AzRA Guide Profile-Kayla Stephens

Meet Kayla Stephens

We’re so happy to share this month’s guide profile with you so you can learn a bit about the ever-bubbly and so lovely Kayla Stephens. If you’ve ever done a trip with Kayla, you’ll know exactly what she means! She always has a positive, can do attitude, and loves helping our guests make their trips as memorable as possible. Read a little more about her below!

Where were you born? Tell us a little about yourself!

I was born in Santa Fe and spent the first years of life roaming around my grandmother’s goat farm in Española, NM. My hobbies as a five year old included: catching snakes and lizards, roaming the National Forest with my pet goat. Not much has changed, I’ll say. My family uprooted for the fifth time when I was thirteen. The crisp mountain air of Columbia Falls, Montana would become the place I claim as where I “grew up”. I never did enjoy the harsh mountain winters much and have found my way back to the desert southwest. I live in my big ol’ Ford van named Miss Piggy. Sometimes my front yard is a swaying Saguaro; sometimes it is the shade of a tall Ponderosa Pine.

What’s your history with AzRA?

I started working at AzRA in 2023. This is my ninth season guiding overall.

When did you start guiding?

At nineteen I was hired, via Craigslist, to work in the office at a rafting company in West Glacier, MT. I was terrified of water and had never heard of whitewater rafting… (How I got hired was beyond me, and I am forever thankful). I quickly found acceptance and a sense of home among the river community. After wiggling my way on a few evening fun floats I thought… this seems like a much better office. The next summer I began guiding on the Middle Fork of the Flathead River. My first winter private Grand Canyon trip, two years later, solidified my desire to guide multi day trips. I spent the next seasons guiding on the Snake River in Jackson Hole, WY and the Yampa and Green Rivers in Dinosaur National Monument. Here I am now! Living my dreams.

What types of trips do you guide?

I row rubber on the 14-16 day trips and enjoy swamping motor trips.

What are your favorite rapids and why?

Ruby and Serpentine are sneaky and fun. Crystal and Hermit at high water are fun and spicyyy.

What are your favorite hikes and why?

My favorite types of hikes usually involve walking up a trail-less wash, maybe some boulder problems that will test you, maybe some swimming in pools or stemming around…Tuckup Canyon, Olo Canyon, Clear Creek.

Any other interesting facts about yourself you would like guests to know?

This feels taboo to say but…I dislike having painted toenails…

What do you do when not guiding at AzRA?

I like to spend my time doing whatever brings me joy in the present moment. And daydream about boating. And napping.

Do you have hobbies, or things you like to do?

I like going fast on my mountain bike! The diversity of mountain biking trails in AZ is phenomenal. Lately, I have been enjoying canyoneering. When I’m not playing outside, I love reading and watching birds.

What do you love about the Canyon and guiding?

Guiding has forever tainted my ability to stay at a job that doesn’t add joy to my life. I am forever grateful for the boldness and self-trust that I have gained through being a guide. Boy do I have an unconditional love for guiding in Grand Canyon! The harshness and grit live symbiotically with the serenity and peace one can feel. All in a days work.

Do you have a favorite Grand Canyon story you’d like to share?

My first private Grand Canyon trip launched Dec. 1 2017. Brrrrr. I never been to the Grand Canyon and decided not to do any research before the trip. All I knew was that it was a 21 day trip and I would be rowing tandem with a fully blind man, the Trip Leader, Josh. Josh and I would be in a lime green 16ft Maravia with a tandem frame. The frame was custom built with a center frame and a stern frame. Josh wanted to row the entirety from Lee’s Ferry to Pearce Ferry with me giving commands, and putting in corrective strokes when needed. I had used stern frames on my paddle boats before so I thought how hard could this be? The trip was smooth sailing and we got our groove. Josh didn’t scout any of the rapids so I would run back to our boat and explain our line/s as best I could… I was surprised by our clean lines thus far. We were below Diamond Creek and had pulled over for a quick pee. I was the only female on the trip and was terribly shy. The other boaters decided they would continue downstream to give me privacy, and as they pulled away I mentioned the upcoming rapid that I saw on the map. They huffed and disagreed that there shouldn’t be a rapid that close… Josh and I pulled out ready to catch up to our friends. Not far downstream I saw a rapid with a beautiful wave train on the right side. Surely this couldn’t be Killer Fang Falls…could it? I aimed straight for the wave train knowing that is where Josh would have the most fun. As I entered the top wave I saw our safety kayaker, Matt, stand up on a rock and aggressively point to river left. Yup. It’s Killer Fang alright, and we are gunning straight for it. I quickly called a right back, turning our boat ninety degrees, pointed to river right. My plan was to get three good pulls in before shouting another right back. Josh and I both cranked on our right oar at the same time that rubber met the Killer Fang Rock. The momentum from the bump, and us rowing, spun us at such a speed that I full on starfished out of the stern of that boat. Another safety kayaker was at Josh’s aid in a matter of moments. I surfaced in a small eddy on river right, wondering why I chose to wear only my drysuit bottoms… Matt towed me a good ways downstream and I put dry clothes on in a wonderful patch of sunlight. Josh was glad to have me back in the boat, especially after the kayakers only words to him upon entering his boat was “Kayla is gone!!”. Taking my seat on the back of the green boat I glared at my map… I should have listened to myself.

Any advice you would give guests that are planning a trip with us?

Be open to the diverse experience that each river trip entails. Expectation can be the killer of joy and to enter Grand Canyon with as little as possible can set you up to enjoy even the more difficult moments.

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