Where does my trip start and end?
Full Canyon Trips
If you’re on a Full Canyon trip, you will launch from Lees Ferry in Northern Arizona, about 15 river miles below Glen Canyon Dam. The night prior to your trip’s launch, you will stay under the Vermillion Cliffs in Cliff Dwellers Lodge (or another nearby lodge) in Marble Canyon, Arizona.
Your trip will end with a helicopter ride out of the canyon from Whitmore Wash once you’ve rafted 188 miles downriver. The helicopter will take you from within the canyon to Bar 10 Ranch on the North Rim. Once at Bar 10 Ranch, you will board a plane that will return you either to Marble Canyon, AZ or to Las Vegas, NV, depending upon what sort of travel arrangements you have made.
Upper Canyon Trips
If you’re on an Upper Canyon trip, your trip will launch from Lees Ferry in Northern Arizona, about 15 river miles below Glen Canyon Dam. The night prior to your trip’s launch, you will stay under the Vermillion Cliffs in Cliff Dwellers Lodge (or another nearby lodge) in Marble Canyon, Arizona.
Your trip will end 89 miles downriver with a hike out of the canyon on the Bright Angel Trail from the river to the South Rim. This mandatory hike is about 9.5 miles and strenuous. If you are on this style of trip, make sure to review the Physical Requirements and the Hiking Acknowledgement of Risk before booking. Both of these can be viewed on our website in Risks & Requirements or in the “View Info and Documents” section of your Activity Manager for tips on physical conditioning and hiking in Grand Canyon.
Lower Canyon Trips
If you’re on a Lower Canyon trip, your trip will begin with a hike into the canyon on the Bright Angel Trail from the South Rim to the river.* Be sure to check in with your hiking guide in front of the fireplace in Bright Angel Lodge before departing at 5am. This mandatory hike is about 9.5 miles and strenuous. If you are on this style of trip, make sure to review the Physical Requirements and the Hiking Acknowledgement of Risk before booking. Both of these can be viewed on our website in Risks & Requirements or in the “View Info and Documents” section of your Activity Manager for tips on physical conditioning and hiking in Grand Canyon.
Your trip will end with a helicopter ride out of the canyon from Whitmore Wash once you’ve rafted 99 miles downriver. The helicopter will take you from within the canyon to Bar 10 Ranch on the North Rim. Once at Bar 10 Ranch, you will board a plane that will return you either to the South Rim or to Las Vegas, NV, depending upon what sort of travel arrangements you have made.
*Our boats launch 89 miles up river from Bright Angel Trail at Lees Ferry several days before you hike in to meet them at the river. Be sure to pay attention to the "launch date" indicated on your invoice when shipping duffel bags or ordering beverages.
How do I get to Marble Canyon?
That depends on where you are coming from.
If you live in or are traveling in the Southwest, it may make the most sense for you to drive to Marble Canyon. You can park your vehicle on our warehouse property (next door to Cliff Dwellers Lodge) for the duration of your trip.
If you are coming from a bit farther away we recommend you travel to Las Vegas, NV. From there, you can either fly or take a van shuttle service to Marble Canyon. Either of these can be booked through Bar 10 Transportation or by calling 435-628-4010.
If you will have a large group coming from the same place, you might look into chartering your own shuttle to Marble Canyon.
Please note: If you are on an Upper or Lower Canyon trip, your transportation may be a little different or more complicated. We recommend reviewing the Transportation and Lodging page in the “View Info and Documents” section of your Activity Manager. If you have any questions or are thinking of making arrangements other than what we’ve listed, give us a call or send us an email and we can talk through logistics to help you get where you need to go.
My trip includes double occupancy lodging. What does that mean? Can I request a single room?
What is double occupancy lodging?
On our Full and Upper Canyon trips, Hatch includes complimentary pre-trip lodging. Most commonly this is booked at Cliff Dwellers Lodge, but sometimes it can be in another area lodge nearby.
All complimentary rooms are double occupancy. What this means is that we book two guests into each room. Rooms with two guests typically have either two queen beds or two double beds.* If you are a single traveler or in a group with an odd number of people, you may be roomed with another guest on your trip of the same gender.
*Occasionally other configurations are worked out such as a couple in a room with one king bed or a family of 4 with young kids in a room with 2 double or queen beds.
Can I request a single room?
Lodging in Marble Canyon is extremely limited and increasingly sought after. For this reason, single rooms can be difficult to arrange. You may request a single room any time prior to your final payment deadline (120 days prior to your trip's launch). Requests for single rooms are taken on a first come first served basis, so the earlier you make a request, the more likely we will be able to accommodate it. We can never guarantee a single room will be available due to limited space at the area lodges.
If we are able to secure a single room for you, you will be required to pay the full cost of the room. (For 2023, that cost is $120 per room.)
What kind of gear do you provide?
We provide all essential camping gear for your trip, so all you need to bring is your personal items.
For use on your trip, you’ll be provided with:
- Life jacket (PFD)
- a day dry bag
- a night dry bag
- a sleep kit containing:
- a sleeping bag
- a sheet
- a pillow
- a ground cloth
- a cot (if you’re on a motorized trip) OR a sleeping pad (if you’re on an oar powered trip)
- one tent for every two people
- a camp chair
- dishes and eating utensils
Some of our guests like more details about the gear we provide or want to know where they can get their own. Here’s a breakdown of what we provide, and where it comes from:
Day Dry Bag
This bag is 8” in diameter by 20” long for a total volume of 16L. The top rolls down and clips shut to keep water out. This bag will hold your small hiking backpack and any gear you need access to during the day.
*Note: Keep in mind that not all 20" is packable space since it needs to be rolled down to close. If your backpack is too big, you will clip it to the raft next to your day dry bag.
Maker: Jack’s Plastic Welding
Night Dry Bag (for motorized trips)
This bag is 18” in diameter by 31” long for a total volume of 127L. The top rolls down and clips shut to keep water out. This bag will contain your sleep kit as well as your duffel bag of night gear.
Maker: Jack’s Plastic Welding
Night Dry Bag (for oar powered trips)
This bag is 13” in diameter by 25” tall for a total volume of 57L. The top rolls down and clips shut to keep water out. This bag will contain your duffel bag of night gear. Your sleep kit will be contained in another of these dry bags.
Maker: Jack’s Plastic Welding
Cots (for motorized trips only)
This cot is comprised of a collapsible aluminum frame and a mesh bed surface. It is 74” long, 28” wide, and 15” off the ground. This cot’s construction is such that there are no bars across the head and feet that can cause discomfort.
Maker: Camp Time (Roll-a-Cot)
Sleeping Pads (for oar powered trips only)
This Paco Pad is 72” long by 28” wide with a 2” thick high density foam core for shoulder and hip support. It is also self-inflating to give you additional padding.
Maker: Jack’s Plastic Welding
Sleeping Bag
This rectangular polyester bag is 35” by 84” and rated to 45 degrees. Note: for trips in April, we provide a warmer sleeping bag rated to 30 degrees.
Maker: Alps Mountaineering
Pillow, Pillowcase, Sheet
We provide a full-sized pillow made of synthetic polyblend material. The pillow case and sheet are both cotton/poly blend.
Maker: Varies
Tent
This dome style tent is easy to assemble. It's 3-person sized but fits 2 cots inside.
Maker: Alps Mountaineering (Meramac 3-Person Outfitter)
Chairs
There are a few styles of folding camp chair floating around on our trips, each with slightly different features.
Maker: Alps Mountaineering
What do I need to pack for a rafting trip?
Hatch provides all your essential camping and rafting gear, so all you need to bring is your personal items such as clothes, shoes, sunscreen, and cameras. In your Activity Manager under “View Info and Documents” check out the Gear Checklist for a list of our recommendations. We encourage you to use your judgement - if there’s an item you don’t think you’ll use, check in with us and we can explain why it made the list, then you can choose to bring it or leave it. If there’s something we didn’t list that you can’t live without, bring it - just keep the 25lbs. limit in mind.
You’ll definitely want to keep the weather and your personal comfort in mind as you pack. If you run on the colder side, you might want to bring gear that will keep you warmer when you’re hit with those cold river splashes. If you run warm, you might be able to omit some of our warmer recommendations or bring some cotton shirts instead of only quick-drying ones.
Your comfort level will also determine the quantities of items you bring. Some people are perfectly comfortable in one t-shirt for the whole trip, while others feel more comfortable with 3-4 for a 7 day trip. Unless you’re traveling during the colder season, it’s best to keep your gear light - you can always rinse your clothes in the river if they need it. (Though if you’re the one t-shirt guy, you might want to bring a backup just in case.)
We are always happy to answer questions about gear. We’d much rather you ask us now and feel comfortable on the river than end up without something you need or weighed down by a bunch of stuff you don't.
Watch out our 4 Minute Packing Guide video to get started!
Do I really need to pack rain gear?
Yes. At a consistent 47-52°F, the Colorado River can feel quite cold in the morning, even during the height of summer. Rain gear also provides rain protection during the Arizona monsoon, which brings periodic thunder showers in June, July, and August.
Your rain jacket and pants (yes, you also need rain pants!) should be waterproof, not just water resistant. The wrists and ankles should be able to tighten with velcro or elastic, and the hood should cinch tight around your face. Tip: pants with ankle zips or snaps make it easier to get on and off over shoes.
Ponchos are not allowed. The water can splash up just as much as it splashes down!
If you have questions about gear, reach out and we would be happy to help you figure out what to bring.
I use a CPAP machine. Can I bring it on the river?
Motorized Trips
Maybe. CPAPs that we can accommodate on our motorized trips must:
- Use DC power
- Use a cigarette lighter style plug
- Be a portable/travel model
- Not use a humidifier or be able to turn that element off
Please note: CPAP devices designed for home use (use wall outlets exclusively) draw too much power for us to provide adequate charging. Guests may not bring their own power inverters, car batteries, or solar panels for charging their devices. Only CPAPs with cigarette lighter plugs that are specifically designed for travel and their components are permitted on motorized trips with Hatch.
MAKE SURE TO INDICATE IN YOUR REGISTRATION FORM THAT YOU WILL BE USING A CPAP SO WE CAN PROVIDE YOU WITH A DC POWER SOURCE.
Oar Powered Trips
No. Oar powered trips rely entirely on solar charging, which can be limited and unpredictable. For this reason, guests may not bring CPAP machines on oar powered trips.
Please review the Risk Advisory to Health-Care Providers and Participants on our Risks and Requirements page for more information about using CPAP devices on the river.
Can I charge my camera or cell phone during the trip?
Yes, we do have some charging capability on our trips. We can charge small electronics needing AC and DC power via wall outlet/block, USB-A port (not USB-C), or cigarette lighter plug. This is available morning and evening at camp.
Please note that charging capability relies on battery and solar power, and therefore is not guaranteed and is particularly challenging on oar-powered trips. Please keep in mind that charging stations are also shared among all guests on a trip.
Additionally, please remember that there is no cell service with any provider within the canyon.
What should I do with my valuables while on the river?
We recommend you leave electronics and other valuables at home. Your wallet, credit cards, and cash or traveler’s checks can be placed in Ziploc bags and stored in the bottom of your night duffel. You may want to have a small amount of money available in your day gear in the event your trip stops at Phantom Ranch to purchase souvenirs and postcards. For Upper and Lower Canyon trips, if you are taking a taxi at the South Rim, they accept CASH ONLY.
Please remember: Bar 10 Transportation requires all passengers 18 and older to carry a valid, government-issued photo ID when they board the plane at the end of their trip at Bar 10 Ranch.
I am traveling before or after my trip with Hatch. Can you store my extra luggage?
If you are driving to Marble Canyon and leaving a vehicle there for the duration of your trip, your extra luggage can be stored in your vehicle. If you have sensitive items such as a laptop you’re concerned about exposing to the heat, contact our office to discuss possibilities.
If you are travelling through Las Vegas prior to your trip and being flown back to Las Vegas afterwards, you will need to look for luggage storage options in Las Vegas. The Harry Reid International Airport there does not have luggage storage. If you are staying in a hotel, we recommend checking to see if they store luggage or can recommend a facility that does. If you are using a shuttle company, please contact them for information about luggage storage options.
You should only bring items to Marble Canyon that you intend to bring on the river with you. We have no way of storing or returning items left in Marble Canyon when you depart on the river.
I am on an Upper/Lower Canyon trip. Do I have to hike all my gear up/down Bright Angel Trail?
No. If you are on an upper or lower canyon trip and you don't want to hike all of your gear with you on the Bright Angel Trail, you can use our UPS duffel service instead. Here's how it works:
For Upper Canyon Trips
Take everything essential for your hike or that you'll want to have within a couple of weeks after your trip and pack it into the backpack you're hiking out with. Then put everything else in your well-labelled (your name, address, phone number), medium-sized, soft-sided duffel bag (12"x12"x24" or less) and leave it on the boats with your guides when you depart.
It will finish out the lower section of the river without you and eventually make it back to our office in Flagstaff. From there, we'll package it up and get it shipped back to you. (The UPS shipping fee will be charged directly to you. Hatch does not charge any additional fee for this service.) You should receive your bag about a couple weeks after your trip.
For Lower Canyon Trips
Pack up all the gear for your trip - except what you will need before and during your hike - into a well-labelled (your name, launch date, hike in date), medium-sized, soft-sided duffel bag (12"x12"x24" or less). Pack all the bags for your reservation into a shipping box (or have UPS do it for you) and label the box with your name, launch date, and hike in date.
Only ship with UPS, they are the only option that delivers to our warehouse. Ship your duffel bags to our warehouse in Marble Canyon early enough for them to arrive 4 business days prior to your trip's launch date. Ship to:
Hatch Warehouse
HC 67 Box 35
(Optional line: N Hwy 89A, Milepost 547)
Marble Canyon, AZ 86036
Note: this address is correct exactly as written.
We'll pack your bags onto the boats and they will travel the upper section of the river without you. You'll collect your bags when you meet up with the boats at the bottom of Bright Angel Trail, and they'll stay in your care all the way home.
Can I bring my drone?
No. The use of drones is prohibited in Grand Canyon and all National Parks.
Can I bring a speaker to play music?
No. Guests will not be permitted to bring a speaker on the trip. Doing this can be very disruptive to the entire trip and can impact the experience of other guests sharing in your adventure. Part of what many guests enjoy about their trip is the opportunity to unplug and enjoy the sounds of the canyon.
Can I bring my own satellite phone?
No. Guests will not be permitted to bring their own satellite phones on the river in order to make or receive personal calls. Such calls can be very disruptive to the entire trip and can impact the experience of other guests sharing in your adventure.
How can my loved ones get in touch with me while I am on the river?
The short answer is that you will be unreachable for the duration of your trip.
Many of our guests are concerned about leaving elderly family members, children, or others home while they depart on their Hatch river trips. The Grand Canyon is one of the few remote places left in the world where technology like cell phone service simply isn’t an option. Our guides carry satellite phones in case of on-river emergencies, but those phones are only able to make, not to receive calls. This means that while you are on the river, there is no direct or guaranteed way for a loved one to contact you about an emergency at home. Even if information from a loved one is able to reach you, there is no way to exit the canyon early (outside of emergency medical evacuations), so you will finish the trip while holding that news.
If you need to leave contact information for your family members or their caretakers while you are gone, please give them our office phone number: 800-856-8966. (If it is after hours, there will be an emergency number left on our voicemail.) They can leave a message with our staff who will do their best to get the information to you. It’s important to understand that we cannot guarantee a message will reach you. There are few places where we can leave messages for our trips in the canyon, and there is no guarantee your particular trip will stop at all those points. You may not receive the information until you have departed the river.
If you need to be able to be reached at all times, a Grand Canyon rafting trip may not be a good option for you. Consider planning this style of trip another time when your circumstances have changed.