Is Colorado River rafting on your bucket list? If it?s not, it should be. The Colorado River is home to some of the most iconic scenery in the U.S., and unlike Disney world, it?s not going to cost you $500 to get you and your family in for this upcoming vacation.
The Colorado River has legendary whitewater rapids; some of the largest in the country. For whitewater rafting enthusiasts, there is no better experience than trying out this legendary river, which runs through canyons and a variety of landscapes as it travels through multiple states and five national parks.
If you?re planning on looking into Colorado River rafting trips this year, what should you keep in mind? Here?s a few tips worth remembering.
Numerous Areas You Can Start At
As noted, the Colorado River is extremely long; rafting the entire length would be nearly impossible, or at any rate, it would be quite an ordeal. Most guides will instead take you on trips ranging in length from a few hours to a few days at a time. Shorter trips will spend the majority of their time in the water, while longer trips will usually take you on additional guided hikes and tours of the beautiful local areas. You?ll want to research your various options, at any rate, since an Arizona rafting adventure is going to be different than a Utah-based one.
Book Ahead of Time
If you normally enjoy booking trips the week before you end up leaving, then Grand canyon raft trips might not be the right fit for you. Many places encourage reservation booking many months in advance — a few places even have a year or two of waiting. Some trips, such as one to Diamond Creek, will also require applying for a permit. Additionally, it?s going to be important to prepare for the journey with enough time — you?ll need good walking shoes, clothes that dry quickly, traveling food for when you?re on the go, etc.
Know What You?re in For
Any white water rafting trip, whether it’s Grand Canyon raft trips or not, should have important basics on board; this includes things like first aid kits in waterproof containers. You should also have emergency signaling materials. The NPS requires that non-motorized boats carry extra paddles or oars in case something happens to the existing equipment, and boats are required to have boat repair kits with them in case of accidents.
