You want your white water rafting, hiking or kayaking vacation to the Grand Canyon to be hassle free and we want you to be informed. In addition to the Q and A below, check out our “Links” page for further resources. If you have, any questions other than those covered here, please don’t hesitate to Contact Us or call us Monday through Friday 8am -5pm Arizona Standard time at: 800.856.8966
Q: What is included in the trip price?
A: We provide all meals, dishware and utensils, a souvenir carabiner, a souvenir insulated mug, life jackets, tents, and camp chairs. At trips end, a scenic helicopter ride and air transfers to Las Vegas, Nevada or Marble Canyon, Page or Grand Canyon South Rim, Arizona are included on all full Canyon and lower Canyon expeditions. All oar-powered trips also include a sleeping kit and two waterproof bags, one for your day gear and one for your night gear.
Q: Do you offer payment plans?
A: Yes, we will work with you on finding a payment plan that fits your budget. Please contact our office directly for more information.
Q: What can I expect to do in a typical day?
A: Well, no day is typical in the Grand Canyon! As a general guideline, we wake early, have breakfast, load the boats, and leave camp before 8:30 AM. From there we may run either a few or several rapids and then stop for a side hike up to a beautiful waterfall or Puebloan ruin. Then we have a beachside lunch and relax for a while before boarding the boats for more eye-popping whitewater. We may stop for another short hike if time permits or we may head straight to camp. Arriving in camp between 3:00 and 5:00 PM, the boats are unload, and you are free to choose where you are going to sleep and set up your camp, take a swim, or come down to the kitchen to enjoy some appetizers. Dinner is served around seven, after which you can relax and gaze at the star filled Canyon sky. Then it is off to bed so that you are well rested to do it all over again tomorrow!
Q: What gear should I bring?
A: You will receive a detailed gear list in your reservation packet, or you can download a copy of our Oar Trip Gear List or our Motor Trip Gear List. Most people pack more than they actually use. Pack for the season and your personal needs. Although air temperature in the Grand Canyon can often exceed 100 degrees in the summer months, the river temperature is a constant 47-52 degrees. With this in mind, base quantities on your trip’s length and pack according to your own tolerance for heat and cold. You can also check average temperatures in the Canyon via our “Links” page. Need to purchase gear for your trip? Visit our partner Red Rock Outfitters for all your trip needs.
Q: What are your boats like?
A: Our motorized boats are specially designed 35-foot S-rigs. We created our boats for maximum efficiency, safety, and comfort. Each motor boat carries 16 guests and 2 crewmembers, with plenty of room to move around between rapids. We use 30 horsepower four stroke outboard engines, which are extremely fuel efficient and quiet. So quiet in fact that many of our passengers tell us they cannot hear the motor running when they are sitting on the front of the boat!
Our oar boats are 18-foot self-bailing Avon’s with state of the art frame technology and design. They can hold up to 4 guests and 1 guide. Rowing trips average 5-6 boats per trip, and occasionally have a motor boat along to carry extra gear. All of our boats can haul you, your gear, and all of the necessities for your trip comfortably.
Q: What are the camping conditions like?
A: Sandy beaches are the typical camping conditions in the Grand Canyon. Each camp is different, so be prepared for a different view and experience each night. The kitchen area is usually set up very near the boats, and people tend to congregate in their chairs near the kitchen in the evenings. Tent and sleeping sites can be spread among the trees or near each other on an open beach. Toilet facilities are set up shortly after arriving in camp, in a secluded area, and are the last thing taken down in the morning. The toilets are dry, meaning that everyone urinates in the river and all other ‘business’ is taken care of at the toilet. Portable day toilets are accessible during the day.
Q: Is it safe?
A: Nothing in life is completely safe, but safety is definitely first and foremost on our agenda. We want you to have a great time and doing that means paying attention to your well-being. At the beginning of your trip you will take part in an extensive safety orientation detailing proper lifejacket use, boat safety, correct riding positions, and hiking guidelines. Every trip has a full first aid kit, safety equipment and satellite telephones for emergency use. We also design most of our equipment ourselves, using our years of experience and expertise to devise safe, efficient equipment.
Q: What kind of meals do you serve?
A: In as few words as possible: GREAT MEALS! Our guides’ skills do not just lie in maneuvering through exhilarating whitewater; they are also talented camp ‘chefs’. Your evening meal might be a juicy New York steak, a fillet of grilled salmon with a honey-Dijon glaze, or a huge Mexican feast with all of the accompaniments. Top off your meal with a Dutch oven dessert; always a guide specialty. In the morning, you may awake to the smell of hot coffee and sizzling bacon. When you wander down to the kitchen, blueberry pancakes, eggs to order, and an array of cereals and fresh fruit greet you. At lunchtime, we stop for a riverside picnic where you assemble your sandwich from the finest quality meats, cheeses, and fresh veggies. Of course, we have the requisite amount of snacks as well: cookies, candy, and chips, along with apples, oranges and other seasonal fruits. Plenty of lemonade and water are always on hand. We also serve milk and juice at breakfast, and coffee, tea, and hot chocolate in the mornings and evenings. If you would like other beverages such as soda, you will need to purchase them before your trip and bring them along with you. You may also download a Beverage Order Form and fax it to Cliff Dwellers Lodge and they will have it ready for you to pick up the evening before your trip.
Q: What about special dietary requirements?
A: If you have special dietary requirements, we will do our best to accommodate them. Please keep in mind that we do have limitations of space and refrigeration aboard the rafts. For this reason, we cannot always meet the needs of everyone. In your final information packet you will receive a questionnaire asking you about your dietary needs. Please fill this form out completely and return it in a timely manner. For needs that are highly specialized please contact us directly and we will do our best to accommodate your specific needs.
Q: How do we get there?
A: We have teamed up with Aztec Shuttle Service for transportation service from Las Vegas to Marble Canyon. For $75.00 they will pick you up at McCarren Airport on Level Zero at 1:00PM to head for Cliff Dwellers Lodge. The drive to Marble Canyon is about 4 hours however; they will stop for a half hour or so for you to pick up beverages, grab a snack, and stretch your legs. During your drive, you will be able to take in the beautiful scenery of southern Utah and northern Arizona as well as watch a DVD entitled “River Runners of the Grand Canyon” - a little history behind your adventure. If you would like us to book your shuttle service and add the $75.00 per person charge to your final invoice, please indicated so on your Trip Member Personal Information sheet. If you would like to book directly through them, click here. |
