Arizona

Exploring & Rafting the Western Grand Canyon With Your Grandchild

Program No. 2519RJ
Explore the Western Grand Canyon with your grandchild as you whitewater raft the Colorado River, learn about the life of a cowboy!

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At a Glance

Share with your grandchild the thrill of whitewater rafting on the Colorado River in the depths of the Grand Canyon. With experienced river runners, navigate exhilarating whitewater rapids. Take part in outdoor field trips on the water, on the ground at the rim as you learn about the geology, natural history and native peoples of the Grand Canyon. Round out a rousing week with s'mores and stories by the campfire!
Activity Level
Outdoor: No Sweat
Walking up to one mile on varied terrain, sometimes in hot conditions. Getting in/out of rafts. Elevations up to 5,500 feet.

What You'll Learn

  • Raft 37 wild and scenic miles of the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon.
  • Learn about the Grand Canyon’s Geology while taking in the spectacular vistas of the Canyon’s South Rim.
  • Drive the only road to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and picnic and play on a Colorado River beach.

General Notes

Program is for grandchildren 9-12 or 11-13, depending on the date. Children must be 9 years old for rafting/helicopter rides. For a comparable family adventure for all generations, check out program #9878!
Featured Expert
All trip experts
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Carrie Calisay Cannon
Carrie Calisay Cannon is a member of the Kiowa tribe of Oklahoma and also is of Oglala Lakota descent. She has a B.S. in Wildlife Biology and an M.S. in Resource Management. She is currently employed as an Ethnobotanist for the Hualapai Department of Cultural Resources. She administers a number of department projects and programs which promote the intergenerational teaching of Hualapai ethnobotanical knowledge. She works towards ensuring tribal ethnobotanical knowledge persists as a living practice and tradition.

Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.

Profile Image of Carrie Calisay Cannon
Carrie Calisay Cannon View biography
Carrie Calisay Cannon is a member of the Kiowa tribe of Oklahoma and also is of Oglala Lakota descent. She has a B.S. in Wildlife Biology and an M.S. in Resource Management. She is currently employed as an Ethnobotanist for the Hualapai Department of Cultural Resources. She administers a number of department projects and programs which promote the intergenerational teaching of Hualapai ethnobotanical knowledge. She works towards ensuring tribal ethnobotanical knowledge persists as a living practice and tradition.
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Year
2024
  • 2024
Date and Direction
Jun 03 - Jun 08 (Flagstaff, AZ to Departures)
  • Jun 03 - Jun 08 (Flagstaff, AZ to Departures)
  • Jun 16 - Jun 21 (Flagstaff, AZ to Departures)
  • Jul 07 - Jul 12 (Flagstaff, AZ to Departures)
Please Note: The program differs on certain dates.
Please Note: The program differs on certain dates.
Select trip year and date
2024
  • 2024
Jun 03 - Jun 08 (Flagstaff, AZ to Departures)
  • Jun 03 - Jun 08 (Flagstaff, AZ to Departures)
  • Jun 16 - Jun 21 (Flagstaff, AZ to Departures)
  • Jul 07 - Jul 12 (Flagstaff, AZ to Departures)
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
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6 days
5 nights
14 meals
5 B 4 L 5 D
DAY
1
Check-in, Program Registration, Welcome Dinner, Orientation
Flagstaff, AZ
D
La Quinta Inn & Suites Flagstaff

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

Afternoon: Program Registration. 4:30 – 5:15 p.m. After you have your room assignment, come 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 confirm the time and location of the Orientation session. If you arrive late, please ask for your packet when you check in.

Dinner: At a local restaurant

Evening: Orientation. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. Transportation will be provided primarily by passenger vans, unless otherwise noted. This is a Road Scholar intergenerational program. Grandparents are responsible for their grandchildren. If/when separate age group activities are conducted concurrently, program staff will supervise. Children are never to be left unsupervised. Periods in the daily schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. 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. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the full day ahead. Be sure to prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.

DAY
2
Museum of Northern Arizona, Walnut Canyon National Monument
Flagstaff, AZ
B,L,D
La Quinta Inn & Suites Flagstaff

Activity note: Walking about 1 mile on Island Trail at Walnut Canyon; approximately 1 hour with stops; paved trail; descend and ascend 185 feet via 240 steps. Walking about 1 mile on Rim Trail; approx. 1 hour; paved and level. Elevation at 6,700 ft. Driving approximately 15 miles; about 1/2 hour. We recommend bringing a water bottle, good walking shoes, sun protection, long sleeves, and perhaps a walking stick.

Breakfast: At the hotel

Morning: We’ll travel to Walnut Canyon National Monument for our first field trip to the Sinagua cliff dwellings and the Visitor Center. Upon arrival, we’ll set out on a hike led by our Group Leader down into Walnut Canyon, which will bring us face to face with ancient cliff dwellings. Walnut Canyon is a spectacular scenic attraction in its own right, with diverse plant and animal communities to be enjoyed from all vantage points and interpretive displays to supplement viewing. For those that choose not to go into the canyon, a lovely rim walk led by one of the Group Leaders also offers excellent views.

Lunch: At a local restaurant

Afternoon: Afterwards, we will enjoy an insightful and informative docent-led field trip at the Museum of Northern Arizona (MNA) after arriving by van. The MNA has evolved into a regional center of learning with collections, exhibits, educational programs, publications, and research projects. Museum of Northern Arizona is the premier museum dedicated to the cultural and natural history of the Colorado Plateau. Afterwards, we’ll take some time for independent exploration in the museum and a kid center craft.

Dinner: At a local restaurant

Evening: We’ll then join our Group Leader for a regionally relevant Presentation and Activity in the meeting room of the hotel.

DAY
3
Visit Grand Canyon National Park, hike along the rim.
Peach Springs, AZ
B,L,D
Hualapai Lodge

Activity note: Driving approx. 207 miles total for the day; about 4 hours. Short walks to scenic viewpoints, less than 2 miles total; some sloping terrain on paved pathways and stairs.

Breakfast: At the hotel

Morning: We will board our transport and set out on a full-day field trip to the Grand Canyon’s South Rim. Upon arrival, we will start on a walk and learn as we explore about the Grand Canyon’s unique geological, biological, and historical features. We will also see Grand Canyon Village where many of the most impressive structures in the historic village were designed by Mary Jane Colter, a renowned architect and designer for the Fred Harvey Company and Santa Fe Railroad. With luck, we might even see an endangered California condor soaring overhead as we gaze into the Canyon’s depths below.

Lunch: At the Grand Canyon's rim, we’ll have sack lunches.

Afternoon: We will have some time for independent exploration in the historic village. Be sure to take a look across to the Canyon’s North Rim, 10 miles away as the raven flies. We will then begin our ride to Grand Canyon Caverns, settling into our seats, we will recap the 1.8 billion year layer cake of earth’s history we have just seen in person.

Dinner: Diamond Creek Restaurant at the Hualapai Lodge.

Evening: The remainder of the evening will be at your leisure.

DAY
4
Cattle Roping lesson, River Trip Orientation, Kids Only
Peach Springs, AZ
B,L,D
Hualapai Lodge

Activity note: Driving approx. 2 hours throughout the day; Short periods of standing, sometimes in full sun, during the morning session.

Breakfast: At the hotel restaurant

Morning: We will board our transportation to transfer to a local ranch, where we’ll spend this morning learning about ranching, horses, and the importance of cattle in the history of the west with a real cowboy who has cowboy-ed in northern Arizona for over 40 years. Believe it or not, cattle still have many uses today, besides just steak and hamburger! Kids will learn about a horse’s tack, how to properly saddle a horse and how to rope.

Lunch: At the hotel restaurant

Afternoon: We’ll gather for a secret "Kids Only" activity led by our Group Leaders! Shhhhh! While the kids are engaged, the adults may wish to take a breather, a dip in the pool or engage in purely adult conversation for a short time. Following this activity, we’ll assemble in the meeting room to learn everything we need to know for the river trip coming up the next day through an in-depth orientation to the day’s activities. We'll go over how to dress for the river, how to pack your daypack, and what to take so you'll be well-prepared for a Colorado River raft trip to remember!

Dinner: Diamond Creek Restaurant at the Hualapai Lodge.

Evening: We’ll be joined by a local expert for a presentation on a topic of local interest. Our topic will vary by week and feature a local author, artist, or regional expert.

DAY
5
Grand Canyon River Raft, Waterfall Hike
Peach Springs, AZ
B,L,D
Hualapai Lodge

Activity note: Driving approx. 155 miles total. Morning about 20 miles; approx. 1.5 hours; unpaved, rough road. Afternoon approx. 135 miles; about 3 hours, with stop. Rafting approx. 37 miles; 5-6 hours total. Climbing in/out of rafts, assistance provided as needed. River temperature about 50 degrees F – air can be 100+ degrees F. Hiking about 1/2 mile total for the day; some slippery rocks, sand. Elective climb using ropes & ladders to hidden waterfall.

Breakfast: At the hotel restaurant

Morning: Meeting in the hotel lobby we will go through a safety orientation with our river leaders and get fitted with life jackets before embarking on our river rafting trip. We will divide up into multiple groups to fit on 8-passenger motorized pontoon rafts (approximately 25 feet long), each with a certified rafting expert. The Diamond Creek trip down the Colorado River is about 37 miles in length. During the first 16 miles we will encounter about 10 whitewater rapids, some rather large (5, 6 and 7’s on a 1 to 10 scale), so we will get wet. The air temperature in summer at the bottom of the canyon will likely be around 100 degrees so the splashing is a welcome relief and will keep us cool. We’ll pull the rafts over at a couple of attractions including the beautiful Travertine Falls and a lunch spot. While stopped, our rafting experts will lead some short walks to stretch our legs and explore the area. After 16 miles the rapids disappear, but the scenery remains "grand" in all regards. Hualapai tribal members will operate rafts and, along with our staff, provide information about the canyon along the way.

Lunch: Along the river, we’ll have sack lunches provided by the river company.

Afternoon: Continuing downriver, we’ll reach Pearce Ferry where we will get off our rafts and board the bus that will transport us out of the canyon. Have your cameras ready! The bus will drop us off at the lodge in Peach Springs. On our way we’ll travel through a landscape of Joshua Trees and creosote bush as we cross the beautiful basin and range landscape of the Mohave Desert. Upon arrival in Peach Springs, we’ll go immediately to dinner.

Dinner: Diamond Creek Restaurant at the Hualapai Lodge. Share favorite experiences with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.

Evening: The remainder of the evening will be at leisure. Be sure to prepare for check-out and departures in the morning.

DAY
6
Program Concludes
Departures
B

Activity note: Hotel check out and driving to Flagstaff; 102 miles, approximately 1.5 hours.

Breakfast: At the hotel restaurant

Morning: We’ll board our transportation back to Flagstaff and share some of our favorite memories from our week together before saying farewell. This concludes our program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Best wishes for all your journeys!






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