Conquering the Colorado
A Grand Canyon Adventure Like No Other
Writer Rebecca L. Rhoades // Photography by Allyson Schwartz
Imagine floating through the heart of the Grand Canyon, towering rock walls rising thousands of feet above as you navigate churning rapids and discover hidden treasures inaccessible by land. For adventure-seekers, rafting the Colorado River offers an unparalleled perspective of one of America’s natural wonders.
“The Grand Canyon is an amazing trip,” says Dean Knuth, marketing director for Arizona River Runners. “Most people who take one of our trips have never been rafting before, and a subset of those have never been camping before. They really want to push themselves to do something amazing.”
More than a dozen river outfitters are licensed to offer rafting trips through the Grand Canyon. Tours depart from Lees Ferry, the official beginning of Grand Canyon National Park, and take guests as far as 280 miles alongside towering rock walls; through whitewater rapids; and past waterfalls, hidden caverns and ancient Puebloan dwellings. Food, sleeping amenities and safety gear are provided, but there is no internet service, and the bed is a sleeping bag in a tent or on the beach.
The journey offers far more than just river running.
“There are some really amazing things to see and do,” Knuth notes. “We try to do one or two daily side hikes on every trip.”
Popular attractions include Redwall Cavern, a massive amphitheater-style cave that American explorer John Wesley Powell once said “would give seating to 50,000 people,” and the Nankoweap Granaries, 1,000-year-old Puebloan storage structures carved high on a cliff.
Visitors also discover hidden waterfalls, fossilized nautiloids from 400 million years ago, and in spring, the brilliant turquoise-hued pools of the Little Colorado River.
For many adventurers who have previously hiked the Grand Canyon’s trails, rafting offers a completely different perspective. Seeing the canyon from below while snaking along the river reveals connections between iconic landmarks like Bright Angel, Phantom Ranch, Havasupai and the North Rim that aren’t apparent from above. Though immensely rewarding, the journey challenges travelers to step far outside their comfort zones.
Heat, scorpions, rattlesnakes and constantly being wet are just some of the discomforts of the trip. And while most of the river is smooth, some whitewater rapids can churn up large — and dangerous — waves.
The guides’ primary job is ensuring safety through serious rapids, and while the adventure doesn’t require peak physical fitness, it does demand courage, an open mind and readiness for the unexpected.
The most notorious challenge is Lava Falls Rapid. Rated 9 out of 10 in difficulty, the 20-second run is brief but terrifying as rafts bob like toys through churning waves.
Despite hosting approximately 20,000 rafters annually, outfitters maintain impeccable environmental standards.
“We pack up every little piece of microtrash,” Knuth emphasizes. “When we pull away from a campsite, it looks exactly like it did when we pulled in.”
Those who complete the journey often describe it as transformational — a unique fellowship that provides a profound sense of accomplishment. Rafters return with shifted perspectives, having confronted their fears, committed fully to the adventure, and conquered an endeavor few will ever attempt.
