white water rafting grand canyon
 

Hello, I have tried to do some research on my own before bugging all you wonderful people but I am at a loss.

I will be in las vegas may 10th and would like to do a day trip or half day white water rafting. Is that possible??

Everything I find is for days and very expensive. I have never been white water rafting but would love to go!!!

thank you for any help you can provide I really do appreciate it.

melissa

You can do a half-day whitewater raft trip on the Colorado on the Hualapai Indian Reservation, below the Grand Canyon. There are numerous tour operators, this one for example:

http://www.grandcanyonexplorer.com/w...fting_tour.php

It is indeed expensive (between $400 and $500). The trip involves travel from Las Vegas to the Hualapai reservation by van, plane or helicopter; descent into the canyon by van or helicopter; the raft trip (including lunch); a helicopter ride back up; and a trip back to Las Vegas. 10 to 12 hours total.

It is a lot to spend for a few hours on the river. Perhaps you could return to the area soon and spend a few days rafting through the spectacular Grand Canyon farther upriver.

Thank you so much for your reply. I am begining to see that I should do river rafting on my next trip. I am now just going to look into a day trip for the grand canyon, any suggestions?

thanks so much

melissa

There are no day trips into the Grand Canyon proper. The true Grand Canyon trips are multi-days very limited by park regulations and are booked years in advance. T

This is not a particularly good time to do the rafting. The water is likely to be high and swift. It is also very very very cold.

There may be some rafting available out of Lee's Ferry, but it is a very long drive from Las Vegas and not suitable for your timeframe, I think.

Day trips to the Grand Canyon: you have a choice of bus all the way---5 hours in each direction, a long and tiring day; or flight from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon plus a bus tour for sighseeing once you are there.

I think the flight is the better choice by far, as the flight itself is very scenic and you will have less time spent in travel and more time at the canyon. The Grand Canyon airport is just outside the park boundary, about 20 to 25 minutes from the rim of the canyon.

Here are a couple of websites:

http://grandcanyontourcompany.com/airsouth.html

http://www.scenic.com/saws1gc_deluxe.htm

http://www.papillon.com/popris/show_...amp;lang=en-US

Each of those companies will also offer a bus tour if you prefer that.

Most include a pick-up at your hotel. Some fly from Las Vegas airport and some from Boulder City, so check that.

And be sure you are going to the South Rim---the "real" Grand Canyon, inside the national park, not "Grand Canyon West", which is closer to Las Vegas, not in the national park, and not nearly as spectacular.

If you are in Vegas for a meeting and can possibly skip the morning session the following day, consider one of the overnight tours. You'll get to see the sunset and sunrise, and they'll have you back around noon the next day, I think (but check on that--I think I saw that they leave GC righ tafter breakfast).

Well, it's not the Grand Canyon, and it's not white water, but here's an option that's close to Las Vegas and not nearly as expensive as the trips on the Hualapai Reservation. You can take a half-day raft trip on the Colorado River from the base of Hoover Dam through Black Canyon. You can drive there, or they will pick you up at your Vegas hotel (for an extra fee). I haven't taken this trip, but it sounds interesting and fun, and if I ever get back to Las Vegas, I'd like to do this. I have taken the float trip from the Glen Canyon Dam in Page, and that was wonderful - I don't know how similar this one would be. Here's their website:

http://blackcanyonadventures.com/

wow thanks for all the replies you all are so nice here! I am going to look into everything you all have given me!!

thanks again,

melissa