arizona river runners day trips

Arizona river runners provided a wonderful trip! We did the 8 day motor trip of the entire canyon. Our Guides Julie and Kenny were exceptional! Food was fresh and home cooked at every meal. We slept under the stars every night. Rafting the Colorado through the Grand Canyon is a very special trip. Please note that you do need to work by assisting with loading and unloading the raft each day.

We recently did the 7 day, 6 night motorized rafting trip down the Colorado River, through the Grand Canyon with the Arizona River Runner Company and we couldn't have been more impressed. Excellent guides, excellent food, and a trip that will remain one of the most incredible trips I have every taken in my life. This outfit cares and it shows in how it takes care of its customers. It's like God opened the curtains of his windows and let me see into his home.All ages can enjoy this trip. On our trip we have ages from 20 to 80. Highly recommend this trip to anyone and I will be back in 2016, when I can.

What a way to spend my 70th birthday. Don't get me wrong. My wife and I have spent a lot of time doing outdoor recreational pursuits living in Colorado for many years. This is an outdoor adventure with all the heat, cold, water, and sand you can imagine, but worth every minute of it if this appeals to you. The scenery and rapids were only one highlight. The interaction with the people we met was a wonderful highlight in its own. The crew was professional, fun to be around, very hard working, and excellent chefs in their own right. To be without your cell phone, computers, and other digital devices only made the experience better. Setting up your camp each night, volunteering in meal preparation, visiting with all your fellow rafters each evening while enjoying great dinners are memories I will always remember. The first night most of us chose to set up tents probably due to not knowing each other very well at that point and also due to the fact we had been in some rainy weather that afternoon. It proved to be a good bet as it rained much of the night which made for great sleeping. The rest of the trip was dry with mostly sunny weather, and soon almost everyone simply slept on their cots under the stars, and the night sky in the grand canyon has to be seen to be believed with all its brilliance. The hike up Havasu Creek, the junction of the Little Colorado (where the Colorado River changed from a dark green color to a muddy river) with the main Colorado, and the very exciting helicopter ride out of the canyon were also wonderful memories. Riley (one of our guides) gave my wife a Split Twig Figurine, which she made one evening while at camp, simply because my wife had expressed such an interest in the craftsmanship that went into its construction. A gesture my wife will always remember and an object we display in our home. One of the many small things to accompany the bigger highlights.So, if you want to do something different, like adventure, and enjoy "really getting away" from the ordinary, consider going. It just might change some of your priorities.

We loved this trip! It is truly the best trip anyone could experience. Everyday held a new adventure which left you with a new feeling of amazement and Aww. We were on the river for 7 days and still not ready to leave. It was perfect in every way! WE LOVE ARIZONA RIVER RUNNERS!

We have seen the Grand Canyon several times from the rim and and hiked down trails, but this is the only way you should see and experience the Grand Canyon. We did the 3-day trip, not being experienced campers for us just perfect. The trip starts with the scenic flight from Las Vegas North to the ranch where you spend the night under the stars. In the early morning you take an exciting helicopter ride down the canyon to the river. From there its rafting time with several rapids, stops with hikes for exploring side canyons and water falls. Have a night at a sandy beach along the river, where the staff prepared an excellent dinner. The last day we started rafting together with a jet boat taking us back to lake mead for our bus transfer to Las Vegas. Most definitely a trip of a lifetime!

I had the best time with ARR!! I would do it again tomorrow if I could! Gorgeous scenery, awesome guides, a wonderful group of fellow travelers! I couldn't have asked for a better trip. Worth every penny!

A family trip taken with great friends families......the shut down from the electronic world was so great and the children agreed. We had kids from age 7 up to age 21 and everyone helped set up camps and clean dishes. We slept under the amazing stars ....no tents needed. Hiked up to some pretty incredible places during the day and reconnected with one another with out the outside world. The helicopter ride out of the canyon was a incredible ending to a great week. Would recommend to any family. It is not a cheap trip but well worth the money.

We did the 7 day trip. Had never camped before, so it was a totally new experience. but we soon got the hang of it, and were experts by the end of the trip. It was one of the most memorable trips I have taken. Rafting down the Colorado with the majestic Grand Canyon looming overhead was in itself spectacular. Our guides were brilliant, navigating with aplomb, cooking up meals with the flair of a master chef, belting out soulful ditties under starlit skies, organising, cajoling, sharing their passion for the river..they were awesome.The side hikes and excursions were delightful! For first time campers like me, it was a little tough getting used to the toilet facilities, and bathing in the river, etc. but these are small bumps on the exhilarating ride we had.

Alright this ‘Awesome’ is not used in a regular way we use it every day, like – Daughter – Hey Mom, I finished my homework.Mom – Awesome!No-No-No!Awesome is – for ex. - You see a shooting star or a supernova up close and you have a complete overwhelming experience. OMG Aweeeeeeeeesome! On this trip, you’ll be using this word pretty often.I and my wife did the 3 day trip with the Arizona River Runners. The whole booking experience was great and they did good communication throughout.Come Game day, Joe our main rock star guide was there to greet us at the Hotel. We got on the buses for a quick ride to the Airport. The plane that we rode on was a small 10-12 seat plane. The ride is pretty bumpy/scary, but the outside views are just Awesome! You get to see Hoover dam as well on the way which is pretty cool.The Bar 10 ranch is out in the middle of nowhere. Excellent location with amazing people who work there. Everyone was very cordial and always had great stories to share with us. I had never shot a gun before, so skeet shooting was good fun. I got a naughty horse during the horse ride, but I loved it. We regretted that we skipped the ATV ride though, as we heard it was pretty good as well. At night the ranch people had arranged a great country show for us that we all loved. The best part was sleeping outside and star gazing. It got little cold at night, but we loved it. Some people slept in wagons, and were complaining of bugs. But overall everyone had a great night sleep.Next morning, we had to get up early and go to the beach where our main rafting trip started. The helicopter ride to the beach was spectacular. It feels like you are on a whole new planet. There we met our other guides Dave, Thea and Riley. They had already finished another 6 day trip, but were still pretty enthusiastic about ours as well. Once our rafting trip started, the guides made sure they interacted with all of us and even at a personal level. They all shared their stories and heard ours as well. Once on the trip, the canyon views are just fantastic. One after another you are just awed by the canyons. We do get some decent rapids, but the3 day trip is mostly a scenic one. We stop at some places with nice waterfalls. This reminds me to suggest everyone to get a good pair of footwear like Teva, Keen etc. We were wearing crocs, which is pretty stupid to wear on a trip like this one. In order to go to one of the waterfalls, we had to climb some rocks that were very slippery. So, a good footwear will definitely help.It’s not a cozy 5 star hotel vacation, but it’s not like you have to do hard labor here. You just have to setup your beds and little bit of help with setting up the kitchen etc. We actually liked helping the guides with setup. I guess what’s the point of being outside, if you can’t do little bit of work on the side.We stop for lunch at different beaches and the food is great. At night, we camped on a beautiful sandy beach. They made one of the best Mexican dinners I ever had. All I was missing was some alcohol and Joe brought some box wine. That just made my night..lol. Note – You can carry your own alcohol on the trip.One problem that is not really a problem I guess is – You have to go pee in the water that is kind of funny. Also, if you have a loose gut like me, just remember you can only go for no. 2 in the morning or evening when they setup the toilet. So, ‘Control’ is the word.The trip ends with a 1.5 hour jet boat ride and then bus rides to Vegas. Overall we had the time of our lives. My wife is not really an adventure type person, but even she loved it. Also, if possible I’ll suggest to go for a longer trip (6+ days) in order to make the best of it.PS – The Grand Canyon Trip is ranked no. 1 by no. of websites including National Geographic.

Sept 8 put-in for 6 night / 7 day motor trip. I picked this trip for my 60th birthday, my husband had done it 3 times before so he knew more of what to expect... I struggled with the rating as it is such a complex trip, but I have to give it a 5 because of our exceptional guide, Kenny!! Ethan, Tyler and our "work your way" crewmember LeAnn all worked very hard too, but for me, Kenny was the heart of the trip with his extensive canyon life experience, knowledge, passion, respect, enthusiasm and wisdom. As a geologist I wanted to learn more about the rock history and Kenny was right there guiding me through it all quite eloquently. Many thanks, Professor Kenny, many thanks! And Ethan chimed in with his perspective and knowledge too bringing the ancient history to life. Thank you to all the crew for their amazing work.The river is an exciting adventure with enough time to relax and absorb the experience. I sat-out the first big hike (not s big hiker) to have more time to take in some of Kenny's library and dissipate some of the sensory-overload that was keeping me awake at night - the roar of the river, the brilliant moon, the stars, the rain, the rapids, everything of the day replaying in my mind. It was a lot to take in. I enjoyed doing all the other walks, all to beautiful places. FOOD: The food overall was very good, as many others report: salmon, lasagna, stir fry, fajitas, pork chops, steaks, lots of dutch oven meals and desserts; lunch was always some type of sandwich buffet with veggies, pickles and olives etc... lots of snacks always available - just rummage through the snack box. Breakfasts were usually hearty and oatmeal packets were also available. Coffee, tea, hot chocolate. Appetizers before dinner... nice! They carry potable water from Lee's Ferry and replenish it at the Phantom Ranch stop, so no filtering the muddy water to drink (except as an emergency back-up). EQUIPMENT: We used the tents when it was rainy - they were great, easy to put up and big enough, but we did without them the rest of the trip (some folks put up tents to have more privacy even if they slept outside). The cots were comfortable and they had a few extra-long ones for the taller guys (you may want to request a long cot because they were in short supply for our group). The ground tarps helped me organize a space for my stuff on top of the sand. The sleeping bags were cozy in the cooler mornings but usually the sheet was enough (or too much) at bedtime. The pillow provided was very comfortable, a Thermarest brand, about 18" x 10" and I figured out to use my lifejacket under the sleeping bag to elevate my head a bit more. The dry-bags worked well almost all the time but one of our small day dry-bags got some water in it, so best to double bag your stuff if water will ruin it. For me, the camping was the hardest part, especially stopping in the peak heat of the day to do the hauling of gear and setting up of a campsite. I had several bites from I know not what and was glad I had some Benadryl lotion with me. We had a pleasant and cooperative group, 17 passengers - a smaller than average group - who enjoyed socializing in the chair-circle before and after dinner. That helped make the camping part better but for sure the hauling and hot weather camping was the most difficult for me. Things I was glad I brought: a headlamp (one with a dim or red setting is less annoying to other folks); a pee bottle (helped not have to make my way to the river edge through the sometimes big, muddy, slippery rocks at night); a sarong which I gladly changed into at camp and used also as a lighter sheet at night; some Johnson and Johnson's Head to Toe which worked for laundry ("rinsed" out a few items that got smelly) then for an attempt at a hair "wash" (even with the muddy river water it helped); a large tube of good hand cream; sandals to change into at camp and let my feet dry out from the aqua socks that I wore on the raft. The crew worked very hard to accommodate our needs. They kept us safe, above all! They kept a medication we needed below 77 degrees F and they kept my allergy food (melons) separated (not mixed in a big fruit salad) so it was easy for me to avoid it. They tried to understand how foreign this environment is for us and worked well with us to enjoy the experience. There are things that it's hard to be prepared for, especially the sand - it's in everything all the time so you just learn to deal with it. I did not find the river water uncomfortably icy even when I filled a zip lock bag and washed my hair with it. The cold river was the only way to cool off - I used a wet bandana around my neck most of the time and even dipped my shirt in the river and put it on dripping wet a few times - warning: it may get mud stained. The toileting was different for sure but not a problem (with the exception of the hazards of the rocks at some of the camps, as I mentioned above) and the fewer layers I wore the easier it was. We packed what was recommended and even though I didn't wear the fleece jacket I used it every night in a pillowcase as an extra pillow! Call them and ask your questions; figure out the details to make your trip a good experience. No, I doubt I would do it again, for many reasons, but I had an amazing time and I'm so thankful for the privilege of this unique experience. Not many get to do it. It was amazing!

28 extended family members ranging in age from 7-89!!! What a ball! Our crew was great and very accommodating with the older couple on the trip. Side canyon hikes were great fun but the difficulty of them was a bit underestimated, I thought. Food was great! Stars were perfect ! And the thunderstorm on night #1 was survived! My only concern with this company is in dealing with the office staff. Lots of lost communication, wrong contact info etc. once we got on the trip, everything was professional!

Well if you are reading my review, more than likely you are either comitted to go going or really thinking about it. Stop thinking about it and do it. I am 58 and decided now is the time to take a adventure of a life time. We booked our trip with Arizona River Runners for a 3 day motorized trip. The logistics of this trip is amazing. Fly from Corpus Christi to Houston, to Vegas. Take a bus from Hotel in Vegas to North Vegas Airport, fly a small plane to a landing strip in the desert, ride a bus to the ranch house. Whew, let me catch my breath. Let's have fun. first day, Horse back riding and skeet shooting, followed by horse shoes and Laso practice. I never have rode a horse, but ole paint rode me thru the desert and what a experience we had. The people at the Bar Ten Ranch took great care of us, friendly and caring. Feed us a light lunch and made sure we had plenty. That afternoon, we were given a choose of sleepling in the bunk house, in a covered wagon or under the stars on the deck. We choose the deck. Cots and sleeping bags were provided. When they turn off the generator at night (that supplys electricity) it gets dark and the sky is amazing, just lay back gaze into the heavens and think to your self, I am here, I have made it, I have accomplished something in life. Now, when the sun goes down in the desert, make sure you have long sleeves for it got cold, this was the first week of Sept. 90's in the day, 60's at night. next morning all rose early for a quick breakfast and the beginning of another big day adventure with a helicopter landing in the front yard to pick us up and fly us over the canyon and down to the river below. We landed on the back of the Colorado and our guides instructed us how to pack our bags for the white water rafting trip we are about to take. Soon we were on our way, riding and gaulking with drop jaws at the view being presented to us around each corner. Our captain "Julie" made us all laugh we she said, she was from the office, filling in for the regular guide that day. All day we rode the 3-5 grade rapids, some big waves broke the front of the boat, soaking all in a cold bath, but, we paid for it LOL.Stopping for lunch we hiked a trail that had paintings left behind from ancient Indians. As we rode, we traveled in pairs, our sister boat ahead of us and I am glad it did, for in the Lower Gorge, down from Diamond creek, we hit a 3-4 point rapid, when all of a sudden we heard a bump, We Lost the Motor!!!!, Julie the captain being the professional she was, quickly started blowing her emergency whistle, telling the other boat, we are in trouble and to come quick!TJ the captain of the other boat rushed up stream to capture our adrift vessel and guide us to shore. Man, was the scary and it didn't cost extra!!We stopped for the night, making camp and enjoying a wonderfull meal prepared for us by the crew. All the campers were excited over or adventure of the day. We made our bed for the night, a cot and a sleeping back under the stars once again, we did put up a tent, but didn't use it.The next morning after breakfast and packing, we were off again for more white water rafting., Finally that afternoon a jet boat came up the river to meet us and to take dwon river on the remainder of our trip to awaiting buses that took us back to the starting point in Vegas.Folks, Do this trip, you will not be disapointed, it is everything all of us here have written about and more.Tips, don't bring a lot of stuff on this trip if you do the 3 day, 1 change of clothes is all that is needed. make sure you have good gripping water shoes for hiking, the rocks are slick.See ya.

We just completed the eight day / seven night trip covering the full length of the Grand Canyon. It is difficult to put into words the beauty and grandeur of this natural wonder. From the wild rapids to the breathtaking scenery to the wonderful hikes and waterfalls to sleeping under the stars, this trip was an adventure filled with many surprises and the camaraderie of our fellow travelers. Our trip was flawless, well organized and unforgettable. Our crew, Chelsea, Jake, Tyler and Tim were exceptional. From the delicious meals to the wonderful stories of the river, this team took care of us and did everything they could to ensure our safety. I wholeheartedly recommend this outfitter to anyone considering a trip through the canyon. I'd do it again and again if I could.

We took the 6 day motor trip this past August. Having camped, hiked, canoed and kayaked before, I wasn't quite sure what to expect. But as the guides said on the first day, "The trip will be over before you know it." And they were right. It started with a light breakfast at Marble Canyon. The guides -- Dave, Thea and Riley -- explained what to expect and how to keep safe. We loaded our gear into dry bags, bundled up in rain gear, then hit the water on two boats. We touched some small rapids as our guide and pilot, Riley, spoke about the rock layers, the formation of the canyon, water temperatures, Canyon history. It was stealth education at its finest.And I could go on for days about the the majestic panoramas, the incredible awe of seeing and touching billion year old rocks, the pervading sense of peace from sleeping under stars, the great meals, the conversations and laughter and moments of accomplishment. I could even post a thousand images and videos of our time there, but really, none of these would do justice to the experience.Of all the highlights of this adventure, I remain most impressed by the quality of our guides. From Dave and Thea's sheer *competence* in all aspects of the river to Riley's immense enthusiasm and boundless knowledge of the canyon, the guides again and again surprised me. Their stories are themselves worthy of a book and it was an honor and privilege to hear firsthand recounts of their previous adventures. No convention center seminar with a CTO or CEO can compare. To best experience this trip, you should be in moderately good health. Don't stress too much about the river as the guides are absolute masters of the water. However, be prepared for one or two hikes up/around rocks, some heat/cold, occasional walks over ledges, and some physical exertion while setting up camp. The trip includes some great meals. I don't mean "great meals for a camping trip" but well prepared and satisfying meals from breakfast to dinner. Water and other hydration aids are readily available. Alcohol is not provided but each boat includes a 54 degree portable refrigeration unit to keep your cans cold.

Just finished a seven day motor trip. I took my teenage daughter and son, and they thoroughly enjoyed it. Herte is the dealPros1) Guides, very knowledgable and extremely pationate about their job. They are really interested and dedicated to keeping the natural beauty in tact for all future rafters2) Organization: Evrything is organized from food, to stops along the way. we did not run out of anything3) Food, Considering they have to haul close to 18 meals for 25 people. The food is great. No issues.ConsThe weather, This will affect whre you stop for your side hikes. We had to miss little colorado due to flooding of the side canyon. Best time I will say is June and July. August the water will get a little muddy and also August is the rainy season. However August is also a slow season so you will have more room on the raft since they are not up to capacity.Highly recommended for all ages