Down the Colorado Alone by Patricia “Patch” McCairen Drifting away from Lees Ferry, through the Paria Riffle, in Sunshine Lady, my 15′ Avon Professional Raft, I slid between the Kaibab Limestone that quickly ascended on both sides of the Colorado. I gripped my oars, feeling very small and insignificant. I was alone on a dark…
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…
Use Your Voice for Protection and Conservation Do you love the Grand Canyon and the Colorado River and want to protect it? Are you one of the 40 million Westerners that rely on Colorado River water? If so, then the information below will be important for you, and you have a chance to provide your…
The Story of the Earliest Inner Grand Canyon Painting, Discovered in a Small English Country Auction In 2021, Graham Ratcliffe, discovered a painting that had come up for sale at a small country auction, in England’s Lake District, that took him totally by surprise. It was of the stunning painting of the inner Grand Canyon, where it…
An Interview with Rebecca Lawton on Her New Book of Poetry by Sharon Hester In this post we interview retired AzRA guide Rebecca (Becca) Lawton. Becca began guiding for Arizona Raft Adventures (AzRA) in 1976. She started out her career with American River Touring Association in California in 1973, as well as Utah, Idaho, and…
Tolio, Holio and Foot Rot, Oh My; Why You Need to Care for your Feet on the River How to Prevent Foot Maladies on the Colorado River through Grand Canyon by Sharon Hester Foot Care on the River Taking care of your feet is super important on a Grand Canyon rafting expedition. Most injuries on…
What is a typical Grand Canyon Rafting Itinerary? We get asked this question quite often, and the honest answer is: there is no itinerary on your Grand Canyon Raft Adventure. That’s one of the best parts! Just like the Colorado River, a Grand Canyon rafting adventure is dynamic, fluid, and subject to change. Other than the launch day, take out day, and interchange day (if the trip has one, where some…
The American Dipper Cinclus_mexicanus By Sharon Hester She bobbed up and down, dancing, a small, roundish, grey fluff of a bird. Each movement carefully planned, flying short distances between boulders scattered about the melodious brook. Taking a small calculating step or two with a bob between every step, her perky dance moves were captivating. And then a quick white flash, she winked at me! Was I imagining this? Suddenly it happened again, sparkling like a diamond, a bit of bling contrasting with…
Paddling the John Wesley Powell Route: Exploring the Green and Colorado Rivers is a new guidebook that combines a condensed retelling of the dramatic 1869 Powell expedition with color photos and trip information for the entire 1000-mile river route. In this interview, author and photographer Mike Bezemek tells us about creating the book and rafting…
Finding Dory on a Classic Grand Canyon Rafting Adventure The Classic Adventure is our most popular Grand Canyon rafting adventure, traversing the canyon from Lees Ferry, Mile 0, to Diamond Creek Road (Mile 226) in the space of 14 days (up to 16 days in the spring or fall). On most Classic Adventures, one can…
