Rafting in Grand Canyon..any chance?
 

I am in Phoenix for most of August and would like to consider a short rafting trip in the grand canyon while I am here. I hear that reservations are already well into 2007. Does anyone know if there are any outfitters that squeeze people in at last minute or have cancellations?!

Why don't you look up the rafting companies' web sites and ask them? We went downstream twice; once with Arizona River Runners and once with Hatch. Both are excellent. There are several others. Just type in Grand Canyon on Google and see what comes up.

Seeing the Grand Canyon from the inside out is utterly fantastic. We found a gem at www.rivers-oceans.com 800-473-4576 and they found just what we wanted. They know all the outfitters and logistics inside out and saved us tons of legwork.

My, my, my - this wouldn't be an AD, would it?

Especially since the OP wanted a trip in August...and it's now, oh, mid-September?

What purpose did today's post serve? Does the company you recommend specialize in time travel as well as GC rafting?

How do first time posters conveniently stumble upon and post to old thread that somehow also serve as ads? Hmmm...

Oh, wrong thread for the question.

If you are not interested in speed or riding with 20 or 30 others would suggest the OARS trip with the dories. These wooden boats carry one in the bow, the oarsman(woman) and either one or two in the stern. You rotate boats daily. You will get a more exciting ride as the boats go into the waves and not through them like the "baloney boats" do. The draw back is you don't have fresh food as long as the trips generally cover less mileage per day and last longer than the raft trips.

The trips leave from Lee's Ferry and stop at Phantom Ranch where you either walk out of the canyon or if you have made prior arrangements to take the mule ride out. Or you walk down to Phantom Ranch (or mules) and start the trip there which ends near Lake Meade where the rafts are deflated and trucked out.

Have done both the dories and the baloney boats. For my money I would do the dories again.

For other help check out -www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/whitewater-rafting.htm where you will find most of your questions answered. Can also go to the search box on the Fodor's site and type in grand canyon rafting and get other help.

They were very helpful so I thought I'd give them a plug and also for the benifit of others who are looking for help. There was no charge and we discovered that the perception that you have to reserve a space years in advance is erronious. If you have some flexibility you can go within weeks.

Any others you think deserve a "plug" or any trip report you would like to share? Any tips that were helpful for your SW trip? Anything else other than an ad for a vendor?

Has anyone done the Grand Canyon trip thru Elderhostel? Lodging and water rafting with a helicopter ride? Would like to get some feedback on this since we were considering it in April.Cost is about $900 without airfare. thanks