Colorado River Trip: The Natural History of Grand Canyon
Soak up all that the Colorado River has to offer in this 10-day rafting excursion.
- Dates: August 29–September 8, 2024
- Difficulty: Easy
- Trip Length: 11 Days
- Cost: $4,500
- Group size: 22
What could be better than a 10-day trip down the Colorado River through Grand Canyon filled with geology, botany, history, wildlife biology, ecology, and much more?
Traveling through Grand Canyon by river allows an unparalleled opportunity to view sites, ecosystems, and geologic structures not visible from the rim or even by hiking, and to gain a more complete and holistic perspective of one of the grandest landscapes on Earth. Especially important are the numerous side canyons that are accessible only by river, each one fascinating and unique. Exploring these side canyons will help complete our picture and our understanding of this place.
*The price for this program includes a $130 booking fee to offset the administrative costs of this program.
Rafting the Colorado River and navigating rapids! PC: Edsmithphoto (IG)
Trip Highlights
- Expect to see unparalleled views, fascinating rocks, telltale fossils, curious critters, diverse plants, and ancient dwellings
- Travel with experienced, expert guides while floating the USA's most iconic whitewater river
- Hike in the heart of Grand Canyon on seldom-traveled routes delving into the region's geology
- Learn about the fascinating ecosystems of the Colorado River Corridor and the people who have relied on it over the centuries
- Licensed outfitter: Arizona Raft Adventures and Grand Canyon Discovery (AzRA Discovery)
Itinerary
Meet your Grand Canyon experts
Sherri O’Neil
Canyon Experience Specialist, Grand Canyon ConservancySherri has worked for Grand Canyon National Park as an interpretative ranger and backcountry information officer. She began working for GCCFI in 1998 and has continued to work for the Field Institute and other Grand Canyon Outfitters in the years since. She has a BA in Anthropology from Northern Arizona University and a MA in Outdoor education from Prescott College. Her focus areas for her MA were interpreting Indigenous Cultures and creating stewardship and connection through education. She has published multiple articles in Legacy, the Magazine of the National Association for Interpretation. She specializes in designing custom experiences to help participants create a meaningful connection to Grand Canyon
Lauren Cisneros
Marketing Coordinator, Grand Canyon ConservancyLauren worked as an interpretive ranger for Grand Canyon National Park on the North Rim as an interpretive ranger. Lauren works part-time in Vail, CO, as an Adaptive Ski Instructor and Trainer for the Adaptive Ski Program in the winter. She began working for Grand Canyon Conservancy in 2021 running all of GCC's social media as a "Digital Ranger". Lauren has a BA in Public Relations & Communications from Monmouth University in New Jersey. She's a storyteller who loves bringing lesser-known stories to life, and she's an avid photographer and videographer who captures the beauty of the Grand Canyon through her lens. Lauren had the exciting opportunity to be a guest on Seth Meyer's podcast, "Family Trips with the Meyers Brothers," where she talked about Grand Canyon Conservancy Field Institute and insights about Grand Canyon. Lauren's enthusiasm for connecting visitors to the park's natural and cultural heritage shines through in everything she does.
What's included
Price for the class includes:
Our expert guide
Travel from Flagstaff to Marble Canyon and back to Flagstaff from Diamond Creek
All meals when on the river
All camping gear when on the river including tent, sleeping pad, and bag
Coffee mug, waterproof Colorado River Guides, and use of three waterproof dry bags
What's not included
You are responsible for:
All of your personal equipment and clothes
Meals before you leave Flagstaff and meals after you return
Transportation to and from Flagstaff
Lodging in Flagstaff before or after your trip
Guide gratuity (industry recommendation 15-20% of trip cost, read this article to receive more guidance)
Additional notes
We usually book our logistically-intensive river trip classes more than 1 year out due in part to the class duration, multi-instructor nature, and booking complexities with our River Concessionaire partners.
Testimonials
The Zelkovic Family
“Our day with the Field Institute exceeded all our expectations and we came away with a great respect for the canyon and for the work of the Conservancy. It was such a wonderful experience from beginning to end and hope we can return in the not so distant future to participate in one of your multi-day programs.”
The Jankowskis
“Our family’s experience was nothing short of amazing! Slim (our guide) provided a perspective we would have never been able to get on our own and we learned so much. Her passion for the canyon and what she does came through too, which made our time something we’ll never forget!”
Amy Waits
“The guides were awesome – so educational and patient!!! Encouraging & helpful in every way. Such an amazing first visit to the canyon – Life changing to have experienced the GC up close & personal… Thank you so much!”
Joe Sweeney
“I've brought many school groups to the Field Institute and the quality of instruction provides them with an understanding of Indigenous cultures, diverse ecology, and geologic history. Students leave with a stronger sense of self-confidence, an intimate connection to nature, and memories that will last a lifetime.”
Andy M.
“Top to bottom, the Field Institute exceeded all of my expectations .... they ensured we packed wisely for our trip and saved me from lugging around 5 lbs. of junk I didn't need. Overall, it's packed with value that I don't think commercial outfitters would provide and delivered a deeply rich experience.”