Nothing is better than a summer in the Grand Canyon, but beating the heat is hard. Don't let the soaring temperatures stop your fun. Refreshing float tours can fulfill your need for adventure and comfort. Instead of whitewater rafting, a relaxed float down the Colorado offers fun for ages 4 and up. These popular 1-day trips depart from the South Rim daily but are often sold out, so make sure to book early.
Getting Started
One-day trips start from the airport at Grand Canyon National Park, next to Tusayan, Arizona. Different packages are available. The Basic package will get you to the airport by a two and a half hour bus ride then bring you to the base of Glen Canyon. This package also includes transport for the Maswik Lodge inside Grand Canyon Village.
The Deluxe package is only an hour and carries people by airplane for beautiful sights along the way. The Deluxe choice includes a Jeep ride to the legendary slot canyons at Horseshoe Bend, before your float down the river begins. You don't want to miss these glorious caves of brightly colored sandstone that are sculpted into slopes and curves.
South Rim
All float tours begin at the base of Glen Canyon Dam on the South Rim. You need to budget a whole day for the tour, which depart once daily around 7 in the morning and return around 5. For the trip down the Colorado River, these tours use motorized pontoon rafts that can carry up to 19 people, including children as young as four. Each raft is manned by a skilled captain knowledgeable in canyon history.
Horseshoe Bend
After you embark, you will coast towards the unbelievable wonder of Horseshoe Bend. After the bend, you will stop at different beaches, including a view of Native American petroglyphs on the canyon walls. These 800-year old petroglyphs are attributed to ancestors of Pueblo Indians. If you pass the beach here, it is difficult to get back to it, so it's best to have a guide like your river pilot.
Make sure to bring along swimsuits so you don't miss the opportunity to take a dip in the cool blue-green waters of the Colorado. Swim shoes or comfortable tennis shoes suitable for hiking are important for this trip. Come prepared with sunscreen and a good hat or visor that will protect you from the sun. For the trip home, have a dry bag of extra clothes and a breathable light long-sleeved shirt or jacket.
Lee's Ferry
After the rejuvenating beauty of Horseshoe Bend, you will come to Lee's Ferry. Once a Mormon settlement and then a fort, this spot marks the line between relaxing float tours and whitewater tours.
Lee's Ferry also offers a visit to the Cameron Trading Post. Established in 1916, the post specializes in Native American crafted arts. The trading post boasts a beautiful walking garden with sandstone paths as well as the restaurant and store. This last stop will leave you relaxed for your ride back.
Stay Cool and See It All
These float tours are really the best way to keep cool and see all the sites. Not only are they relaxing for adults, but they are also suitable for young children. Deluxe tours cost more but save you the Basic tour's 11- hour road trip, with a short enjoyable flight to the Grand Canyon. These tours sell out every day, so if you're ready for refreshing fun in the Canyon, get your trip scheduled today.
Martin Wynn
