Skip to Main Content
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!

Enroll with Confidence

We want your Road Scholar learning adventure to be something to look forward to—not worry about. Learn more

Protecting the Environment

We offset a portion of the emissions created by your travel. Learn more

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
I exercise for fun, not to win contests. I like to explore at an easy pace, stopping to snap photos and smell the roses. Varied terrain doesn’t scare me, but let’s not do anything too extreme.

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
Profile Image
Karen Landis
Karen Landis' front door opened up onto Route 66 for 38 years, giving her status as a Route 66 legend in the Seligman stretch of the road. In 1984, a customer at her Route 66 convenience store mustered the gumption to ask her to marry him, and Karen and Mike Landis — a legend himself and known as Arizona's No. 1 cowboy — ranched together for 29 years. Under Mike's tutelage and her indomitable spirit, Karen became a 'cowboy' in her own right and the two of them became one of the best-known ranching couples in northwest Arizona. Karen's independent spirit and ropin' and ridin' skills have opened up new perspectives to countless Road Scholar participants.

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

Profile Image of Karen Landis
Karen Landis View biography
Karen Landis' front door opened up onto Route 66 for 38 years, giving her status as a Route 66 legend in the Seligman stretch of the road. In 1984, a customer at her Route 66 convenience store mustered the gumption to ask her to marry him, and Karen and Mike Landis — a legend himself and known as Arizona's No. 1 cowboy — ranched together for 29 years. Under Mike's tutelage and her indomitable spirit, Karen became a 'cowboy' in her own right and the two of them became one of the best-known ranching couples in northwest Arizona. Karen's independent spirit and ropin' and ridin' skills have opened up new perspectives to countless Road Scholar participants.
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.
Profile Image of Eric Kee
Eric Kee was born and raised on the Navajo Reservation in Tuba, City, Ariz. In addition to sharing his Navajo culture, Eric enjoys spending his spare time building Native American flutes, working with silver and enjoys hiking, kayaking, camping with his family. He met his wife in Florence, Italy during his three years teaching English and working Italian camps for kids. He, along with his wife and three children, currently reside in Tuba City, Arizona.
Profile Image of Rocky Sullivan
Rocky Sullivan View biography
Rocky Sullivan, a Kansas native, has been living in the southwest working on ranches among other things for the better part of three decades. During the last few years, he has brought his poetry into the limelight, gaining respect and praise from peers and audiences. Rocky won in his division of the 2015 National Cowboy Poetry Rodeo in Abilene, Kansas, and again in 2017. He has been asked to perform at numerous venues since.
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.





Recommended For You