Plan a white-water rafting trip well in advance because of the great demand for these trips and to ensure you are fit enough to handle a potentially exhausting expedition. The most important muscles to tone up are those in the upper body and arms, including biceps, lats, rhomboids, abs, forearms and obliques. Depending on which trip you choose, you may have to start planning a minimum of a year or two in advance.
Many private outfitters run fully guided white-water rafting tours through the Grand Canyon. These can range from a one-day excursion to a three-week adventure. Food, tent, sleeping bag, sleeping mat and life vest are included in the price of the trip. The rafts can range from motor-powered in which the guide does most of the work to oar-powered in which everyone participates in powering the boat. These trips fill up fast, particularly during the summer, so book months in advance if not years.
The price of even a three-day trip through an outfitter such as Arizona River Runners can be more than $1,000, and the price goes up for a longer journey. Seasonal discounts often apply.
Arizona River Runners
P.O. Box 47788
Phoenix, AZ 85068
(800) 477-7238
raftarizona.com
Non-commercial trips, also known as self-guided trips or private trips, do not operate through private outfitters. You need a permit to do a 2- to 5-day trip. These are available first come, first serve at least one year prior to departure. To apply, fill out and mail the application (see link below). For those planning a longer trip, from 12 to 25 days, individuals must apply for a permit lottery. Only a limited number of permits are given out as space allows. These are selected at random by drawing. Applicants must be at least 18 years old and submit an application and $25 fee (as of 2009). Upon winning, applicants must immediately submit a $400 deposit (as of 2009) to secure their permits. For more information about applying for the permit lottery, see the link below.
When on a self-guided trip, rafters are not allowed to hire a guide, nor is the leader allowed to charge participants for a profit. All participants must share the costs equally, including supplies, gear and food. For example, if the total cost of the trip is $10,000 and 10 people participate, each individual can be charged no more than $1,000. If half of the trip is a family of five, then the total for the family is $5,000. The National Park Service does allow rafting groups to rent equipment through an approved non-commercial support outfitter. These outfitters merely provide the equipment and maybe some advice but no guide. For a list of non-commercial outfitters, see the link below.
White-water rafting in the Grand Canyon is best from May to early June and in September. The spring snowmelt and autumn rains fuel the river. Most rafting trips take place between Lake Mead and Diamond Creek, the Glen Canyon Dam and Lees Ferry, and between Lees Ferry and Diamond Creek.
