Below are some answers to some questions you may have

What is included in the price of my trip?
Do we offer payment plans?
What is a typical day on the River through the Grand Canyon?
Is there a map of where we will be on the Colorado River?
What gear do I need for my rafting trip?
What are your rafts like?
What is camping like along the Colorado River?
Is it safe?
What if I have a special dietary requirements?
How do I get to Marble Canyon to start my trip?

Included in the price of your trip

In addition to trip specific inclusions, all trips include the following: meals (from launch to departure); beverages (with the exception of alcohol and soda); dishes and utensils; a souvenir carabiner to keep your day bag fastened to the raft; a souvenir insulated mug; life jacket; tent; a sleeping kit; and camp chair.

Full Canyon Motorized Trips include:
- One night lodging at Cliff Dwellers Lodge prior to your launch
- Transportation from Marble Canyon to Lees Ferry
- NPS Entrance Fee
- Scenic helicopter ride and air transfers to Las Vegas, Nevada or Marble Canyon, Page or Grand Canyon South Rim, Arizona

Full Canyon Oar Trips include:
- One night lodging at Cliff Dwellers Lodge prior to your launch
- Transportation from Marble Canyon to Lees Ferry
- NPS Entrance Fee  
- Scenic helicopter ride and air transfers to Las Vegas, Nevada or Marble Canyon, Page or Grand Canyon South Rim, Arizona
- Two waterproof bags, one for your day gear and one for your night gear.

Upper Canyon Motorized Trips include:
- One night lodging at Cliff Dwellers Lodge prior to your launch
- Transportation from Marble Canyon to Lees Ferry
- NPS Entrance Fee
- Grand Canyon Bright Angel Trail Guide
- Guided hike out of the Canyon

Upper Canyon Oar Trips include:
- One night lodging at Cliff Dwellers Lodge prior to your launch
- Transportation from Marble Canyon to Lees Ferry
- NPS Entrance Fee  
- Grand Canyon Bright Angel Trail Guide
- Guided hike out of the Canyon
- Two waterproof bags, one for your day gear and one for your night gear.

Lower Canyon Motorized Trips include:
- Grand Canyon Bright Angel Trail Guide
- Guided hike into the Canyon
- Scenic helicopter ride and air transfers to Las Vegas, Nevada or Marble Canyon, Page or Grand Canyon South Rim, Arizona

Lower Canyon Oar Trips include:
- Grand Canyon Bright Angel Trail Guide
- Guided hike into the Canyon
- Scenic helicopter ride and air transfers to Las Vegas, Nevada or Marble Canyon, Page or Grand Canyon South Rim, Arizona
- Two waterproof bags, one for your day gear and one for your night gear.

We offer payment plans.

Yes, we will work with you on finding a payment plan that fits your budget.  Please contact our office directly for more information.  800.856.8966

A typical day on the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon

No day is typical in the Grand Canyon!  As a general guideline, we wake early, have breakfast, load the boats, and leave camp before 8:30 AM. From there we may run either a few or several rapids and then stop for a side hike up to a beautiful waterfall or Puebloan ruin.  Then we have a beachside lunch and relax for a while before boarding the boats for more eye popping whitewater.  We may stop for another short hike if time permits or we may head straight to camp.

Arriving in camp between 3:00 and 5:00 PM, the boats are unload, and you are free to choose where you are going to sleep and set up your camp, take a swim, or come down to the kitchen to enjoy some appetizers.  Dinner is served around seven, after which you can relax and gaze at the star filled Canyon sky.  Then off to bed, so you are well rested to do it all over again tomorrow!

Where You'll be on the Colorado River

We have created a google map so that you can visualize your trip on the Colorado River.  We have also noted launch and departure points for full Canyon, upper Canyon, and lower Canyon river trips.

Gear for your white water rafting trip

You will receive a detailed gear list in your reservation packet.  You may also download the packet now.  Find your trip type and length on the EXISTING RESERVATIONS page.  Most people pack more than they actually use.  Pack for the season and your personal needs.  Although air temperature in the Grand Canyon can often exceed 100 degrees in the summer months, the river temperature is a constant 47-52 degrees.  With this in mind, base quantities on your trip’s length and pack according to your own tolerance for heat and cold.  Average temperatures in the Canyon are:

Hatch river rafts

Hatch rafts are constructed of military spec neoprene rubber creating a highly stable and safe platform for navigating whitewater on the Colorado River.  The pontoon design, first used in World War II, was the beginning for motor raft design.  It has gone through many modifications and a great deal of evolution over the decades into a highly customized craft capable of safely carrying up to 18 people for extended periods of time.

The main section of our boats consist of specially designed self-bailing aluminum frames to carry at he food and gear for extended trip lengths allowing passengers to have all the creature comforts required for today’s camping trips.  At over 35’ in length and 16’ in width, they are exceptionally capable crafts for all water levels and conditions experienced in Grand Canyon.

The power plant is a 30 horsepower four-stroke outboard motor meeting the stringent standards from the EPA for emissions and sporting ultra quiet exhaust.  At 56 decibels, they are so quiet that most of the time you can’t even hear them while underway.  We continually strive to minimize our Eco Footprint.

Hatch oar boats are made from tough hypalon rubber that can withstand the fun and abuse the Colorado River through Grand Canyon dishes out.  At 18 feet long and 8 feet wide, these boats are perfect for up to five people including a guide.

With self-bailing floors and custom frames, these are the most comfortable rowboats on the water, capable of hauling your necessities for up to two weeks at a time.

Camping along the Colorado River

Sandy beaches are the typical camping conditions in the Grand Canyon.  Each camp is different, so be prepared for a different view and experience each night.

The kitchen area is usually set up very near the boats, and people tend to congregate in their chairs near the kitchen in the evenings.  Tent and sleeping sites can be spread among the trees or near each other on an open beach.  Toilet facilities are set up shortly after arriving in camp, in a secluded area, and are the last thing taken down in the morning. The toilets are dry, meaning that everyone urinates in the river and all other ‘business’ is taken care of at the toilet.  Portable day toilets are accessible during the day.

Rafting with Hatch River Expeditions is safe

Nothing in life is completely safe, but safety is definitely first and foremost on our agenda.  We want you to have a great time and doing that means paying attention to your well-being.  At the beginning of your trip you will take part in an extensive safety orientation detailing proper life jacket use, boat safety, correct riding positions, and hiking guidelines.  Every trip has a full first aid kit, safety equipment, and satellite telephones for emergency use.  We also design most of our equipment ourselves, using our years of experience and expertise to devise safe, efficient equipment.

We serve excellent food on our rafting trips

Our guides’ skills do not just lie in maneuvering through exhilarating whitewater; they are also talented camp ‘chefs’.  Your evening meal might be a juicy New York steak, a fillet of grilled salmon with a honey-Dijon glaze, or a huge Mexican feast with all of the accompaniments. Top off your meal with a Dutch oven dessert; always a guide specialty.  In the morning, you may awake to the smell of hot coffee and sizzling bacon.  When you wander down to the kitchen, blueberry pancakes, eggs to order and an array of cereals and fresh fruit greet you t lunchtime, we stop for a riverside picnic where you assemble your sandwich from the finest quality meats, cheeses, and fresh veggies.  Of course, we have the requisite amount of snacks as well: cookies, candy, and chips, along with apples, oranges and other seasonal fruits.  Plenty of lemonade and water are always on hand.  We also serve milk and juice at breakfast, and coffee, tea, and hot chocolate in the mornings and evenings.  If you would like other beverages such as soda, or alcohol you will need to purchase them before your trip and bring them along with you.  You may also download a Beverage Order Form and fax it to Cliff Dwellers Lodge and they will have it ready for you to pick up the morning of your trip.

We can handle most special dietary requirements

If you have special dietary requirements, we will do our best to accommodate them.  Please keep in mind that we do have limitations of space and refrigeration aboard the rafts.  For this reason, we cannot always meet the needs of everyone.  In your final information packet, you will receive a questionnaire asking you about your dietary needs.  Please fill this form out completely and return it in a timely manner.  For needs that are highly specialized please contact us directly and we will do our best to accommodate your specific needs:

Food Pack 928.355.2305 michelle@hatchriverexpeditions.com

Transportation to Marble Canyon at the start of your trip

From Las Vegas, NV you can either fly or take a van shuttle service.  Either of these can be booked through Bar 10 Transportation.