3 Tips In Deciding The Length Of A Grand Canyon Rafting Trip

A Grand Canyon rafting trip may range from 3-18 days in length. There are 3 simple tips to help you decide which length trip is right for you:

1. To hike, or not to hike 9.5 miles via the Bright Angel Trail

You can Download Bright Angel Trail Information Sheet Here from the National Park Service

Here is a map of the Kaibab to Bright Angel Trail

2. Which raft type to choose

3. Don’t forget the pre-trip and post-trip travel day

Tip 1: Hike or No Hike?

The first tip to help you in deciding the length of Grand Canyon rafting trip that you should take, is to ask yourself if you would like to hike the Bright Angel Trail. If traveling on an Upper Canyon Route (3-8 days in length) or Lower Canyon Route (4-10 days in length) rafting trip, you will be required to hike the Bright Angel Trail. The Bright Angel trail is rated strenuous by the National Park Service, ranging 7.5 – 9.5 miles in length, with an elevation change of 5,000 vertical feet. Upper Canyon trips finish with a hike out of Grand Canyon, and Lower Canyon trips start with a hike into Grand Canyon.

If you decide that you would not like to hike the Bright Angel Trail upon the start or finish of your trip, you can elect to do a Full Canyon (6-18 days in length) which begins at river mile 0 and ends with a helicopter or drive out of the canyon, or Western Canyon (3-5 days in length) trip which begins with a helicopter ride into the canyon and a drive out at trip’s end.

Tip 2: Motor or Non-Motor Raft Type

There are many different raft types offered by the outfitters: Motor Rafts and Non-Motor Rafts which are made up of Oar, Paddle, combination of the two called a Hybrid and lastly Dory boats. Because the launch and take-out locations along the river are at minimum 88 river miles apart, a motor raft traveling 8-9 mph is able to cover more ground each day shortening trip durations to about half the time that it would take a non-motor raft traveling 3-4mph. This means that full canyon motor trips take 6-8 days compared to 12-18 days in a non-motor raft. Additionally, Upper motor trips take 3-4 days vs. 6-7 days and lower canyon motor trips take 4-6 days compared to 7-9 days in a non-motor raft trip.

Tip 3: Add a full day for both pre and post trip travel; you will appreciate the extra time!

When determining the length of your Grand Canyon rafting trip, don’t forget to add a full day travel to your pre and post trip logistics. With the exception of Western canyon trips, all Grand Canyon Raft trips require you to add a pre trip travel day, and most post trip logistics are made less stressful when you add another day for traveling home. If you are interested in a partial canyon trip (upper or lower canyon), you will also need to take a full travel day prior to your trip for Lower Canyon trips which begin at the south rim in Grand Canyon Village, or a full travel day post trip for Upper Canyon trips, which end at the South Rim in Grand Canyon Village. Western Canyon trips allow you the opportunity to fly into and out of Las Vegas on the same starting and finishing day of your trip.

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Why You Should Consider Going On Guided Rafting Trips In The Grand Canyon

I have always been a great fan of the outdoors. Whenever I have the chance, I like to go and drive to nature and enjoy activities such as camping and kayaking. As a present for graduating college, my parents decided to present me with a once in a lifetime trip to the Grand Canyon. I was absolutely elated to hear this, and was very excited to go and visit a truly amazing area such as the Grand Canyon. One of the most activities that I participated in at the Grand Canyon is guided rafting trips, and here is why you should consider going on one of these tours:

I have heard from lots of family and friends that the only true way to enjoy the Grand Canyon is to go on guided rafting trips. They told me that being on the water of the Grand Canyon and being able to enjoy the scenery from the water would give me a great appreciation of the entire area. Of course, hearing this, I immediately booked myself into multiple rafting tours in the area. I knew that going on these trips would be able to give me the real Grand Canyon experience which simply can’t be had from the other activities offered in the area.

The guided rafting tour that I decided to participate in took me all over the Grand Canyon. I was able to travel the area through the many different rivers and streams located throughout the entire canyon. It was very interesting to see the complex river system in the canyon. The tour took me around lots of areas in the canyon that simply can’t be reached without using a raft boat. The tour guide for the rafting expedition was also able to give me lots of very interesting facts about the canyon which further increased my fascination with the entire area.

During the trip I was also able to make lots of great friends who also had a huge appreciation for the canyon. We were able to enjoy the tour together and discuss all of the great things we had seen and heard during the tour. I have to say, all of the individuals that went on the tour were some of the most down to earth and friendly people I had ever met. It truly was an amazing experience being able to enjoy the Grand Canyon while on raft boats, surrounded by a bunch of great people. I was worried that going on a tour such as this by myself would leave me a little bit isolated, but that certainly wasn’t the case at all.

The guided raft trips that I went on in the canyon were some of the best experiences that I have ever had in my life. I am so thankful for my parents whom give me the opportunity to enjoy such a truly sublime and fascinating area such as the Grand Canyon. You can certainly expect me to visit the canyon once again in the near future. Furthermore, I would definitely recommend that anyone who has even the slightest interest in visiting the Grand Canyon do so.

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My Experience With A Rafting Tour In The Grand Canyon

Ever since I was a young child I had wanted to visit the Grand Canyon, and a few weeks ago with my family this dream of a rafting tour came true.  Over the years, I had seen incredible photos of the area, and read many books with stories about the pioneers who first ran the rapids down the Colorado river in Grand Canyon. I always had a great love for nature, making an area such as the Grand Canyon even more appealing. While we visited many areas in the southwest, one of the most entertaining and fulfilling activities that my family and I took part in was a rafting tour down the Colorado river.

Choosing a tour was work as there are so many options to select from including raft types, routes and number of days. Our tour included transportation to and from as part of the itinerary which made travel logistics rather simple – flew in and out of Las Vegas, Nevada. This meant that as soon as we stepped out of our hotel we were able to hop onto a comfortable, air-conditioned bus which would transport us straight to Marble Canyon, Arizona where we met our rafts.

We decided on a full canyon motor trip as we were limited to 7 days for our adventure.  There was a choice between an oar trip (non-motorized) and a motor and decided a motor was the right choice as it offered more comfortable seating and a more active and exciting daily itinerary as we would see more of the canyon each day. Of course, I initially imagined us paddle rafting down the Colorado river, as everyone else, but quickly learned we would either have to commit to a 12-18 day full canyon trip, or hike 9.5 miles at start or end of an upper or lower canyon 7-9 day trip. 7-day motor was definitely the way to go for us. The rafting tour was incredibly relaxing at times, and totally exhilarating when slamming into the rapids head on. The energy between the water and raft was intense, and literally felt like buckets of water were being thrown on top of us. Wow, what a rush!  I have to say, the amazing scenery we saw during the tour was spectacular and the food our guides prepared, was better then many restaurants I’ve frequented. These amazing memories are some of the things that I will keep with me for the rest of my life.

Overall, the rafting adventure was simply phenomenal. Myself and my family were all very glad that we decided to go on this for our annual family vacation. Being able to enjoy nature in such an amazing place such as the Grand Canyon, sleeping under the stars and waking up to the most amazing sunrise as it slowly made it’s way over the tall canyon walls was truly priceless. I would definitely recommend everyone to turn this bucket list idea into a reality with Advantage Grand Canyon.

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Grand Canyon River Rafting Adventures

There is something different about discovering the beauty and the power of the Colorado River on a Grand Canyon river rafting expedition. Typically undertaken as a group adventure, rafting trips can be arranged to suit the group’s preferences with regards to trip duration,intensity level and trip extras such as hiking, camping and exploring.

How to Experience Grand Canyon Rafting

The Grand Canyon is one of the most awe-inspiring natural wonders, revealing multilateral rock surfaces, unexpected grottoes and side canyons. Rafting down the river is not just for thrill seekers, but it is also for those who wish to commune with nature.

The type of raft will depend on the itinerary offered by the outfitter. Paddle rafts are inflatable rafts that have a seating capacity of between six to ​eight people, plus a guide. Each person on the trip is expected to paddle under the guidance of the trip guide who sits at the rear. Paddle rafts move quickly in the water regardless of the level of the rapids, and are among the smallest raft types allowing passengers to “feel more” of the rapids. Many commercial outfitters use paddle rafts.

An oar raft, an inflatable vessel, is among the most popular raft types and is maneuvered using a set of long wooden oars usually handled by the guide. Oar rafts can take up to ​four passengers as are dory boats.  Dory boats are usually made of wood or fiberglass and are more responsive among any vessel, while in the rapids.

A third trip option is a combination of raft types: oar with the guide handling the long oars, and a paddle raft  with passengers paddling downriver, all to be used on rotation among the group. This type of raft trip offered by very few outfitters and availability is limited.

Lastly, there are J-rig ​and S-Rig inflatable, motorized rafts which are the most popular raft type on the river. These quiet motor rafts travel twice as fast as the non-motor rafts (still only around 8-9mph) and can cut down the trip length considerably, making it an optimal option for those trying to fit a Grand Canyon raft trip within a tighter travel window.

Top Grand Canyon Rafting Trips

Rafting trips down the Colorado River require permits, the appropriate gear and experienced guides. This is especially true for multi-day trips. Advantage Grand Canyon Adventure Rafting is an aggregate working to match adventurers with 16 outfitters licensed by the National Park Service. Finding an open schedule to match your available vacation time can be a challenge especially if you are looking for a particular experience, but the pros at Advantage Grand Canyon know their way around rafting trip schedules and are in contact with the outfitters multiple times per day. The company has access to cancellation information, so they can book last-minute reservations for you. You can also ask to get on a waiting list ahead of your schedule to increase the chances of joining the rafting adventure of your dreams.

Rafting trips may be classified according to duration and the experience tends to be more profound with multi-day trips. These trips range from three- to ​eighteen-day adventures with a guide and a crew who  prepares incredible meals for you. Tents, sleeping bags, dry bags and all of your gear is included on these commercial Grand Canyon river trips. There is plenty of time to disembark and hike the trails and discover hidden canyons and falls with every raft trip.

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Grand Canyon Rafting Trip Planning: Top 4 Questions

Top 4 Questions to Ask for Grand Canyon Rafting Trip Planning

Rafting on the Grand Canyon is the trip of a lifetime, combining adventure, excitement, relaxation and beauty to create an unforgettable experience.  With 16 Grand Canyon rafting outfitters and over a thousand trips offered every year, asking the right questions while is important for Grand Canyon rafting trip planning.  The top 4 questions to ask when planning your Grand Canyon rafting trip are: what type of raft do you prefer to travel in?; what is your preferred trip length?; what is the best route to explore?; and how flexible is your travel window?

One place to start when Grand Canyon rafting trip planning is to determine whether you prefer a motorized or non-motorized adventure.  There are some differences between the two trip types, including group size, boat size and how the boats are propelled down river. Motorized trips consist of 12-14 passengers per raft and have a 2 raft maximum.  The motorized rafts used on each trip can vary depending on the outfitter.  The most common motorized rafts in the Canyon are known as S-rigs or J-rigs.  These boats range from 32-37 feet in length and are propelled down river by a quiet 4-stroke outboard motor on the tail end, or stern of the boat.  Non-motorized trips consist of 4 passengers per oar boat, and 6-8 passengers per paddle raft.  Non-motorized trips typically have 4-7 boats per trip.  These boats vary in type (dory, oar, paddle) as well as size (14-18 feet).  Non Motorized trip types are offered as All Paddle, Oar, Hybrid (combining both Oar and Paddle rafts), Dory or a mixture of these boats depending on the outfitter.  Once you have narrowed down the boat type, you next step is to determine the length of trip while Grand Canyon rafting tip planning.

To raft the Grand Canyon you will need a minimum of 3 days to a maximum of 18 days.  The length of trip varies depending on the time of year, type of trip and company you choose to travel with.  Motorized trips range from 3-10 days in length.  Non-motorized trips range from 5-18 days in length.  When Grand Canyon rafting trip planning, those with a shorter travel time frame will need to keep in mind that some trips require a hike into or out of the Grand Canyon on the Bright Angel Trail. This hike requires travelers to be in excellent physical health.  Once you have determined the length of trip you would like to do, your next step for Grand Canyon rafting trip planning is to look at the route you would like to travel on.

There are three main routes in Grand Canyon: Upper, Lower and Full Canyon. Each route varies offering unique highlights specific to that stretch of river.  All routes offer exciting whitewater, hiking and beautiful scenic views.  Upper Canyon trips range in duration from 3-4 days for motor trips or 5-8 days for non-motor trips and require a  hike out of Grand Canyon on Bright Angel Trail.  Lower Canyon trips range from 4-6 days for motor trips and 7-12 days for non-motor trips and require travelers to hike into Grand Canyon on the Bright Angel Trail.  Full Canyon trips combine the upper and lower segments and are offered from 6-10 days for motor trips and 12-18 days for non-motor trips. Full Canyon trips do not require a hike into or out of Grand Canyon.

Another option which does not require a hike into or out of the Canyon is the Western Canyon route which covers the western most portion of the Colorado river in the Grand Canyon. This 90-mile stretch of river offers a few mild rapids, stunning scenery and some great attractions.  The Western Canyon trip is perfect for families with young children, 1st time rafters, or travelers looking for a shorter trip option. Understanding the length of trip available, and whether a hike into or out of the Canyon is involved with the trip can easily eliminate or direct you to the perfect trip for your group when Grand Canyon rafting trip planning.  In addition to trip type, length and route, it is recommended to consider your travel time frame when Grand Canyon rafting trip planning.

The commercial rafting season through Grand Canyon National Park is offered April – October.  Due to the high volume of interested travelers and regulated trip dates, it is recommended to narrow down your travel dates within a travel time frame or travel window.  This helps  to optimize the success in finding a Grand Canyon rafting trip.  When reviewing travel dates, it is important to consider the average weather conditions and patterns in Grand Canyon.  It is also suggested that travelers plan their vacation around their Grand Canyon rafting adventure, as opposed to planning a vacation and trying to then fit in a Grand Canyon rafting trip.

Some additional questions that travelers may want to consider are age limits, costs and payment policies, time spent on hiking, time spent on rafts, time spent in camp, archaeological sites, geological sites, rapids, the start and finish point of the trip, guide experience and physical fitness requirements.

Grand Canyon rafting trip planning can be a difficult process.  Once you are able to narrow down the boat type, trip length, route and time of year you would like to travel, you will be one step closer to finding the perfect Grand Canyon rafting trip!  For more questions to consider when Grand Canyon rafting trip planning, visit our frequently asked questions page.

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Rafting Grand Canyon: The Best Time for Big Whitewater

Best Time for Big Whitewater when Rafting Grand Canyon

Rafting in the Grand Canyon is an exciting adventure where the big whitewater happens during the high water season. The Colorado River’s water levels through Grand Canyon are determined by the Colorado River Management Plan (CRMP). Big whitewater in Grand Canyon is typically not during spring run off, like most other rivers; instead it is during the warmer months when air conditioning becomes a necessity in the Southwest, and more water is needed downstream for agriculture.

The commercial rafting season through Grand Canyon National Park operates from April through October. Each month has fluctuating water flows and every day the water is released within the pre-determined water flow amount. These water levels are determined by the amount of moisture, snow melt and rain that the Upper and Lower Colorado River Basin receives. Once the amount of water is estimated, hydrologists determine the amount of water released on a monthly basis to meet the goals outlined in the CRMP. The water from the Colorado River is shared amongst 7 states and Mexico. The CRMP helps to meet the distribution goals and regulations in place to properly distribute the water amongst these areas. What does this mean for big whitewater in the Grand Canyon? It means that every year the water flows are different, and every month there is a team of scientists determining the amount of water that will be released downstream of Glen Canyon Dam. So when should you choose to raft Grand Canyon for the big whitewater experience?

The decision of when to raft Grand Canyon comes down to personal preference. If you are someone hoping for the chance of experiencing big whitewater in the Canyon, your best bet would be to travel during July or August.  This is when the hydroelectric needs in the Southwest are at their peak, and the most water is released. Typically the water flows during July and August are being released between 12,000-18,000 cubic feet per second. Many of the renown rapids in Grand Canyon, such as Crystal and Lava Falls, get larger and become more exciting during higher water flows, and are at their peak for big whitewater.

If you are hoping to not have the big whitewater rafting experience in the Grand Canyon, you will want to consider rafting during the low water season. April, May, September and October all tend to have lower water flows being released. Trends show that April has the lowest water levels. Typically in April you can expect to see steady flows, where there is minimal fluctuation of water levels being released. Generally these flows are between 5,000-8,000 cubic feet per second. May, September and October tend to have more fluctuation than April, meaning the CRMP allows the water to be released between 8,000-16,000 cubic feet per second during these months.

All of this information is useful if you understand water flows and cubic feet per second, but can mean very little to someone who has yet to learn about water flows on high volume rivers, such as the Colorado River. If you don’t understand fluctuation or the Colorado River Management Plan, no need to worry your guides will educate you on this during your trip. At this time, here are the key points to keep in mind.

The higher the water level (cubic feet per second) being released, the larger many of the “big” rapids in Grand Canyon become.   The big whitewater tends to be in late June, July or August.

On the same note, the lower the water level, many smaller rapids become larger or rated at a higher level, due to additional waves created by rocks or obstructions in the water, or they become more technical to run. This means that anytime you raft in the Grand Canyon, you will have exciting rapids and get to experience some big whitewater. In other words, you can’t choose a bad time to raft down the Colorado River.

To date, the CRMP has regulated water flows that are always run-able for both motorized and non-motorized trips. There was a time in 1983 when the water levels were so high, that the National Park Service required passengers to hike around Crystal Rapid. This however was during a time when the water from Lake Powell was spilling over Glen Canyon Dam, and being released at around 100,000 cubic feet per second. There has not been a time when too little water was released, forcing rafters to hike around rapids.

If you are hoping for the smallest amount of whitewater on your trip, consider rafting in April, early May, late September or October.

Every year the amount of water being released changes with the amount of moisture gained in the winter, due to this rafting outfitters cannot guarantee any water levels during any time of year.

When looking at water levels, also consider Grand Canyon weather, as the weather can be very hot in the summer, and cool in the spring or fall.

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