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A Grand Canyon rafting trip is certainly one of the most exciting adventures that our country has to offer. In fact, for many people, visiting the canyon and rafting down the Colorado River is the dream of a lifetime. If you decide to visit the Grand Canyon national park, choosing some of the whitewater rafting trips is a must.
The moments of pure thrill, minutes of absolute serenity, and feeling of togetherness with your group as you stroll across Colorado River are among the best feelings that you will experience as you connect with nature. For many, the Grand Canyon rafting trips have been a truly life-changing experience, where you get to learn about history and geology, make new friends, and do everything under the guidance of some of the best rafting guides and experts.
If you are in a dilemma over which Grand Canyon rafting trip to choose and which raft type would be ideal for you, you are not the only one. There are many popular options for boats, and two main sections within the heart of the Canyon, including the Upper Grand Canyon trip and the Lower Grand Canyon river trip. Below, we are showing you the difference between both these sections and sharing advice on how to make most of your trip.
The best answer to this question is – both. In reality, both the Upper Canyon and the Lower Canyon are great for rafting, offer a lot of miles full of fun in the raft, and you can never go wrong. That is why some travellers don't split the experience in half and decide to visit the Full Canyon instead.
This area is great if you want to see the big Canyon walls rising above you as you go downstream. The starting point here is Lees Ferry, river mile 0, and you would end around river mile 89, impressed by the incredible geology and plenty of American history. The total distance is 88 miles, and there are 19 rapids rated 5 or above (1 - 10 scale)
You will do more than navigate the river in the canyon upper area – adventurers are amazed by the pristine natural beauty and the walls that are towering over 4,500 feet. Among the most popular options for whitewater rafting are 3.5 day motorized trips or the 5.5 day oar or paddle rafting trips, and the required 10 mile hiking trip from Colorado River, where you ascend to a point at South Rim located at over 5,000 feet elevation from the river to the rim, allowing for some breathtaking views of the entire canyon area and explore wildlife through the river miles.
The Lower Canyon rafting trip begins around river mile 89 and ends 100 or more river miles down the Canyon. Its starting point is actually the deepest part of the Canyon named Phantom Ranch, where you will see some fascinating slot canyons and plenty of waterfalls.
There is a total of 19+ rapids and a full distance of 102 or more miles. Along the way, you will marvel at the Grand Canyon tour and see the big walls soaring overhead. You can also spot some Indian ruins, commune with wildlife and explore the waterfalls.
People usually choose a 4.5 day motorized raft trip or a 8 day oar or paddle raft trip when booking a tour in the Lower Canyon. There is a required 9.5 mile hike from Grand Canyon to South Rim to Colorado River for the bravest and fittest, featuring about a 5,000 foot change in elevation.
But, if you want to book one Grand Canyon rafting trip, we would definitely recommend to go for the Full Canyon 7 or 8 day trip where you will see both the upper and lower canyon areas. Each day, you will wake up to the smell of freshly brewed coffee, and get to enjoy the sounds of rushing water.
If you are in a dilemma between choosing a self-guided Grand Canyon rafting trip or a tour with a guide, you should know that both options are great. However, if you want to explore on your own, you need to be a boater who has the necessary skills for whitewater rafting, first-aid training, as well as the experience to lead your own trip. You also need to provide your own equipment, or rent it from the various outfitters specializing in outfitting private trips on Colorado River.
Most people don't have the skills and equipment to do things themselves, or prefer being guided by an expert. That is why a commercial trip is often the best option – everything will be handled by somebody else, and you only need to show up and be ready to raft through one of the most beautiful canyons in the world.
From gear and equipment to delicious meals and a place to sleep, commercial motorized rafting tours are a great option. If you choose a motorized raft for your Grand Canyon trip, you will get to explore more and see many areas of the canyon in their full glory.
Below, we are listing some of the common Grand Canyon trips and their duration:
From all of these, the 7 day Full Canyon motor rafting trips are most popular, but many people also opt out for the 3-5 days with motorized rafts.
To ensure the best adventure on your rive rafting trip, you should plan ahead, consider your time and financial resources, and choose the best rafting trip for your needs.
There are 16 different outfitters in the Grand Canyon National Park Service, and most of them operate motorized raft trips as well as other human-powered options. The outfitters offer everything – whether you are interested in the 280-mile Lees Ferry to Pearce Ferry experience or want a shorter Grand Canyon rafting adventure, you can choose your type of trip based on your schedule, interest, budget, or boat option.
The commercial rafting season operated by outfitters starts in April and runs through October. Below, we are talking more about the best ways to plan your Grand Canyon adventure and the things you need to know in advance.
To raft the Grand Canyon, you will need a minimum of 3 days and a maximum of 18 days. The length of your trip will depend on the time of year, type of trip, and the company you choose to travel with. For example, a non-motorized trip ranges from 4 to 18 days in length, while motor trips range from 3 to 10 days in length.
Also, when planning your trip, know that some rafting adventures require a hike into our out of the Grand Canyon on the Bright Angel trail. Everyone choosing the Bright Angel Trail for a hike should be in excellent physical health.
Nowadays, there are plenty of different experiences on the Upper, Lower canyons, and Western canyon routes.
There are plenty of options when it comes to boat type, ranging from motorized boats to oar rafts, paddle rafts, and dory rafts. Rafting at Colorado River gives you the options to choose between motorized rafts and non-motorized rafting trips, and all of these are different number of days based on the river area within the Grand Canyon that you choose for your rafting trip.
Each of these provides a great rafting experience, and motorized trips seem to be the most popular option. The reason for that is simple – with motorized boats, you can cover more distances in a boat that is roughly 35 feet long and powered by a quiet four-stroke outboard motor. A motorized raft is also called S-rig, J-rig, or C-Rig (in the Grand Canyon) and is a common option for any trip, especially the most popular week-long rafting adventures.
Oar and paddle rafts are smaller and have the ability to sit 4 to 6 people. If you choose a paddle raft as your option for rafting in the Grand Canyon National Park, you will have to paddle and put more strength when cruising through the rapids. On the other hand, oar rafts don't require the passengers to paddle though the rapids, as the guides take care of that.
Hybrid trips pair oar rafts with paddle ones, where paddling is used on rotation among passengers. Dory trips feature classic and rigid boat types made of hardwood. A dory travels slightly faster compared to oar rafts, but only a few passengers can fully enjoy the view from the boat, which is why dory trips are the rarest.
If you want a complete canyon rafting experience, you should know that a Full Canyon trip is always a good choice, as it is probably the most popular whitewater rafting experiences offered. So, it is definitely fit for anyone's bucket list.
When it comes to the length of your rafting trip, you can choose 3 to 5 day trips if you don't have a lot of time on your end, or opt out to 6 to 9 day rafting trips where you get to explore more of the Upper Canyon and Lower Canyon sections, or even the entirety of the Canyon.
Some rafting trips in the Grand Canyon National Park last up to 17 or 18 days, and let you see the entire beauty and every corner of the canyon in detail. If you book a trip that lasts for 18 days, you have time to see everything in the canyon, from bathing in flat water to exploring side hikes and side canyons.
Planning your Grand Canyon rafting trip means booking it in advance. Many Grand Canyon trips sell out about a year in advance, which is why planning early is always welcome. If the trip you are looking at is "sold out" and you are not booking for a huge party, you can also put your name on the waitlist.
Whether you are planning a full canyon rafting trip or you are choosing one section, you should know that there are other attractions that you can explore which are close to the canyon.
When not going through the river miles in a raft, you can visit Lake Mead. The lake is one of the most popular destinations in the state of Nevada. Near Lake Mead, you can also see the beautiful Hoover Dam, spot some wildlife and enjoy the beautiful scenery.
On the south side of the Grand Canyon, there is the Diamond Creek attraction. This stream is part of Arizona, known as one of the largest tributaries of the Colorado River and a must for many trips. Visiting Diamond Creek is absolutely worth it for the breathtaking scenery.
As you can see from above, choosing both a Grand Canyon non-motorized or motorized trip is an adventure worth having. Commercial tours offered by outfitters are the most popular option, and a rafting trip is easily something that many of us have in their best bucket list ideas.
For the an amazing canyon experience, you should choose a trip that interests you and devote some time to indulge yourself in the adventure.
