Travel Guide: Rafting the Grand Canyon

Bobbing down the Colorado River with some new friends is a great way to spend a day and marvel at the beauty of the Grand Canyon. There are many rafting trips available from a variety of companies but the one we did was through Rivers and Oceans on the Hualapai reservation in Peach Springs, Arizona. We stayed at the lodge, ate the food, and went rafting. Here is how the experience went.

The Lodge
The Hualapai Lodge is located on old Route 66 in Peach Springs. The rafting trip starts first thing in the morning so spending the night here is the way to do it. The hotel is new and clean and great for staying a couple of nights but "lap of luxury" isn't what is happening here and it really is not necessary either. The hotel has a pool, hot tub, and an onsite restaurant. The pool had wind blown debris floating on the surface and the water felt cold but nothing that would stop your average kid from taking a dip. The hot tub was clean and warm. The hotel also offers a couple of computers you can use free of charge for 10 minute sessions which is handy given the lack of cell phone coverage on the reservation. I used them to let loved ones know how things were going. The rooms are your typical hotel room but clean and modern. The only negative thing worth noting about the rooms at the Hualapai Lodge is there close proximity to the train tracks and the small, 21" televisions. While reviewing the rafting trip information the train noise is addressed and a recommendation is made to bring earplugs. Reserve a room opposite the tracks and you will sleep fine.

In the morning you can load up on the continental breakfast offerings before boarding the shuttle. Here you will find the breakfast basics like cereal, bagels, fruit and coffee. Throw in 5 bucks and you can have some hot options like eggs and sausage. The restaurant serves tasty food at reasonable prices from the menu for lunch and dinner. The variety is good and you'll even find some native specialties like the Hualapai Taco and Hualapai Macho Burrito.

Adventure begins
On the bus you'll bounce down a dirt road for an hour enjoying the beginning of the Grand Canyon scenery. The driver stops about halfway down for some photo opportunities. The road is rough and narrow so it's nice to have the break. Pretty soon you have crossed a couple of little streams and you are at the waters edge. The guides load you into motorized rafts and the adventure that brought you here begins. The river doesn't mess around with a long warm up either. Before your guide even spins the raft around you can already see the first whitewater you will brave. This is a little one so it eases you into the experience. The water is a very chilly 47 degrees so if you didn't have time for a cup of coffee back at the lodge, you are fully awake now. As you progress down the Colorado River the rapids increase in intensity. The guides have no problems navigating through these and you feel as if they could do it blindfolded.

In addition to the fun you will have on the water, there are a few stops you make as you work your way down. The first offers a short hike to a waterfall hidden in an enormous rock closet of sorts. The other stops are for lunch and a dip in the river. On a hot July day the water is very refreshing. The rafts are stocked with lunch bags, snacks, and a variety of drinks.

The last leg of the river trip is on smooth calm water. Here you get to really appreciate the towering sheer rock that seems to go all the way to the sky. The rafts move more quickly here and the breeze is welcome when the air is hot.

The conclusion of your adventure is nothing to scoff at either. When you leave the river you board a helicopter for a quick 10 minute flight to the Grand Canyon Caverns airport. From there you load back into a bus and make the 2 hour ride back to Peach Springs via washboard dirt roads. Dinner back at the Hualapai Lodge may not be five-star but after the big adventure you have just sustained it might as well be. At night, somehow, the hotel bed is the perfect size for both you and that big grin on your face.