Grand Canyon River Trip Lower Section July 5 th 14 th, 2012 The Colorado River is an iconic symbol of the American West. It has shaped the human history of this southwestern region from the earliest Native American inhabitants to the modern day. Along its course, the Colorado River flows through seven states, seven Indian reservations, and two countries. It sustains 30 million people and their economies, supports some of the nation s fastest growing cities and irrigates more than 3.5 million acres of farmland. The river system fed by the Dolores, Yampa and Gunnison Rivers is globally significant for freshwater biodiversity; more than 60 percent of its native fish are found nowhere else on Earth. The Nature Conservancy is committed to maintaining the irreplaceable species and ecosystems supported by the Colorado River. On the Colorado River, the Conservancy has initiated a basin wide program that addresses problems at both a site specific and basinwide level. The Colorado River program employs a range of strategies, such as re operating dams to mimic natural river flows, restoring streamside habitat, and seeking policy and legal changes to ensure healthy, flowing rivers. To work at such scale requires strong alliances with government, nonprofits, businesses and local individuals as well as a firm commitment to succeed. Join The Nature Conservancy of Colorado on this fantastic river trip. Trip Overview: One of the advantages of a river trip is the flexibility of the daily itinerary. It can vary widely from one trip to the next based on group desires, Mother Nature, and courtesy for other groups on the river. This trip will be a hybrid trip, which means there are two types of boats provided for guests: 4 5 oar boats and 1 paddle boat. This trip is perfect for groups with mixed paddle interest. A hybrid trip is great for the guests who want to paddle some of the time but also want to relax. One day relax on the oar raft taking hotographs and the next day challenge the rapids in the paddle raft. The lower canyon river trip s most notable features include Thunder River, Deer Creek Falls, Matkatamiba Canyon, and Havasu Canyon. The lower canyon is also home to some of North America s largest and most famous rapids, including Horn Creek, Granite, Hermit, Crystal, Specter, Upset, Lava, and many others. If you re looking for the biggest and best whitewater this continent has to offer, this is the place.
Thursday, July 5 th You will need to arrive at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon the day before the river trip starts. There is an orientation planned that evening: more information on this will be provided at the time of booking. Friday, July 6 th The river trip begins with a 7.5 mile hike descending the Bright Angel Trail from the South Rim of the Grand Canyon and ends back in Flagstaff. Bright and early on the morning of the second day, you carry your backpack of personal gear down the trail where your guides will be waiting for you at the Pipe Creek beach; this is where you will begin your trip. The hike down the Bright Angel Trail is extremely arduous. There will be more information about the hike provided at the time of booking; however, if you have questions or concerns, please contact Arizona River Raft Adventures 800.786.7238. Typical day: Each day on the river will be different from the one before due to weather, the groups needs, and other variables. However, in general you will wake up to coffee call (around dawn). Breakfast is usually ready about 30 minutes after the coffee is served. After breakfast, camp is broken down and the boats are loaded. You are on the raft an average of two to three hours at a time, four to eight hours each day. A balanced itinerary is planned daily by your trip leader. You will hike in scenic side canyons and stop at points of interest. You may hike in the morning and then stop for lunch. If you hike in the morning, you will most likely push through the afternoon until you get to camp. Other days you might have a long morning and then take a hike after lunch. Your trip leader will try to get to camp in the late afternoon. Once you arrive at camp, you may have the option to hike, relax, bathe, or if you feel like helping out, you might join the cooks in the kitchen. Dinner will be served in the evening hours. After dinner, you may turn in for the night or socialize. Saturday, July 14 th (Final Day) When you reach Diamond Creek mid morning of the last day, we provide transportation back to Flagstaff. The return time is usually sometime between 3 7 p.m. but we cannot guarantee the exact arrival time. Although rare, in the case of severe flooding on Diamond Creek Road (the road we have to travel down to pick you up at Diamond Creek), we may have to take you all the way to Lake Mead. You will still return to Flagstaff that day but it will be late in the evening.
Trip Cost: The cost of the trip is $2,699 per person. A deposit of $400pp is due by July 1 st to Arizona River Raft Adventures, 4050 East Huntington Drive, Flagstaff AZ 86004 or 800 786 7238. Please reference The Nature Conservancy group when you call. Children 12 years and older can be accommodated on this trip. Travel and accommodations before or after the trip are not included. Cancellation Policy: A non refundable $400 per person deposit is due at time of booking. The balance is due 6 months prior to the trip, and once paid is non refundable. Pre and Post Trip Logistics: Please note: more detailed information re: pre and post trip logistics will be provided at time of booking. PreTrip: Hotel Accommodations: Due to the high volume of visitors at Grand Canyon National Park, the Grand Canyon Village hotels often book far in advance. We recommend you secure a reservation as soon as possible. There are five lodges at the South Rim. We suggest staying at the Maswik Lodge since this is the location of the orientation meeting as well as breakfast the morning of the hike down the Bright Angel Trail. If you can t get a room at the Maswik Lodge, the Thunderbird Lodge, the El Tovar, and the Bright Angel Lodge are within walking distance of the Maswik Lodge. The date of the orientation meeting and the pre trip hotel night is noted on your invoice but if you have any questions please call for verification. To make your hotel reservation, call Xanterra Parks and Resorts by phone at 888 297 2757 or 303 297 2757 or reserve online at www.xanterra.com. The Maswik Lodge is located in the southwest corner of the Village area inside the Grand Canyon National Park boundary and is only a five minute walk from the rim. Each room offers two double beds, a full bath, TV and phone. A cafeteria, lounge and gift shop are located in the complex. Check in time is 4:00 p.m.. You are responsible for arranging your own transportation to the South Rim prior to your trip and for your entrance fee into the park. Entrance fees are $25 per vehicle but may vary if you hire a shuttle. PreTrip Meeting: The orientation meeting is at 7:00 p.m. in the Maswik Lodge Cafeteria in Grand Canyon Village at the South Rim the night before your trip. It is imperative that you attend this meeting. We will review last minute details such as packing your gear, luggage and vehicle storage arrangements, and answer any last minute questions. As you travel to the area, if you realize that your arrival will be delayed for any reason, please call the Arizona River Raft Adventures office before 4:00 p.m. M.S.T. M F or leave a message at the Maswik Lodge front desk (928 638 2631 switchboard). If you are calling the office after hours, follow the message prompts to leave a message for the manager on duty and your call will be returned as soon as possible.
Vehicle and Extra Luggage Storage: If you would like to leave a vehicle at the Maswik Lodge, you may park up to two weeks in the long term parking lot located a block from the Maswik. Remember: you will end your trip in Flagstaff which is one hour and forty five minutes away from the South Rim. If you leave your vehicle at the South Rim, you will need to provide your own return transportation to retrieve your car. Another option is to park your vehicle at the Radisson Hotel in Flagstaff and take a shuttle to the South Rim at the beginning of your trip. If you leave your vehicle at the Radisson, stop in at the front desk and fill out a Vehicle Release form. This ensures your vehicle will not be towed while you are on your trip. We will also store your travel luggage for you. Please limit luggage to 1 piece per person. While you are on your trip, we will transport your luggage from the Maswik to the Radisson Hotel in Flagstaff where it will be available upon your return. The Morning of your Trip: Your orientation host will meet you in the lobby of the Maswik Lodge at 5:00 a.m. sharp. At this time you will be able to pick up a boxed breakfast provided for you. We will provide snacks and electrolyte mix for your hike down the trail. Be sure to have your personal items in your backpack for the hike down. After breakfast your host will escort you to the Bright Angel trailhead where you will begin your hike. On the Last Day of your Trip: You will arrive at Diamond Creek (the take out location) mid morning on the last day. It can be a bitter sweet experience as everyone comes together one last time to unload the boats. We will then take you back to the Radisson Woodlands Hotel in Flagstaff. The first 19 miles of the trip back to Flagstaff is on Diamond Creek Road. This stretch of road can be quite rough. It is a dirt road that runs down a wash and can be extremely bumpy, dusty and it usually takes about an hour to get to a paved road. However, it is a beautiful drive and can be an adventure in itself! The trip from the river back to Flagstaff takes about 3 hours with lunch provided along the way and one bathroom break in Seligman, AZ. When you arrive at the Radisson Hotel, we will greet you with your stored luggage. Arrival time at the Radisson is usually between 3 7 p.m. however we cannot guarantee this arrival time. Since we cannot guarantee the return time, we highly recommend staying at the Radisson that evening and travel the next day. Many trips gather in Flagstaff for a post trip celebration dinner the evening of the return. It is important to stay hydrated all the way through the last day of your trip. PostTrip: Hotel Accommodations: Most of our customers stay at the Radisson Hotel the evening they return to Flagstaff. If you choose to do so, you will need to make your own reservation. Their local phone number is 928 773 8888 or you can call Central Reservations at 800 333 3333. Refer to the Arizona Raft Adventures rooming block to receive a preferred room rate of $90.00 + tax per room per night up to 4 person occupancy. You may also go online at www.radisson.com/azra to make your reservation. This rate is only guaranteed for the night that you return back to Flagstaff. If you need additional nights, you may be charged the going rate for that night. The Radisson Hotel does fill quickly so it is important that you make your reservations well in advance to secure a reservation. There are other economy hotels located nearby including the Days Inn (928 774 5221), AmeriSuites (928 774 8042), Comfort Inn (928 774 2225) and Motel 6 (928 779 3757). If you choose to stay at another hotel, you are responsible for getting your own transportation from the Radisson after you are dropped off from your trip.
Regional Map: We anticipate this trip will fill quickly. Reservations are first come, first serve. Please contact Arizona River Raft Adventures to reserve a spot. Arizona River Raft Adventures 800.786.7238 / 928.526.8200 Email: info@azraft.com / www.azraft.com