Grand Canyon Rafting Trip Reviews

This fabulous 188 mile trip down the Grand Canyon from Lees Ferry to the helicopter takeout at Whitmore Wash is a spectacular experience that will let you experience the Grand Canyon like few people can. The Canyon is the highlight of the trip and Crate and the boatmen employed by them made this the trip of a lifetime. Dewy, the leader and boat skipper did an excellent job of keeping us informed, interested, safe, and healthy. Food was excellent, camping spots beautiful, and safety was a top concern of Dewy. Ben, the other boat skipper seems to have a streak of the bedrock of the canyon running through his soul which he expresses through stories, poetry and music. The two swampers, Tyler and Sam made it their duty to entertain and protect me, the oldest person on the trip.

We travelled recently as members of a 2 raft, motor trip with 20 others, covering the length of the Grand Canyon from Lees Ferry to just short of Lake Mead. With a helicopter takeout and short flight to LV to finish off, this is absolutely a journey of a lifetime. You can tell from reading how many reviews are from repeat customer that CRATE are first class providers in this space. We would also look to travel with them again. They were delightful to deal with pre travel and provided excellent information and advice. The Boatmen and scampers on our trip were amazing in all aspects; great water skills, brilliant organisers and leaders, full of technical and cultural knowledge and good company. We loved hearing their reference for the preceding generations of Grand Canyon Boatmen.
This isn’t a trip for the faint hearted; you will get wet, possibly very hot or cold, you will sleep in bags on cots and maybe under a tarpaulin, there is no plumbing or connectivity, you camp on sandy beaches under the stars and will clamber over rocks as you walk side canyons for other amazing views and experiences. It is however worth every minor discomfort or hassle.
On the other hand, you see stars like you’ve never seen before, will sleep soundly with ambient river noise, will eat well and experience things very few people are lucky enough to see and do.
Clues; The air is dry and you will benefit from some barrier cream/salve. You need great sun protection including an SPF lip balm.

I just completed my 5th trip with Colorado River and Trail Expeditions. This time going all the way through the Grand Canyon, from Lees Ferry (near Glen Canyon Dam), to the Whitmore Helipad at mile marker 187. We had a blast. There is so much to see, from giant waves of water splashing over you, to unbelievable side canyon trips that simple leave me awestruck. If rafting through the Grand Canyon is something you are really consider doing, I say do it and go with CRATE.
Here are a few nuggets: CRATE provides everything they can: cots, sleeping bags, chairs, wonderful food, stories, great rafts, incredible guides. They send a very detailed booklet of what they provide and what you should bring. Alcohol, is something they do not provide, but certainly manage for you. Beer and box wine are favorites.
Tips: bugs are not a big issue, sand is everywhere but after a while you don’t care. Sun protection is mandatory. The water is cold. Bring good rain-gear to stay a bit drier on that first big wave that hits you in the early morning. Have fun and take lots of pictures. And since I just destroyed a great camera at Lava Falls by committing to
video the rapids, I suggest getting a water proof sport camera for those shots and a better camera for everything else. Have fun!

I had the time of my life with CRATE and their incredible team of professionals! We had amazing campsites, hikes, rafting and river experiences! This was my first river trip and will not be my last! I don’t know how they managed to cook such outstanding meals, guide us on hikes and in the river, and always with a smile! The rapids were so exciting!!!! Cannot wait to go again!

I just completed a 5 day trip with CRATE through Cataract Canyon. We started in Moab, UT and finished in Hite, UT. The trip was fantastic! It consisted of a leisurely float trip of 4 days mixed with off river hikes to The Maze, Indian Ruins, and waterfalls. The food was outstanding ~ breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Our guides were exceptionally friendly and informative.They answered all of our questions and even read stories to us by campfire light. The most important thing ~ safety! Our CRATE guides (three of them) had a combined experience of over 50 years with CRATE. At no time did I ever feel we were placed in any danger. Gear: except for personal gear, it was all supplied by CRATE, and all was top quality. I will definitely use CRATE again in the future.

My wife Paula and I were on this trip. Absolutely “A Trip of a Lifetime!” Our hiking group from Sun City Festival can’t thank our guides Walker, Mikenna, Onie, and Alex enough for everything. Their professionalism on and off the river made the entire trip truly an unforgettable experience. We will never forget forging the torrent rapids, hiking up the beautiful rivers and slot canyons, learning the history of the canyon, fantastic meals, campfires, and the planetarium like sleeping under the stars, all while under their safety net. You Guys got it all!

Our float trip was through 180 miles of the Grand Canyon on 37 ft. motorized rafts. 23 guests and 4 crew. We had fun with the rapids on the river, learned from the staff about the geology and the human history, and we hiked into numerous side canyons. We put in on Wednesday morning and took out the following Wednesday. I can’t say enough about how great the crew was. From their attentiveness to the guests needs to their capabilities as boatmen, cooks and storytellers, they were the best I have ever experienced.

The is the only remaining “mom and pop” float company in the Grand Canyon. They provide wonderful, exciting, well supplied trips down the Colorado ….SAFELY! I have also been on their 11 night Alsek River in Alaska which was outstanding. Unbelievably trained, skilled guides, great cooks and outstanding hikes and adventure. Trips aren’t easy but will provide you with incredible lifetime memories. The company is booked under CRATE. You will love them!

I will admit I had some concern about doing this adventure but by the second day, I realized that I could relax and trust these experienced and knowlegable boatmen ( and one woman!) They really knew what they were doing and gave us an exciting yet safe trip. 11 days of camping seemed challenging to me also but they had it all figured out and worked so hard to make a great experience for us all. They sent us a detailed list of what to bring and what not to. As you can see in others photos, the scenery is amazing including the stargazing at night. I ended up feeling very privileged to have had this opportunity. The hikes up the side canyons were an extra added bonus. Who expected waterfalls in the middle of the desert?

After a 30 year absence from the Colorado River I returned to the Grand Canyon in September with Colorado River & Trail Expeditions. I had kayaked down The Grand twice in my twenties, once with a motor raft support with this same company. After so many years I was surprised that they were still in business under the original ownership, and that they were still in touch with our guides from the mid-80’s. In fact, two of our guides on this most recent trip worked with our guides of so many years ago!
Colorado River & Trail Expeditions is a family owned and operated raft company that’s been in business for over 40 years. Its staff has been working there long-term, some of them over 20 years. It’s easy to see why–when you travel with CRATE it’s like going on a family vacation. The guides make you feel like you’re part of their holiday–warm, welcoming, respectful, and a bit mischievous like siblings often are.
I was impressed by their knowledge of the geology, flora, fauna, Native American cultures, and other history of the Colorado River. They are also invested in keeping the Grand Canyon grand–informing us of the importance of preserving this unique place for all who enjoy and live by it, to maintain its natural beauty for generations and millennia to come.
Our guides are expert river runners. They know the rapids at every water level and how to run them safely yet offer you a thrilling ride. They work before sun-up and past sunset to make sure that your trip is everything you dreamed of.
If I could I would turn right around and run the river with them again. One thing’s for sure, I won’t wait 30 years to do it!

We just got back from a fantastic three day trip down the Colorado with Colorado River and Trail Expeditions. We were treated like family. The trip was well coordinated, we were very well feed, and we learned so much about the river and the canyon from our excellent guides. Thank you for a family vacation we will never forget!

I feel VERY fortunate to have booked my trip (with 12 other friends) to float the entire 280 miles on the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. I can’t believe the EXPERT guides, tremendous attention to our special food requests, their ability to provide us with FABULOUS hikes, FUN floats down the Little Colorado in our life jackets, plus great tents, sleeping bags and equipment as needed. WHAT A TRIP of a LIFETIME for us. We have booked another 25 people to go next year too! This is a superb, family owned raft trip with the personal attention to details and safety we all want.

Without a doubt the best company I have ever booked a trip with!! The boatman (captains) and swampers (helpers) were great and very experienced. They made the trip what it was. The equipment was the best!!
Rafting the Grand Canyon for 9 days was like floating through the hands of God! It was a very moving experience !
May was a good time to go, not too hot and the nights were great.
Our next rafting trip will defiantly be with CRATE!!

I had little expectations when I signed up to ride a raft down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon this summer with 24 other new friends. It was the most magical and mystical experience of all my travels–ALL because of CRATE’s competent staff, equipment, good will, and more. MicKenna and Alex, our head guides were ALWAYS cheery and exceedingly professional, accommodating, and doing the best they could to meet my (our) EVERY need. I still cannot believe they pulled off such exceptional meals without compromising our or Canyon health. THe hikes were unforgettable.I will be forever grateful for the opportunity to be in the capable hands of this company. Highly recommend them.

Words escape me when trying to describe my most recent (and first) run through the Canyon. The guides from CRATE truly made this experience beyond anything I could have imagined. The food was exceptional and our guides were amazingly professional, yet down to earth. I have rarely made lifelong friends in such a short period of time. CRATE, you should be commended for the everyday memories you create.

Rafting the Grand Canyon is mind-blowing in itself and was made even better with the great crew from CRATE. They were totally professional in their boat handling skills and thoroughly knowledgeable about the canyon, history, wildlife, etc, and did so much to make the trip comfortable and pleasurable for us. The many hikes up slot canyons and to waterfalls were the highlights of the trip (even more than the giant rapids) and having a geologist on board was a huge bonus as well. You might think 9 days is a long time on the river but the time flies and we were sad to have the adventure end.

Took back to back trips this May & June in Desolation Canyon and Cataract Canyon. These were the trips with professional photographer Tom Till from Moab. Could not have been better. Mikenna, one of my favorite guides, was the tip leader for both segments. Dave one of owners of the company and his son Walker met us at the take out point to assure that all was well. Thanks again to all the hard working folks at CRATE. Already thinking about next year … maybe Alaska?