The Grand Canyon is one of the most beautiful and famous places to visit in the United States. It also is home to a stretch of the Colorado River. Several tour businesses offer opportunities for you to raft down the river, so you can see the beauty of the Canyon while experiencing the thrill of white water rafting.
Length of Tours
If you want to raft through the Grand Canyon, you will find a tour to fit the time frame of your vacation. Depending on which tour company you use, you can pack all the adventure into a single day, or stretch out the fun into three, four, six, seven, eight or even 13 days. Obviously, you will see more of the Canyon's beauty when you stay there longer, but even just a single day can give you a good rafting experience.
Descending
The Grand Canyon is quite deep. In order to get to the river, you must descend to the bottom of the canyon. You can do this in a number of ways, depending on the vendor you use and the amount of time you have. Some tours will carry you to the bottom by Jeep, while others descend via helicopter. Some companies even begin in Las Vegas, Nevada, by shuttling you to the Canyon area on an airliner. If you are up for the added exercise, some tours including hiking down the Canyon to the river.
Types of Rafting
Even though the Colorado River has plenty of energy of its own, your raft must still be powered and steered somehow. Many tours offer motorized rafts, which allow you to travel larger distances and see more sights. However, if you prefer to get a workout with your rafting, or simply desire to do it the old-fashioned way, you can choose an oar-powered rafting tour instead.
Other Activities
The rafting tours all include other activities besides rafting. Even the shorter tours include lunch. Whether you take a short break from the water to eat a picnic on the Canyon's shores or spend some time on working cattle ranches doing some horseback riding, there is plenty to keep your body nourished and working during your rafting tour besides the rafting itself.
Reservations
The Grand Canyon National Park Service prohibits taking more than one recreational river trip per year along certain sections of the river due to high demand and potential negative environmental impact. Therefore, it is important to plan your trip accordingly and in advance. Prices, availability and reservation specifics vary according to the vendor you choose, but act early no matter what to ensure you get all the active outdoors adventure you want on your Grand Canyon rafting your.
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