Rafting through the Grand Canyon Takes Teamwork ~ Arizona River Runners Style!

There's a whole team of people that make it possible for you to go rafting in the Grand Canyon with Arizona River Runners. First, you call the office and talk to Shirley or Pam, Judy or Dick. Sometimes I'm in there but that's only when they are desperate. So, the office people help you make your reservation and they help you get prepared for your rafting trip. "Getting prepared" entails different things for most everybody. Some people need more guidance than others. Some people are real greenhorns as opposed to the veteran rafters that are returning for more of the good stuff.

When you actually get to the launch of the river trip you meet more of the team.....your guides and their helpers (swampers). Now you're looking at the first string....the A team. You and your crew.

But, other team members have worked in symphony to get everybody to this point. There are people that work in the warehouse and keep it stocked, clean and organized so that others can pack the rafts. Somebody de-rigs and/or unpacks the rafts. Others on the ARR team do mechanical stuff....they work on the motors or frames and the rest of the equipment to keep it running smoothly.

Drivers on the Arizona River Runners team keep us moving. ARR has two 18-wheeler rigs that transport rafts, crew members and equipment from the end of the trip back to the warehouse and then, when it's time, everything goes back to the launch site at Lee's Ferry.

Each of these ARR people and there jobs are integral parts of Arizona River Runners rafting trips . Add YOU to the team and we have a trip of a lifetime just waiting to happen. We couldn't do it without you.

The ARR team is experienced and waiting. Waiting for you.

So call us now and book your trip of a lifetime! Come be a part of a great team, you won't regret it!

Arizona River Runners 1-800-477-7238 or info@raftarizona.com

Sleeping on Your Arizona River Runners Grand Canyon Rafting Trip

Are you an experienced camper? Have you ever slept in a sleeping bag before? Have you pitched a tent? Do you know what a rain fly is? Do you enjoy your pillow-top mattress at home?

When you go on a motorized Grand Canyon rafting trip with Arizona River Runners you do not have to be an experienced camper. Arizona River Runners’ guides will show you how to put up your tent, and that will also include the rain fly. No, you will not have a pillow-top mattress but ARR will provide you a sleeping bag, a pillow, a sheet and a cot. You will not be sleeping on the ground. Your cot will be your new friend. It serves as a couch (when you have friends over). It can also be a card table for....well....cards and other board games, wagering and gambling. Your cot offers you additional seating if you have guests visiting your campsite and...(drum roll please), it is the best seat in the house for viewing the night sky. Stretch out comfortably on your cot and gaze into the heavens. The stars will astound you. You can drift off to sleep under a starry, starry sky.

You won't be sleeping on the ground on your Colorado River trip. You will be in incredible wilderness whitewater rafting through the Grand Canyon! But you will have lots of creature comforts, as opposed to just plain creatures! Cots are your friend.

For more information on your whitewater rafting trip call Arizona River Runners at 1-800-477-7238, we'd love to talk to you!

Cots are used only on our motorized rafting trips. For oar-powered trips self-inflating sleeping bags are provided.

Arizona river Runners Wishes All A Very Merry Christmas!

All of us at Arizona River Runners, wishes you and yours a very Merry and peaceful Christmas. May you enjoy family, friends and the wonders of the season!

Arizona River Runners

Arizona River Runners ~ Year Round in the Grand Canyon

There are people rafting the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon right now. Right now and all winter long, there are all kinds of activities going on. Some trips are scientists doing research. Everything in, beside, beneath, over and around the river corridor gets studied. There are bald eagles, condors, humpback chub, trout, tamarisks, rocks and waters, just to name a few things that are studied and recorded. Some teams go down there during the winter season to build trails or to rebuild the ones that are already being used. The flora and fauna are worked on.

Some rafters are down there just for fun. It's an awesome environment to spend your fall and/or winter in.

The water temperature is pretty constant at 45 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit. The air temperature is what has changed. It's obviously much cooler. The angle of the sun's rays is different. There are fewer hours of direct sunshine deep in the canyon, on the river. Winter rafters dress and pack very differently from summertime rafters. Lots of fleece is in order for trips this time of year.

Grand Canyon National Park is accessible year round. Be prepared for cold days, cold water and even colder nights.

Thinking about a Grand Canyon rafting vacation? Call Arizona River Runners, 1-800-477-7238, we can help you plan your family rafting trip. We have a variety of Grand Canyon rafting packages, one is sure to fulfill your wishes!

Gift the Grand Canyon ~ Whitewater Rafting with Arizona River Runners

Here's a thought for holiday giving. Make reservations with Arizona River Runners for a trip of a lifetime. Reserve dates on the Arizona River Runners launch calendar for a Grand Canyon Rafting trip next summer. If it's something you and yours have always wanted to do, this would definitely be a gift that will get used. To actually do this, just call the office (800.477.7238), pick your dates and put down a deposit. It's just that easy, and it's easy to adjust your dates later if you need to.

Just imagine what excitement there will be when the gift of rafting the Grand Canyon is opened. Imagine the faces of your family or friends when they find out they will be whitewater rafting through the Grand Canyon in the summer! I'm sure the people in the ARR office can send you something to help you with your gifting. Tell them you got the idea from this blog!

Sing with me......"Santa Claus is coming to town....Santa Claus is coming to town".

Call 800-477-7238 now!

Breakfast in the Grand Canyon with Arizona River Runners

Let me give you a peek at breakfasts that you might encounter on a Grand Canyon Rafting trip with Arizona River Runners.

First thing every single day on, even before breakfast, is the call for COFFE-E-E-E-E-E. It's loud and clear, and you can roll out of your sleeping bag and get a freshly brewed cup o' joe. You can do this in your PJ's....you don't necessarily have to speak to anybody or be cheery and bright. You can grab your hot mug of caffeine and retreat to some outrageously beautiful and scenic spot to savor your morning mud. Can only be done on a Grand Canyon rafting trip!

A little later you'll hear a holler for BREAKFA-A-A-A-A-ST. Now it's time to get yourself down to the "kitchen" and get some vittles. You might find eggs to order with bacon or sausage. Perhaps it's a morning for french toast - hot off the griddle, the maple syrup is warm too. There's always fresh fruit, real orange juice, tea, and oatmeal. Maybe you'll start your day with blueberry pancakes and yogurt. My personal favorite is build-your-own omelet. You pick your favorite fillers and they magically cook 3 beautiful omelets at a time on this huge griddle. Then you hunker down to savor your own favorite bites of omelet steaming hot off that griddle.

Breakfast, and all other meals with Arizona River Runners, involves real food. You won't be subsisting on dehydrated flakes or other extrapolations of backpacking food. There is fresh brewed coffee and fresh fruit. ARR guides are all great cooks. If you have particular food restrictions or needs, that too is easily addressed.

A great breakfast in the Grand Canyon. Does it get any better than that? You really should try it.

Call us for your Arizona rafting vacation and have breakfast on us - with us! 1-800-477-7238

Selecting Your Grand Canyon Rafting Trip with Arizona River Runners

The Grand Canyon is one of the most powerful and awe-inspiring landscapes in the world. Every year, thousands of people experience whitewater rafting through the grand Canyon, and explore the it’s natural beauty and wildlife. For most it’s the adventure of a lifetime, but before you head out on the water, Arizona River Runners feels there are a few important things to consider.

First of all, unlike many other rivers, the Colorado River has a fairly consistent water flow throughout the year and from year to year. The Colorado River through Grand Canyon is controlled by Glen Canyon Dam; the water is released from Lake Powell consistently based on seasonal electric demand to provide power to much of the Southwest. This means you do not need to be concerned with trying to time your trip during the spring run-off like other river systems.

Taking some time to learn about all the different trip options can help ensure that you have an experience that matches your personal tastes and expectations. With over 277 miles of canyon to explore, having a few of the facts can help make your decision a bit easier.

Arizona River Runners' rafting trips can range anywhere from 3 to 13 days depending on how much of the Canyon you’d like to experience. We have a variety of watercraft options ranging from motorized rafts to human-powered oar boats. 70% of the travel on the Colorado River is done in motorized rafts that move at a speed of 8-10 mph and allow a person to experience the heart of the Canyon and the biggest white water in North America in a week’s vacation time. Choosing oar-powered or paddle boats can extend your vacation to nearly two weeks and some trips require a hike in or out of the Canyon, allowing you to experience half the canyon in about a week.

All trips allow time for hiking and side-canyon exploring. Outfitters also organize and arrange their trips differently. Arizona River Runners, for example, provides a “trip host” in additional to the full river crew, for all their 3-day trips. The host meets the group on day one and stays with them to the end of the trip handling all transportation details so passengers can just kick back and enjoy the adventure.

All professional outfitters are regulated as Concessioners by the National Park Service. ARR offers Colorado River trips from April through October. If you’re excited about lots of off-river hiking, you might consider booking your trip for the spring or fall months when the weather can be cooler. April and early May trips also lend themselves to great viewing of the spring bloom in the Canyon. Most people experience the Canyon during the summer months and enjoy the equalizing balance between the hot, dry Arizona climate and the chilly, refreshing Colorado River water splashing on your skin.

In general, it’s best to book your trip as soon as possible as the National Park Service does limit the number of Grand Canyon rafting trips available each year and historically demand exceeds supply. You should particularly consider booking in advance if you have a large group or plan to travel during the prime time of June to mid-August. Researching and planning out your trip is an important step ensuring a safe and memorable adventure that meets your personal wants and needs.

If you have any questions, please call us at 1-800-477-7238, we'd love to talk to about our trips!

Starry Starry Nights in the Grand Canyon with Arizona River Runners

Camping under the stars is one of my favorite parts of a Grand Canyon Raft trip with Arizona River Runners. It's not one of those things that you put in the brochure but, for me, it is...well...stellar.

There you are, riverside, on the beach, prone on your cot. The sunlight has receded completely leaving even the tallest canyon walls in darkness. There is total darkness which means stars appear everywhere. You don't get a display like this in the city, or any place that has ambient light. In the sky above the Grand Canyon, darkness is your friend. The Milky Way is a blur of illuminations. It stretches across the sky with authority and grandeur. You'll see satellites as they speed around the earth. Shooting stars will streak across the darkness. They are brilliant for a short time. Their glory is ephemeral, and lucky are you to be gazing in the right place at the right time. You may view the well defined spiraling of another galaxy. Constellations appear for you to recognize.

The night skies are truly awesome in the Grand Canyon. The darkness brings a heavenly display every single night. It is a joy to behold.

Call Arizona River Runners for your "stellar" rafting trip through the Grand Canyon, 1-800-477-7238!

THINGS THAT SHOULD NOT KEEP YOU FROM RAFTING THE GRAND CANYON

Thinking about summer vacation? Wanting adventure? Have thought about Grand Canyon rafting trips, but there are some things holding you back?

Food restrictions, vegetarian, vegan, sensitive to gluten, allergic to nuts, lactose intolerant, out of shape, sensitive to sun, can't swim, never pitched a tent before, never camped before, traveling solo, it's expensive, can't find the time, who'll take care of my dog?, I sunburn easily, my wife won't go, I don't like cold water, physical challenges/limitations, mental challenges/limitations, old age, the kids, can't sleep without your own pillow, scared of heights…

These are a mere dabbling of things that should not keep you from considering your own rafting adventure in the Grand Canyon. There are a million more challenges that need not douse your desire for a trip of a lifetime. If you have a concern or have questions... contact the office of Arizona River Runners and we can evaluate your particular situation and help you to decide if your dreams of rafting in the Grand Canyon can still come true. Don't give up your adventures if you don't have to. A lot of things are easily remedied. We can work together to find solutions for you. Many people who thought they couldn't, or should raft the Grand Canyon have achieved their dream with Arizona River Runners. Call us - don't miss out - together we can make your dream come true too!

Arizona River Runners 1-800-477-7238, for your adventure of a lifetime!