Coffee in the Grand Canyon on an Arizona River Runners' Rafting Trip

Do you typically start your day with a steaming hot cup of coffee? Being on a Grand Canyon rafting trip with Arizona River Runners won't interfere with this. Each and every morning the first thing to be prepared in the kitchen is coffee. You can roll out of your sleeping bag and crawl to the kitchen in your pj's if you'd like. The coffee is brewed fresh first thing each morning. Add your favorites...milk, sugar, honey, hot chocolate mix (my personal favorite), sweetener, whatever way you like. You've got choices how you'd like to start your day. If you prefer hot tea, that's available too, even just juice!

So, if you are a dedicated coffee drinker, you have nothing to worry about on your Grand Canyon raft trip. Arizona River Runners has you covered. We want you to be happy. We know you'll be happy rafting with ARR.

Our Grand Canyon whitewater rafting trips take you on the adventure of a lifetime. Call us and we’ll take you on a wild and fun family rafting trip this summer! 1-800-477-7238

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

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

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!

America Outdoors and Grand Canyon Rafting with Arizona River Runners

Arizona River Runners is a member of America Outdoors Association. This is a national organization made up of companies and people that do private business on public lands. Land designated as National Parks, Bureau of Land Reclamation and National Forest for examples. Arizona River Runners provides all-inclusive rafting trips within Grand Canyon National Park.

America Outdoors Association (AO) serves individual companies' interests in many ways. They provide awareness of issues on the federal level. AO has a lobbyist in Washington with outfitters' interests in mind. AO holds an annual convention where people who do similar business can network. This convention has learning opportunities through seminars and demonstrations. There is also a large market where equipment and services that are relevant to this industry are on display. Relevant products and wares are available for order. Insurance companies and computer companies are present and willing to explain, teach and show the new concepts and ideas coming to market that are useful on many levels of our businesses, including whitewater rafting through the Grand Canyon.

Some AO members are ranchers, horse people, hunters, hikers and, of course....river runners. Some do business in a boat, astride a horse, or on a 4-wheel vehicle. There is a wide diversity within the group. They are naturalists and outdoors people by nature who are trying to make a successful business of their love of nature.

All these businesses explore, appreciate and want to preserve the great natural wonders that we have. AO helps individual companies to balance the demands of running a safe and profitable business with the preservation and appreciation of nature.

Our public lands are important to us and they must be preserved and protected. They are not to be closed off to us, but access should be with the utmost respect and reverence for their condition and continued well being.

Parks should not be set aside like your Mom's fancy dishes. They are to be respectfully enjoyed, appreciated and loved. AO help us at Arizona River Runners and you to do those things.

Arizona River Runners is proud to be a member of AO, and support organizations that protect our environment. We are nature lovers, adventurists and we love people.

For our Grand Canyon rafting packages call us at 1-800-477-7238. We would love to take you on a guided river rafting tour through the Grand Canyon.

Plan a Family Rafting Vacation with Your Adult Children and Arizona River Runners

Your kids can be adventurous travel companions who are willing to try new things, and are hungry for physical activity and education. Arizona River Runners has a variety of family rafting trips with adventure written all over!

Remember when the kids were little, and family vacations sometimes seemed like more of a hassle than the fun and relaxing holidays they were supposed to be? First you had to pack for you, then for the kids, then load them into the car with a big bag of distractions, and bear the repeated annoyances of “are we there yet?” only to arrive at Lego Land or Disney World to wait hours in line and spend buckets of money on bottled water and Mickey ears.

Now that the kids are more grown up, things might seem a little easier. Don’t think that just because the kids are all adults means you have to give up those fun-filled family vacations. The empty nest syndrome can be rough for a lot of parents, but leaving the nest can be just as hard sometimes. It might surprise you that most kids would be happy to relish in old times, and spend some quality time traveling with their parents.

Besides, now that they’re older, your kids can be adventurous travel companions who are willing to try new things, and are hungry for physical activity and education. Why not bring them out on a Colorado River trip? Rafting through the Grand Canyon with outfitters like Arizona River Runners provide tons of boat-rocking rapids to help keep the excitement up, along with lots of fascinating information on the Canyon’s history and ecology. Arizona River Runners has family rafting trips with adventure written all over!

Along the way, you’ll get to experience the Canyon both on the water and off with a variety of side canyon hikes, hidden waterfalls and cool swimming spots. The Canyon is known for its unique environment and breathtaking geography, so you’ll be sure to find something fun to explore. Don’t worry, you’ll have some down time each day with delicious full course meals provided by the Arizona River Runners’ crew.

Your Grand Canyon rafting trip doesn’t even have to mark a milestone like a graduation or a job promotion; bringing your adult kids out on a river trip can simply be an opportunity to share in an exciting experience with a loved one. Kicking back at the campsite is the perfect opportunity to catch up and stay connected with your kids. You’ll be able to recount stories and share experiences with one another while enjoying the beautiful setting of the Grand Canyon.

You’ll also be surrounded by other people who share in similar interests, so your Colorado River trip can be a great opportunity for both you and your children to make some new friends. Our guides, especially, have some incredible stories about their own experiences whitewater rafting through the Grand Canyon, and they’re always happy to share.

Now that the family is together for the holiday - go online and take a look at our trips! You will be pleasantly surprised at our all-inclusive rates. Book your "grown-up" family rafting trip with Arizona River Runners, it will be the adventure of a lifetime -an unforgettable adventure! You’ll travel over one hundred plus river miles down the Colorado River and have the opportunity to share in the experience of a lifetime with your kids, all while rafting, swimming, hiking, and camping in one of the most amazing “Natural Wonders of the World.” It’s the family vacation they’ll never forget, and best of all – there are no lines! Call us now at 1-800-477-7238!

Arizona River Runners ~ Grand Canyon Rafting Myth Busters!

Seems lots of people have some preconceived ideas about rafting in the Grand Canyon. I have to make reservations a year in advance. I have to hike into the Grand Canyon to get on the raft. I have to hike out of the Grand Canyon. I have to be super strong and agile. I need a bunch of special equipment…Arizona River Runners will bust these myths one at a time.

Q. Do I have to make reservations a year in advance?

A. Typically...no. If you have a bunch of people that want to go together, and you only have one time slot that works for your group, you should reserve your space as far in advance as possible. But if you are 1, 2, 3, or 4 people and you are somewhat flexible with your timing, you do not have to reserve a year ahead to get a spot. There are lots of openings throughout the entire season. The earlier you call Arizona River Runners about your trip reservation, the more choices you will have. As the year progresses, the schedule fills in and there are fewer openings for you to choose from. Some people have been known to jump on at the very last minute because they are filling a late cancellation. You never know what is available until you call.

Q. Do I have to hike in to get on the raft trip?

A. The majority of Arizona River Runners' trips do not involve hiking in or out. Most rafting trips launch at Lee's Ferry where you simply climb onto the boat and head downstream - no hiking. A few of our trips include hiking in or out of the canyon. Those that take these rafting trips will be accompanied by a hiking escort to ensure your safety.

Q. Do I have to be super strong and agile to enjoy rafting through the Grand Canyon?

A. You do not have to be the ultimate specimen of fitness to enjoy a Grand Canyon Raft trip. It can be challenging at times, but it does not require you to be unusually strong or agile. Everyday people go on these trips and have the time of their life...."a trip of a lifetime" is a common description. Even if you have specific medical, physical or dietary needs, ARR can easily deal with many of these things to keep you at your best and allow you to experience white water rafting in the Grand Canyon.

Q. Do I need a bunch of special equipment?

A. Nope! You bring your personal gear and Arizona River Runners provides all your camping and river gear: sleeping bag, pillow, sheet, tarp, tent, cot, paco pad, chair, travel mug, plate, utensils, life jacket, dry bags, all that stuff! Food and drinks are provided as well.

So... there are just a few myths busted! It's really easy to go on a Colorado River trip. Call Arizona River Runners (1-800-477-7238) and ask all the questions you want or need to about our family rafting trips. Don't hang up until you have it all figured out! Dates and rates for the 2011 season are on our website at www.raftarizona.com. Don’t hesitate, check out our Grand Canyon rafting adventures now!

Are You Fit For a Grand Canyon Raft Trip with Arizona River Runners?

Just how fit do you need to be, to enjoy a Grand Canyon raft trip? Good question? Ask yourself....can I get up out of bed (a cot)? Can I make my way across uneven surfaces? Can I sit for long periods of time? Can I walk or hike when the urge strikes? Can I walk in soft sand? These are the kinds of things that you MUST be able to do in order to enjoy whitewater rafting through the Grand Canyon.

You do NOT have to hike miles in the blazing sun, or survive on dehydrated food. You do NOT have to be an elite athlete or have highly developed survival skills. You do NOT have to be able to start a fire with flint stone either.

With Arizona River Runners, a Colorado River trip is easier than you expect. Getting on and off the rafts, I think, can be a challenge. It's do-able for everyone, it's just that some achieve this feat with more grace (and dignity) than others. Hiking is available and greatly encouraged. ARR guides will explain what to expect on a hike. They will encourage you to participate and they will help you along the way.

There are awesome sights to see that are off the river corridor. Some spots are a short scramble from the raft, and other hiking destinations are more of a trek. Some might be "challenging" for you but those are the ones that test your mettle, and those are also the ones that you will brag about when you get home.

Rafting through the Grand Canyon is a wilderness experience. It is not a week at The Ritz. You will be camping on the shores of the Colorado River. This takes some effort on your part. You must carry your stuff to your campsite and set up your home-sweet-home each night. In the morning, you will pack up your campsite and carry it all back to the raft.

There is a physically challenging element to all of this, but there is always help available from your fellow rafters and your crew. Your time in the midst of the beauty of the Grand Canyon won't be strenuous but it will be demanding. It will also be captivating, mesmerizing, humbling, astounding, hilarious and soulful.

You do NOT need to be the perfect specimen of health and fitness to enjoy a Grand Canyon rafting trip. You DO need the desire to appreciate the splendor of the great outdoors at its finest. Be sure to let Arizona River Runners know about your medical conditions that may affect your participation on the river. There's lots that we can do to safeguard you and make your time in the Grand Canyon......GRAND!

Call us at 1-800-477-7238 for your Grand Canyon rafting adventure! We promise a spectacular time!

Don't Let Sleep Apnea Keep You from Rafting the Grand Canyon with Arizona River Runners

Lately it seems, that Sleep Apnea has become more recognized. More of us are dealing with it than ever before. Sleep Apnea does not eliminate your chance of a Colorado River trip with Arizona River Runners. We make it possible for you to use your CPAP at your campsite. You can sleep under the stars. You can camp along the rushing waters or nestle into the rocks. Choose your campsite without worrying about Sleep Apnea symptoms. We can adapt your CPAP machine so that you can have it wherever you choose to camp. Pack it all up the next day and get on down the river. Others have done it before you and many more will do so here-to-forward. You don't want to miss out whitewater rafting through the Grand Canyon!

So, grab your CPAP and head for the Grand Canyon. Get yourself on a raft and go for the gusto!

Call Arizona River Runners at 1-800-477-7238 and book your Arizona rafting trip today!

All Inclusive Family Rafting Trips with Arizona River Runners

What exactly does an all inclusive Grand Canyon Rafting trip mean to you!? When you travel with Arizona River Runners, all inclusive means just that. You get to the starting place and we will take care of you and return you to wherever you started. All you bring is yourself and your personal gear. We provide everything else!

Rafting through the Grand Canyon requires many things. Equipment, people, trucks and trailers. There are permits and licenses, boats and boat equipment, food, cooking supplies, camping gear, medical/first aid supplies, kitchen setup, the toilet (can't forget that), potable water, chairs, cots, tents, sleeping bags, sheets, pillows, life jackets, cushions and ropes. Not to mention the crew. There's a truck driver you never see and on the river you'll become good friends with a guide or two and their helpers.

Let us not neglect to mention the drinks, snacks, ice, books, games and gadgets to gaze at the stars. Arizona River Runners brings all those things and more. You can rest assured that you will be taken care of the entire time you spend with us.

You have choices as to where you want to start your Grand Canyon adventure. You have choices as to how long you'd like to spend on your river trip. You have choices as to when you'd like to enjoy this whole experience. You have choices as to what clothes and suntan lotion you should bring. You have choices as who you travel with; make it a family rafting trip, a solo trip, or go with a group of friends!

Basically, Arizona River Runners takes care of most everything. It's a very long list that has been fine-tuned through time (since 1970). We will get you there and back again - all in one piece and with a big smile on your face.

You bring yourself and your personal belongings. That's it. All inclusive. We make it easy, you make it fun.

For your all inclusive Colorado River trip, call Arizona River Runners at 1-800-477-7238. We make your whitewater rafting trip come alive!

"Right to Risk" in the Grand Canyon ~ Arizona river Runners

Here's a MUST SEE!

"RIGHT TO RISK" can be viewed as a DVD now. It chronicles the adventures of eight individuals, all of whom live with significant disabilities, on a 15 day, 225-mile whitewater rafting trip through the Grand Canyon. "RIGHT TO RISK" is an excellent testimony to the universal theme.....At the heart of one's ability to enjoy life is the right to make choices, to develop and pursue life goals, and to participate fully.

There's never a dry eye in the house when this film is presented. I have been fortunate to be involved as support for a few of these Grand Canyon rafting trips. I do know that the guides and crew battle to be included on these rafting trips. It is a life-changing experience for all. Everybody comes away humbled and empowered at the same time.

Check out the web site www.righttorisk.org. There's lots of great information on the site, but be sure to take a look at the trailer.

Nature is a fine maestro. The Colorado River as it flows through the Grand Canyon provides an ultimate life lesson. You should enroll. You need to enroll. You want to enroll. Arizona River Runners can help you. It's easy. It's exciting. It's available to you now.

Call Arizona River Runners for your ultimate life lesson. Take a Colorado River trip with us. There’s never a better time to book than right now. 1-800-477-7238

Arizona River Runners ~ The Virtues of Rafting

I first met my husband on an Arizona River Runners Grand Canyon rafting trip. So, it goes without saying that he is an outdoorsy person. I must be too, because there I was, solo (and single) embarking on this major adventure.

Through years of marriage and raising kids, we have enjoyed lots of camping, hiking and rafting. Spending time out of doors, in our minds, is one of the greatest growth opportunities. For youngsters and older folks alike, time spent with Mother Nature is time well spent. Rafting the Colorado River falls into this category.

Any time we could take our family on a river trip, we went for it. We could see our two daughters grow right before our very eyes as we experienced nature. There were lots of laughs. We played games, told stories and listened to tales. There were practical jokes and ambush attacks. We gazed at the starry, night skies and tracked the moon's path across the heavens.

Their were hardships too. Bugs, bats, sunburn, cold, rainy days. Sand gets into your sleeping bag. Sand gets into your food---ew! Critters steal your snacks, and scorpions and snakes live there. You drop your toothbrush in the sand. It's raining on my sleeping bag. These are Mother Nature's lessons. We all worked our way through anything and everything, the best we could. But we were having fun - we were actually having a blast.

The kids thrived on this. Grand Canyon rafting trips are a great way to stretch and grow for all of us at any age. It's a great place to broaden your horizons and learn new skills without a written handbook.

When conditions are good, all is good. When conditions are bad, all is still good. Rafting a river is good stuff for the whole family.

We invite your family to join ours rafting through the Grand Canyon, and experience Mother Nature like never before! Call Arizona River Runners for your whitewater rafting adventure! 1-800-477-7238

Grand Canyon Rafting Next Summer with Arizona River Runners

This year's commercial season is winding down. The end of the 2010 season is at an end. It's time to be thinking about next year......for us and for you.

The first step to getting onto a Grand Canyon raft trip next summer, is to pick a date. It's just that simple. Check your schedule at work, at church, at boy scouts and girl scouts, and the kids' sports, and find times that work for you. Call our office and see what's available. The sooner you call, the more choices you will have. The longer you wait, the more the schedule fills in (with non-procrastinators) and your options become more limited. Your reservation requires a small deposit and then you are good to go.

Sleep like a baby, knowing that you have a reservation for an adventure of a lifetime. Your space is secure and you can revel in the anticipation of things to come. As your trip date approaches we will send you all kinds of information to prepare you for your trip, including a packing list! Don't forget Arizona River Runners provides all meals, camping gear and rafting equipment.

Pick your date. Make the call. Reserve your space and time in the Grand Canyon. Right now, 2011 whitewater rafting trips are holding at 2010 prices! Arizona River Runners 1-800-477-7238, for your Arizona rafting vacation!

Bon Appétit in the Grand Canyon on an Arizona River Runners Rafting Vacation!

When you raft the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon with Arizona River Runners you will enjoy some really good food. It won't be your typical camping food or that dehydrated stuff. No way! It will be delicious, fresh foods cooked by your guides, who really know their way around the kitchen.

A week on the river with Arizona River Runners might include chicken breast, grilled over hot coals or thick, juicy pork chops. Some nights the dutch ovens turn out lasagna that will offer you choice of meaty or vegetarian. You might savor a pineapple upside down cake still warm from the dutch oven or brownies, gooey and hot. Salmon steaks are one of my favorites. Mexican night offers chicken fajitas or maybe burritos that you build yourself. Rib-eyes just off the grill comes with a bucket of garlic mashed potatoes. Fresh veggies and fruit make perfect salads and sides.

Breakfast beckons you out of your sleeping bag. Every day starts with hot coffee, tea and juice. Some mornings it's eggs to order or blueberry pancakes with sausage. Build your own omelet and watch the chefs skillfully fold it all together for you. There's fresh fruit, yogurt, granola and oatmeal too. Bite into a toasted muffin spread with jam or peanut butter. Perhaps French toast will be a favorite of yours.

At lunch, pile up a dagwood sandwich with sliced turkey, roast beef or ham with choice of avocado, tomato, lettuce, cheese, red onion.....I'm sure I'm leaving out lots of stuff. There'll be olives and pickles and peppers too. Peanut butter and jelly is also available. ARR guides also make a really fab tuna salad.

One of the most popular lunches is called Mexican Train Wreck. You put everything that would be in a mexican food meal, plus the salsa, sour cream, lettuce and chips and chunks of chicken into a bowl. Stir well and..... Wa! La! You've got Mexican Train Wreck. It's a delicious twist on chicken salad.

You won't have ALL of these things on one trip....there just simply isn't enough time but those are a sampling of the kinds of meals that you will savor. Sure, Sara Lee makes an appearance with cheesecake and the like. We appreciate her talents.

Food, on our Grand Canyon raft trips, is delicious. Menus are flexible and for those of you that have certain food restrictions or requirements, let us know your specific needs and we'll make sure you'll enjoy meal time too.

Being in the Grand Canyon is exhilarating. You're going to be busy, exploring, hiking, rafting and doing all kinds of "campy" things. Great food will add to your amazing Grand Canyon rafting adventure. No doubt in my mind!

For your Grand Canyon vacation, call Arizona River Runners at 1-800-477-7238!

Grand Canyon Rafting with Arizona River Runners - "Git 'Er Done

One of the things I do at Arizona River Runners is read all the questionnaires that our guests fill out and return to us after their Grand Canyon rafting trip. It's really quite fun. It's actually a LOT of fun on a couple of different levels. First, and foremost is that it is apparent that people have had a wonderful time with ARR. Most times the experience exceeded all expectations. Secondly, their mind set has often shifted a bit.

Some very common responses are: "It was a trip of a lifetime." "Thank you for time spent with my family." "I've changed how I look at my "stuff" in my regular life." "I didn't want to go back to work." "I was sad to leave the river." "I can't explain what this meant to me." "It's been on my bucket list for a long time." "I wish I hadn't waited so long to actually go." "I was amazed how our group bonded, we became like family." "I've traveled all over the world and this was, by far, the best trip I've done." "I would recommend this trip to everyone."

I am not making these comments up. These are what I read from you over and over again. Sometimes they are even more soulful and fundamental. Your experience will be unique to you.

Have you been thinking about going on a Grand Canyon Rafting adventure? Have you wanted an Arizona Rafting vacation for a long time? It's time to "git 'er done."

Whether you travel alone, with your family or a gaggle of friends, whitewater rafting through the Grand Canyon is an awesome experience that is well worth your effort to make it happen.

Right now, at Arizona River Runners, we are taking reservations for Summer of 2011 at 2010 prices. Dates are filling in but there is still room for you! This could be "your best trip ever" too.

Call us and let's "git 'er done."

Arizona River Runners 1-800-477-4238

Grand Canyon Rafting with Arizona River Runners ~ Adventure at Its Finest

I did my first Grand Canyon Raft trip when I was in my early 20's. I was single, playing and teaching racquetball for a living and working as a server in a restaurant. I had traveled half way around the world in my short life but had yet to do a Grand Canyon raft trip. So, when the opportunity came up....I jumped on it.

I had the time and I had the money so, without knowing a soul on the trip, I signed up and went on my first Grand Canyon Raft trip with Arizona River Runners. I remember after our orientation, standing at Lee's Ferry with my life jacket on, about to get onto the rafts and thinking to myself....."Did I just pay all this money and I'm going to die?!" Here I was, the great adventurer, jock, strong, independent woman (hear me roar!) and I was second guessing my latest choice of adventure.

As I watched our blonde, bronzed river guide packing his boat, my next thought was "The guides go down the river, come back, do it again and again and again so it must be okay." With this thought in my head, I clamored onto my first raft and my life was forever changed. It was an adventure beyond anything I expected or could have hoped for.

That was 34 years ago. I married that blonde, bronzed river guide. We ran the river together as crew for 3 years, and now we have two grown daughters working on the river.

Adventure at its finest I'd say.

For your adventure call Arizona River Runners at 1-800-477-7238. We'll take you on the Grand Canyon Rafting vacation of your life!

Grand Canyon Rafting ~ Arizona River Runners Off Season

The end of another great summer of Grand Canyon Rafting is coming soon. Commercial use of the river, which allows public access, runs from mid April to mid October each year. Arizona River Runners' rafting adventures for 2010 will soon be over. It will officially be our off season.

Through the winter months there is plenty of activity on the Colorado River within the Grand Canyon. Research replaces vacationing. Scientists and their teams travel the river and study wildlife. They study flora. They study fish. They study the river itself; the flows, the sediments and the temperatures. National Park Service sends teams and work crews to work on the trails and beaches. There is another whole community that flourishes along the river corridor throughout the winter.

For Arizona River Runners Inc., it's time to leave the river. Winter time is when the equipment will be repaired, replaced and readied for your next Grand Canyon rafting vacation. The guides, too, leave the Grand Canyon that they love and must find worthwhile activities for the winter.

They have shown their skills as they guided many of you through the vastness of the Grand Canyon. They surely could spend their winter months employed as an Activities Director or chef. They easily could by psychiatrists, counselors or tour guides in some other venue. Perhaps they would be a camp counselor, drive an ambulance as an EMT, or be a doctor or nurse. Most could be consultants for team building or time management or perhaps a life coach. Undeniably they could be models of outdoor wear or geology professors.

In reality, our guides are... (in no particular order) students, nurse, bartender, server, ski hill groomer, river guides in faraway lands, dancer, massage therapist, carpenter, ski instructor, snowboard instructor and school teacher. Many are parents and will get to spend time with their families. For a while, some will scatter and travel all over our beautiful planet.

They are a diverse bunch and they will bring their individual personalities and capabilities back to Arizona in the spring to, once again, guide you and yours on a Grand Canyon rafting adventure of a lifetime.

All you have to do is call us at 800-477-4238. You can join the fun and be a part of the adventure. Get on a raft trip!

Arizona River Runners ~ Grand Canyon Rafting Not Swimming!

Maybe you are not a great swimmer. Maybe you don't really like deep water. Perhaps you don't swim at all. Not to worry - rafting in the Grand Canyon is just that.....it's rafting.....not swimming. Let's dive into that thought.

The water of the Colorado River within the walls of the Grand Canyon is very cold. It's 50 degrees Fahrenheit or there about. It warms up as you go and may get way up to 55 degrees or so by the time you're downstream. For most, that is still cold. Often times there is a strong current. For darn certain, this is not swimming water. This is not water you will be spending any amount of time in. This chilly water will zap your strength quickly if you are submerged. But, again, not to worry. You likely won't be involuntarily swimming on your raft trip. Arizona River Runners provides boats, guides and life jackets to see that you have safe passage through some of the largest navigable whitewater in the northern hemisphere. Yeee haa - that's some fun stuff!

The rapids offer many exciting rides....not to be confused with swims. Riding the rapids is what a Grand Canyon raft trip is all about. You don't need to know how to swim. Many non-swimmers have made this journey before you and would do it again in a heartbeat. Whitewater rafting through the Grand Canyon is… fun. It's exciting. It's thrilling. It's totally awesome in so many ways. No need to know how to swim to love this adventure.

Arizona River Runners offers a number of whitewater trips, call 1-800-477-4238 for your Grand Canyon Rafting vacation!

Grand Canyon Rafting with Arizona River Runners Is Mega-Green

When you get to Lee's Ferry and are getting geared up to launch on a Grand Canyon raft trip with Arizona River Runners, you are about to be uber "green". With minimal effort on your part, Arizona River Runners makes it quite easy and quite natural for you to do your part to help save our planet.

You will be encouraged to minimize the footprint that you leave in the canyon. Your presence will be undetectable by those that follow behind you, just as you should see no traces or evidence of rafters that go before you. Side hikes and streams will remain natural and clean in every sense.

The systems that you use to cook at camp will do no harm to the beach. You will not burn indigenous wood at any time. Your trash will be collected/separated so that parts can be tossed and parts can be recycled back in Flagstaff. Everything (yes EVERYTHING) you bring into the canyon will be taken out. No trace will be left behind.

Many of the foods that you will eat are organic and raised in a humane way. The coffee is shade-grown and organic as well. The salmon you'll enjoy for dinner is wild. Even better....if your trip includes a successful fisherman, then your trout will be VERY fresh!

Mother Nature can cleanse all. We are inspired to work with the strategies that are in place naturally. The river corridor has a huge volume of water. It is the great cleanser. It is home to many fishes and plants. Wildlife abounds alongside the river....from tiny, annoying ants to impressive big-horn sheep. They co-exist in this environment. We are visitors and are responsible for our actions and how these actions affect their home. Green is good.

Go on a “green” Grand Canyon rafting trip with Arizona River Runners - it's fun and fascinating ! Call 1-800-477-4238 for your Colorado River adventure.