Arizona Raft Adventures

08/31/2025

Pictographs, often referred to by some as Rock Art, for Sunday Art Day. No one definitively knows the meaning of these hematite pictographs. And their meaning certainly has more to do with just creating art, as there is no doubt that they held important meanings to those who created them!
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AzRA acknowledges that we are located on and visit the ancestral homelands of the Diné (Navajo), Havasu Baaja (Havasupai), Hoputuh Shi-ni-mu (Hopi), Hwal-Pai (Hualapai), Nde (Apache Western/Yavapai), Nuciu (Ute), and Numa (Paiute) Peoples, past and present. We thank the people who have stewarded these lands since time immemorial and the vibrant Native communities who make their homes here today.

08/30/2025

Flips happen. There are 3 kinds of river guides, "Those that have flipped, those have not flipped but are going to flip and those that are going to flip again! Re-righting the smaller rafts in Grand Canyon can be challenging but with expert guides they are back ready to raft in no time!

Have you been in a flip in the Grand Canyon?
📷: Richard G

08/30/2025

08/29/2025

AzRA Guide Bio:
Hi I'm Morgan! I've been a river guide for 7 years, and I've been backpacker, climber and explorer all over the west since I was 11 years old. I started guiding on the Salt River in Arizona, and currently guide in the Grand Canyon and in Idaho. I've also been a trapeze artist for 17 years, and co-own an aerial studio in Flagstaff, AZ that I runs and teach at during the rest of the year when I'm not guiding on the river. I also love to sew, and have another small business that creates functional river clothes.

Ask me all of your bug and biology questions! I absolutely love bugs and you'll often find me crouching on the ground looking at something small and cool. I love to play my ukulele and sing at camp, and I do lots of silly songs and sing-a-longs. I have 7 chickens and a big garden at home, and love to be outside or traveling with friends in my free time. I'm excited to share all the things I love about the Grand Canyon with everyone!

08/28/2025

Clear Creek double waterfalls! A massage and a cool down all in one!

Draft
Created by Sharon Hester
The Grand Canyon region is the traditional lands of the Havasupai Tribe, Hopi Tribe, Hualapai Tribe, Kaibab Band of Paiute Indians, Las Vegas Band of Paiute Indians, Moapa Band of Paiute Indians, Navajo Nation, Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah, San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe, The Pueblo of Zuni, Yavapai-Apache Nation.
📷: Jay Eaton

08/28/2025

Meet the hero's who saved "Brighty" the bronze statue of the famous Brighty b***o of the North Rim!

Aug 25, 2025 Campus & CommunityJacks in a Flash: Jason Nez and Michael Terlep Two Lumberjack alums—Grand Canyon National Park fire archaeologist and resource advisor Jason Nez and Kaibab National Forest district and wildfire archeologist Michael Terlep—led a team of Dragon Bravo Fire resource ad...

08/27/2025

Where are we Wednesday AND what kind of rock is this! Today a two part question and answer! Correctly name this docking location for a hike and the type of rock in the foreground (extra credit if you name the other rock type in image 😀) by noon tomorrow and you will be entered into a drawing for a small prize.
📷: Scott Boven

08/26/2025

In 1909, the first automobiles reached the remote North Rim of the Grand Canyon, seven years after the first one reached the South Rim. They drove 430 miles from Salt Lake City, Utah. For many small rural towns along the way, it was the first time people had ever seen an automobile. The story is told in this short video.
https://youtu.be/fwneVxpRWkY

08/26/2025

Tuesday Tips! Most folks love sleeping out under the stars on our river trips—and they usually choose to do so unless the weather is inclement. However, deciding to sleep without a tent comes down to individual preference and personal risk tolerance, since not using a tent does increase possible exposure to wildlife. Here’s a great example of campers setting up their sleeping area before it's time to turn in. What did they do right? What could they have done to make their setup more secure? Let’s hear your thoughts!
Update 8/28 the right thing about this camp set up is that they did NOT lay out their sleeping bags before it was time to crawl in them. Things that could have been better, laying the bags directly on the pads to prevent them from blowing away. Securing the few loose items of clothing inside the bags before leaving the campsite. A smaller tip would be to add a rock at each corner of the tarp (or your shoes) to prevent tarps from blowing up and flapping if the wind picks up which can toss sand on one or make noise waking one up.
📷: Susan C

08/25/2025

🌊 Happy Monday! Hope your day is full of splashy fun! 💦 Did you know that while rafting the Grand Canyon, over 95% of the river is smooth water? That means plenty of time to relax, dry off, and get ready for the next thrilling rapid! 🚣‍♂️✨
📷: Cindy K

08/24/2025

Sunday Art Day! Some fun river trip watercolors by AzRA participant Peggy Bryan. The river Grand Canyon and the Colorado river can be so inspiring. Even you don't normally do artwork you might enjoy bringing a small watercolor set along on your trip for down time activity.

08/23/2025

You never know what kind of challenges you will encounter on a Grand Canyon side hike! Nature changes the environment and status of side canyons and the main canyon frequently. You have to be prepared for an adventure at all times in the canyon.
📷: Randy B