Rafting Grand Canyon’s Granite Gorge

Activity note: Hotel check-in available from 3:00 p.m.

Afternoon: Program Registration: 4:30 - 4:45 p.m. After you have your room assignment, come over to the Road Scholar table in the hotel meeting room to register with the program staff and get your welcome packet containing the up-to-date schedule that reflects any changes, other important information, and to learn the time and location of the Orientation session. If you arrive late, please ask for your packet when you check in. Orientation: 4:45 - 5:15 p.m. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule and any changes, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. 5;30 - 6:15 p.m.: The river staff will conduct an orientation focused on the rafting portions of the program. Each person will receive one large and one small dry bag to pack their things into. Space is ample in these bags as sleeping bags and pads are packed separately. We’ll also discuss packing suggestions and what to expect on the river. Luggage you do not bring on the river can be stored safely at the hotel until we return. For questions, contact the Program Provider (Northern Arizona University) at (928) 523-2359; or RoadScholarprograms@nau.edu Unless noted otherwise, field trips will be conducted by our Group Leader, a seasoned and experienced naturalist, who will also function as our Study Leader. Transportation will be provided primarily by passenger vans unless specified otherwise. Be prepared for repeatedly getting on/off the raft, helping to carry gear to set up camp, and camping on sandy beaches. Some beach areas may be small and camping spots will be relatively close together. Camp will be exposed to the elements. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.

Dinner: After walking to a nearby restaurant, we’ll enjoy plated meals with appetizers, soups, an extensive salad bar with more than 50 fresh items including seasonal and specialty salads, just picked vegetables, fresh fruits, and desserts, plus soft drinks, coffee, tea, water.

Evening: Following dinner, enjoy the rest of the evening at leisure.

Activity note: Driving about 90 miles one way to Grand Canyon, approximately 1.5 hours. Hiking about 1-2 miles, approximately 2-3 hours with stops; well-maintained packed dirt trails. Elevation of 6,800 feet with change of about 150 feet.

Breakfast: At the hotel, we’ll have a breakfast buffet with choices such as waffles, hard boiled eggs, fresh fruits, pastries, bagels, cereals, and muffins, plus juices, milk, coffee, tea, water.

Morning: We’ll board our vans and travel to Grand Canyon National Park for a hike with our Group Leader. From the South Rim, we’ll enjoy sweeping canyon views from various vantage points and begin to gain a perspective of the canyon's immense size. We’ll also catch glimpses of the Colorado River that will be our home for the next three days. Our Group Leader will share and interpret the park's natural and historic features throughout the day as we walk.

Lunch: During our hike, we’ll have sack lunches including a sandwich, fruit, chips, a cookie, and water.

Afternoon: Continuing to explore rim viewpoints, we’ll also see the historical Grand Canyon Village and other points of interest. Highlights of the village include the Kolb Brothers Photography Studio and the buildings of Santa Fe Railroad designer Mary Jane Colter including the Bright Angel Lodge, Lookout Studio and the Hopi House. With our Group Leader, we’ll join back together at the east end of the village to visit the 100 year old El Tovar Hotel, one of the great hotels in the National Park System. From the village boardwalk, we’ll be able to see the North Rim and various spires and buttes rising from the canyon floor. We’ll also have time to explore rim trails and admire canyon vistas.

Dinner: At a local restaurant with a variety of entrée choices, we’ll have plated meals with coffee, tea, water included; other beverages available for purchase.

Evening: At leisure. Be sure to pack up your river gear and rest up for our early transfer in the morning for our rafting campout.

Activity note: Driving about 140 miles; approximately 3 hours. Walking about 1 mile; approx. 1 hour; river shores are sandy, rocky terrain that requires some agility. Getting on/off raft; help carry personal and group gear to set up camp; camping on sandy beaches. Rafting up to 10 miles throughout the day; class 3 rapids. The Colorado River uses a 1-10 rapid rating scale; Class 3 rapids rated 6 – 7's locally; intensity of rapids depends on river conditions at the time of program.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: After checking out of the hotel, we’ll travel along parts of historic Route 66 and the Hualapai Indian Reservation to our launch point down the only road to the bottom of the Grand Canyon, the Diamond Creek Road, which is a thrilling experience itself. As we descend into the canyon, the red rock walls will seem to rise and soon engulf us. The final 20 miles of our drive today are over a dirt road, sometimes bumpy. Upon arrival, we’ll board our rafts at the Diamond Creek beach and start our journey down lower Granite Gorge, the final 56 miles of the Grand Canyon and John Wesley Powell's "Great Unknown." Commentary will be provided en route by raft leaders and our Road Scholar Group Leader. Rafts are 16 and 18 foot "Oar Frame" pontoon style rafts with an attached metal frame. The boatman pilots and powers the raft using 2 oars situated in the oar frame. Passengers sit on top of the rubber pontoons or on top of gear boxes. There are strong nylon straps (webbing) to hold onto in the rapids. Depending on weather and the groups interest, the raft company may also bring one "paddle raft" so participants can be involved with the navigation of the boat and a few inflatable kayaks to enjoy on the flat portion of the river (no rapids). Final determination on the array of boats will be announced during our orientation meeting with the rafting leaders on night one.

Lunch: On a beach along the river, we’ll stop for a buffet meal of cold cuts, other assorted goodies, and beverages.

Afternoon: We’ll load our personal gear into the rafts, have a safety orientation on shore, then be off to face our first rapids and experience thrilling Class 3 size white water. Expect splashing and hold on! Our first stop will be at Travertine Grotto for a hike while our knowledgeable Group Leader expands on the fascinating story of Grand Canyon's geology and natural history. If you prefer not to join in the hike, you may wish to relax or explore the area on your own before we continue traveling down the Colorado River. Upon arrival at our campsite after continuing downstream, we’ll help the crew unload the communal cooking equipment, food, and personal gear from the boats. We’ll each find our own space to set up on the sandy beach. Camp will be exposed to the elements and tents will always be available, but under clear skies most participants opt not to set up a tent and, instead, sleep under the stars. Some beach areas may be small and camping spots will be relatively close together. We will hope for and frequently enjoy balmy days but be prepared for shifts in the weather including cold fronts and wind. Once camp is set up, the crew will prepare a meal. A group toilet system will be set up at camp each evening, with a thorough orientation to the system and hygiene. During the day, female and male areas will be identified along the shoreline and bushes with a discussion of correct protocol.

Dinner: In the beautiful riverside setting, we’ll have freshly prepared buffet meals every night. You may offer to help the crew in prep and clean up.

Evening: At leisure. Settle in for the evening and enjoy chatting with new friends under the stars. Be ready to pack up camp and continue downstream in the morning.

Activity note: Getting on/off raft; rafting between 10 and 20 miles throughout the day; class 3 rapids. The Colorado River uses a 1-10 rapid rating scale; Class 3 rapids rated 6 – 7's locally; intensity of rapids depends on river conditions at the time of program. Elective hikes of approximately 1/2 to 2 miles available; even, sandy, rocky trail; elevation changes up to 500 feet on some hikes. Helping to carry gear and set up/break down camp.

Breakfast: Wake up early to the shout of “coffeeeeee!” as our rafting leaders prepare a tasty buffet meal, which will change daily. Choices include, depending on the day, an egg dish, French toast, fresh fruit, breakfast meats, bagels, juice, water. All river meals will be buffets.

Morning: We’ll break camp and help load the raft before floating downstream with commentary provided by our Group Leader and river experts on the geological, natural, and human history of the area. On our way, we’ll encounter more rapids and, for those who wish, go on an exploration of side canyons including a hike in Bridge Canyon. In addition to learning more specifics of geology and canyon history, we’ll also stop at Separation Canyon. This historically significant spot is where, after months of challenges, turmoil and deprivation, three members of the famous 1869 Powell Expedition left the river trip to strike out on their own and attempt to hike out of the canyon rim. They were never seen again. Our experts will tell the rest of the story.

Lunch: Buffet lunch on a canyon beach.

Afternoon: We’ll continue rafting down the river, deeper into the Grand Canyon, with stops for short side hikes. Our river experts will provide commentary and interpretation of passing sights. We’ll then land and make camp.

Dinner: River camp buffet.

Evening: At leisure. Enjoy the evening chatting with the group, writing in your journal or looking up from your camp spot as the stars begin to pop out. Be ready to pack up camp and continue downstream in the morning.

Activity note: Getting on/off raft multiple times, helping to carry gear and set up camp. Hiking approximately 1/2 mile, about 1 hour, over sandy, rocky terrain. Rafting up to 15 miles throughout the day; mostly flat water today as we have typically passed the rapids by this point of the trip. Help carry gear to break down/set up camp.

Breakfast: Riverside camp buffet.

Morning: We’ll continue floating downstream, running rapids, and learning more about how to “read” the river. As we go, we’ll float within view of the now famous Grand Canyon Skywalk. Located 3,500 feet above the river, the horseshoe shaped glass walkway juts out over the rim of the canyon giving visitors a thrilling view of the canyon below their feet.

Lunch: Buffet on a canyon beach.

Afternoon: As we continue rafting downstream, we’ll take advantage of opportunities that may present themselves for exploring side canyons, going on hikes, or other activities as determined by our river experts based on factors such as the itinerary, timing, and local conditions. At some point during this day the rapids run out and the river becomes primarily flat water. To get us down the river the boats use an outboard motor as the flow is not enough to enable us to cover the miles we have to go.

Dinner: River camp buffet.

Evening: At leisure. Another evening in a different camp with a different view. Life doesn't get much better than this! Be ready to pack up camp and conclude our river adventure in the morning.

Activity note: Breaking down camp and assisting with unloading the boats and packing gear. Driving approx. 220 miles to Flagstaff; about 4 hours. Getting on/off raft; rafting up to 10 miles throughout the day; no rapids as we flow into the backed up waters of Hoover Dam. Help carry gear to break down camp/load gear.

Breakfast: Riverside camp buffet.

Morning: We’ll break camp for the last time and raft the final stretch of the river through the Grand Canyon as we quickly pass the Grand Wash Cliffs make our way to the farthest reaches of Lake Mead. The river take out is at Pearce Ferry landing, site of a historic pioneer Mormon river crossing. We’ll then unload the boats of our personal gear.

Lunch: Buffet on a canyon beach.

Afternoon: After loading the vans, we’ll transfer to Flagstaff with arrival back in “civilization” expected in the afternoon. We’ll check in to our hotel rooms and no doubt jump into a well-deserved hot shower!

Dinner: At a local Greek restaurant, we’ll have plated meals for our farewell dinner together, plus coffee, tea, water; other beverages available for purchase. Share some of your favorite experiences from the program with new Road Scholar friends.

Evening: We’ll gather one last time together as a group at the hotel for a program wrap-up, impressions, and final reflections. Then be sure to prepare for check-out and departures in the morning.

Activity note: Hotel check-out by 11:00 a.m.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet. This concludes our program.

Morning: If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!