Trying to figure out something extra special you can do for a loved one’s birthday or anniversary? Try a Grand Canyon rafting trip! Grand Canyon Whitewater passengers have celebrated many occasions while on a life-changing river trip …  graduations, honeymoons, birthdays, family reunions, wedding anniversaries. We can’t think of a better place that will make the special day a memory for life.

Grand Canyon Whitewater guides love to help fancy up a river celebration. One of their favorite ways to do so is by baking a delicious cake in our well-loved, cast-iron Dutch ovens. There are a few tricks to end up with a fluffy, mouth-watering finished product. We’ve learned that you take the diameter of the Dutch oven, and place that number of coals — PLUS 2 — evenly on top of the oven and that number — LESS 2 — below the oven in a fire pan.

There really isn’t much like the aroma of freshly baked goods on the cool Colorado River breeze. Let’s celebrate!

Above: The steps to baking the perfect Dutch oven cake in Grand Canyon

1. John whips up the batter and pours it into an oiled Dutch oven.
2. The coals bake the cake until you can smell the delicious aroma
3. The cake is cooled and iced and Joe lights a birthday candle