Are there 1-Day Colorado River Rafting Tours Through Grand Canyon National Park?  

Are there 1-Day Colorado River Rafting Tours Through Grand Canyon National Park?  

Grand Canyon National Park: A Remote and Wild Region 

Grand Canyon National Park (GCNP) is in a vast and remote backcountry area. Though it is not officially designated as a “Wilderness” region, it is genuinely a wilderness in its essence. Most of the park and its surrounding regions are inaccessible by vehicle, and only a few sections of the total 1,218,375 acres (1,904 square miles) of the park have road access. Paved roads are limited, and access to viewpoints is only along short sections of the North and South Rims. The only public access to the Colorado River at the bottom of the canyon, from either rim of the park, involves long, steep hiking trails. The ONLY paved road down to the Colorado River is at Lees Ferry near the border of Utah, also known as River Mile 0 to river rafters. All rafting expeditions must launch their rafts at Lees Ferry, at the GCNP’s easternmost boundary, to embark on their 1-2-week rafting adventures through the canyon. Over 225 miles downstream from Lees Ferry is the next accessible location to the river by vehicle, which is called Diamond Creek Road. However, it is a rugged dirt road that can hardly be classified as a road! 

One-Day Rafting Tour Options in the Grand Canyon Region 

Due to lack of access to the river in the GCNP, it is impossible to have a one-day rafting trip through the middle of the park. However, two outfitters do provide one-day rafting options on the Colorado River within the Grand Canyon region. Below are the two options: 

 1-Day Colorado River through Glen Canyon National Recreation Area 

• 15-mile float trip on the Colorado River 
• Half-day option (approximately 5 hours) 
• Starts and ends in Page, Arizona 
• Drive distance from South Rim GCNP to start 131 miles or approximately 2.5 hours Northeast of South Rim 
• Motorized raft 
• March through November 
• Minimum Age 4 
• Price $$ 
• Trip details and highlights: This trip starts with a bus ride from Page, AZ (up to 3 start times a day) and a drive through a 2-mile non-public tunnel at Glen Canyon dam, where the rafts launch. The motorized rafts float along a calm river and go around the famous Horseshoe Bend. They also make a stop to view Native American Petroglyph Panels. Geologically, this section of the river is within the sheer and towering cliff walls of Glen Canyon and is primarily composed of the stunning Navajo Sandstone. The trip ends at the historic Lees Ferry (where all multi-day GCNP trips must launch) and return by bus to Page. 
• Arizona Raft Adventures Grand Canyon does not endorse this or other commercial providers.

1-Day Western Colorado River Starting at Diamond Creek Mile 226 

• 40-mile section on the Colorado River, mostly smooth water, a few rapids in 1st 12 miles 
• 1 day (this is a full 10 hours or more long day) 
• Starts and ends in Peach Springs, Arizona 
• Drive distance from South Rim GCNP to start 150 miles approximately 2.5 hours West of South Rim 
• Motorized raft (possible 2-day paddle options with outfitter) 
• March through October 
• Minimum Age 8 
• Price $$$$ 
• Trip details and highlights: This trip starts with a 1-hour bus ride departing at 7 am from Peach Springs AZ, down the ruggedly beautiful Diamond Creek Road (where many Grand Canyon multi-day rafting expeditions end) within a deep canyon located on the Hualapai Indian Nation Reservation. This is the only road that goes to the bottom of the Grand Canyon! Immediately after launch, the motorized rafts hit the wet and wild Diamond Creek Rapid, and in the next 12 miles, there are a few more fun and splashy rapids. There is a short stop for a hike up to the beautiful Travertine Falls. Often there is a stop at historic Separation Canyon, the location that three of Major John Wesley Powell’s men hiked out from (never to be seen again) from his first historic Grand Canyon expedition. A box lunch is included. Below Separation Canyon, the rafts motor through smooth water until arriving at the riverside helipads where passengers depart by helicopter out of the canyon to the rim at the Grand Canyon West airport on the Hualapai Reservation. From the airport, it is a one-hour and 45-minute bus ride returning passengers back to Peach Springs in the late afternoon. 
• SPECIAL NOTE: The left side of the river and canyon in this section is part of Hualapai Nation Reservation lands; the right side of the river is GCNP land. However, it is disputed as to whether the tribal boundaries go to the middle of the river or the high-water line on the left bank. Geologically, this section of the river is in the Grand Canyon and has multi-level cliffs composed of several of the different Grand Canyon rock layers, but the river trip through this section of canyon is not entirely within the GCNP boundaries here. 
• Arizona Raft Adventures Grand Canyon does not endorse this or other commercial providers.

One-Day Raft Tour Versus a Multi-Day Rafting Adventure 

Both described Colorado River one-day trips above are on stunning sections of the river within deep canyons in the Grand Canyon region. If you have only had a day to raft, they are both great options to get on the water and see some breathtaking sections of the Colorado River. However, they can hardly be compared to a true multi-day rafting experience on an expedition through Grand Canyon National Park and the heart of Grand Canyon. The area within the boundaries of Grand Canyon National Park is composed of the deepest, most colorful, and dramatic sections of the canyon itself. Rafting through it grants access to some of the largest and most famous rapids in North America. Multi-day rafting adventures within the heart of GCNP also include plenty of time for hiking and exploring a myriad of magical side canyons, expansive vistas, and dramatic waterfalls. These multi-day rafting expeditions remove one from the rat race and constant electronic connections of civilized life for days on end. Allowing one to truly experience for many days in a row a close connection with nature and a return to the simplicity of a life that is solely governed by the sun rising and setting. There is nothing that can compare to being exposed daily to the many powerful aspects of the natural world while being at the bottom of the most beautiful canyon in the world! That is simply not possible on a one-day trip. 

Information on Multi-day Rafting Expeditions through the Grand Canyon National Park 

If you are looking for an unforgettable adventure, then consider embarking on a rafting/camping/hiking expedition (oar, paddle, or motorized raft) through the heart of Grand Canyon National Park with Arizona Raft Adventures. All outfitters who run through the park are licensed concessionaires who follow the strict federal park rules governing rafting trips in the GCNP. In addition, they provide top-notch camping and rafting gear, fresh delicious meals, and certified/skilled Grand Canyon guides who are knowledgeable about the area. They also have the experience of handling all the complicated logistics and details required to run such a lengthy expedition in a remote backcountry region, as well as preparing their participants for their adventure. Plan a trip now or in the future and prepare to be wowed by the trip of a lifetime! 

How Much Lead Time is Needed to Make a Reservation 

Both earlier-described Colorado River one-day trips can usually be reserved with little lead time. However, a rafting expedition with any of the 15 GCNP licensed outfitters that operate multi-day rafting adventures through Grand Canyon National Park will usually need to be reserved 6 months to over a year out depending on the outfitter, the trip type, and time of year. But there can be last-minute availability! To check availability at Arizona Raft Adventures, call us at (800)786-7238 or visit our trip comparison page to review trip types. Go to “Book Now” to check for availability. 

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