Lots of people, when they call the GCW office, ask if we (the reservations folks) have ever done a Grand Canyon raft trip before. Why, YES, it’s just about the best job perk I could imagine! We call it ‘office research’ … and head out on a Grand Canyon river trip each year.

I just got to participate in a 7-day Full Canyon Motor trip in July. It was GREAT! We hit a tiny bit of monsoon weather that gave us a spectacular show on the second night. We hiked all over the place, swam in waterfalls, saw ancient petroglyphs, laughed a TON, celebrated the last season of guiding in Grand Canyon for two of our boatmen, made a makeshift piñata for a fellow passenger’s birthday, had a costume party, enjoyed each other’s company tremendously… and, oh yeah, ran some major whitewater! Hermit was HUGE!

I’ve been on quite a few river trips over the years and I am always in awe of HOW MUCH there is to see down there! I think I see at least one new spot on almost every river trip; I’m always impressed. It’s such a vast territory with hidden gems all over the place and thankfully, Grand Canyon Whitewater guides are incredibly well versed and knowledgeable on many of Grand Canyon’s nooks and crannies.

In other aspects of my life, I’m not really one to join guided excursions but I can’t recommend and praise this guided raft trip enough. It’s one of those places you just would not be able to see well enough on your own — having guides makes a rafting trip in Grand Canyon a) possible and b) extraordinary. Do it.