For the most up-to-date information, it’s best to call Grand Canyon National Park or visit their website before heading out.
How Long Does It Take?
The time it takes to raft the Grand Canyon depends on how much of it you’d like to see and do. To float the entire segment of the river within the park, it can take roughly 18 days, but shorter trips are also an option. It is possible to go three days and get a little under 100 miles of the river under your belt.
The rapids on the river in the park are considered intermediate-level, great for most ages and abilities. However, keep in mind that nature is unpredictable. Weather, the flow of the river, access point closures, and unexpected obstacles will also determine how long your journey takes.
Where to Start
If you want to raft the Grand Canyon, you’ll need to book a guided trip, or obtain a permit for self-guided trips. Permits are assigned by lottery, and at least one person in your party must have significant experience leading a river rafting trip in the Grand Canyon, or on a river of similar difficulty.
Most people who raft the Grand Canyon book guided trips. A variety of local outfitters offer everything from one-day to three-week guided trips and everything in between. You can further choose from motorized boats, oar rafts, and paddle rafts. These guided trips often sell out a year in advance, so start planning your trip early.
To raft the entire length of the Grand Canyon via the Colorado River, trips often start at the northeast end of the canyon at Lees Ferry and end at Lake Mead. For shorter rafting trips, the Lower Canyon is the more popular route, since it contains the largest and most exciting rapids. Three-day rafting trips in the Lower Canyon often begin at Phantom Ranch, where the canyon reaches its greatest depths.
Along your route, you will see slot canyons branching off from the river, waterfalls, swimming holes, wildlife, and a few sandy beaches—and of course, the beautiful, multi-colored rock walls rising above you on either side.
Gear and Equipment
Weather-proof attire is crucial to keep yourself protected from the elements. You’ll also want to bring sunblock, hat, sunglasses, swimsuit, towel, rain jacket, long sleeved-shirt, strapped sandals, gloves, lots of water, food, and a first-aid kit.
For more than one-day excursions or trips that include camping, you’ll also need to pack your overnight essentials, medicines, flashlight, batteries, tent, thermal wear, comfortable outdoor shoes, a map, and walking poles, to name a few. Anything that will help you in case of an emergency, such as flares and a fire starter, are never bad to have.
Fees, Rules, and Regulations
Park entrance fees can be paid at the entrance stations or purchased in advance through recreation sites. As of early 2022, a vehicle permit for the park costs $35. Annual national park passes, costing $80, will allow you entry year-round. Cash payments are not accepted, but this may change at a later date.
The Grand Canyon National Park has three entrances, two on the South Rim and one on the North Rim. Note that the Desert View (East Entrance) and South Entrance are open 24 hours.
Permits and fees are needed for entering the park and camping. Fines will be issued for those that litter, throw/roll rocks or boulders, participate in illegal burning of wood, trash, toilet paper, etc., use soaps in creeks, disturb wildlife, or enter caves without prior permission.
Getting Ready
With so much majestic beauty and so many ways to enjoy it, it’s no wonder the Grand Canyon has made it to most people’s bucket lists. Now it’s your turn to join the adventurers who have made their dreams a reality—and what better way to experience the Grand Canyon than by rafting it?