Grand Canyon Rafting Trip Reviews

Jane and I are still coming down from our white water rafting trip, which ended two weeks ago. We were on the Green River for 96 miles and six days, and for the first 80 miles or so there was no access to the river from the outside world at all. Okay, the trip leader did have a satellite phone and theoretically could have called in a helicopter evacuation in case of some serious problem, but for all practical purposes we were of necessity completely self sufficient.
The psychological effect of this was ultimately liberating. After a period of adjustment we settled into a routine reminiscent of a wagon train of pioneers venturing across the wilderness. (Our group consisted of 14 ‘guests’ and 4 guides) Each day at a place chosen by our leader we would make camp adjacent to the river. Guests would help unload the rafts, then set up personal campsites. Guides would set up the ‘kitchen’ and begin food preparation.
Leave-no-trace camping is a good idea anywhere, and it was a requirement of our BLM use permit. Because our trip traversed a designated Wilderness Study Area we were required to dispose of all liquid waste into the river and carry out all solid waste. We urinated, expectorated, and discarded liquid foodstuffs into the river, relying on the 18,000 cubic feet per second flow (yes; look it up) and we carried all of our trash, compost, and even excrement with us to the take out. Once we learned the routine it was not onerous.
So when we set up camp the first task of the staff was to set up the two camp toilets (I use the word loosely) – one under its own privacy tent, and the other situated behind some shrubbery usually with a spectacular view over the river. Similarly the final announcement before camp was broken in the morning was “last call for the pooper!” The constraints on elimination added to the fact that we did not have tents to sleep or change in depressed our group modesty significantly. Also not much washing, since the only option was in the river, whose temperature was in the mid 40s.
I feel a real sense of accomplishment. We set out to descend some 600 feet through several dozen rapids over 90+ miles – and did so. We got rained on (not too much) on two days, and got wet traversing the rapids every day. We ate well, slept well, and saw starrier skies than I remember since my youth. I am profoundly grateful to our guides and to the small family-owned outfitter they work for. A trip to remember.
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CRATE is a smaller, family owned company, that has been in business for decades. Over half the clients on our trip were repeat customers, which speaks volumes. A trip like this depends for its success on planning (from the top) and personalities (on the ground).
Our guides were experienced and knowledgable about local history, and geology. As well as safety, campcraft, and the skills essential for a successful outing of this kind. Their boundless energy, consistently positive attitude, and care for the each one of the guests was remarkable.
Jane is a “foodie,” very concerned with healthy food. She was pleased with our menus, which included lots of vegetables, and whole grains – quinoa, oatmeal, and rice – and whole grain bread choices. Foods were locally sourced as well. Dinners included salmon, shrimp, and steaks. Snacks on he river were consistently healthy choices.
We are seniors, in pretty good shape. This trip would be good for any age willing to try something new and have a real adventure.

At 40 I was expection to be one of the oldest ones on the raft. I did a 4 day upper trip and I was the 3rd youngest. The oldest being in their 70s.
The guides were great. Everything was well organized. The food was great. I believe there was some grumblings of a lack of vegetarian options, but I am not a veggie, so I didn’t really care. I guess you should tell them ahead of time. The food was essentially everything organic at costco. ( which is not a bad thing )
The rapids were good, but I really wasn’t there for the rapids, but rather the scenary. You probably have a normal three our rafting trip of rapids stretched into a day.
We did a hike every day, and those were great as well.
I’m not a big camper, and had no issues whatso ever.
We went in mid may, and it was surprisely cold ( 80s ). I guess that is the issue with going during shoulder season. It rained on us several times.
Lastly we did the 9.5 mile hike out. it took us about 6 hours to get up. But we were waiting on one slow member. We eventually left him with the guide to we can enjoy a shower.

Rapids approaching … let’s keep this short … and no need to add much more than one more exclamation mark to all the superlatives in so many other reviews. CRATE is great — a family business and the smallest of the GC rafting outfitters — nothing but the best personalized treatment. One added tip: to prepare, read at least one book: “The Emerald Mile.”

I’ve just read a “heads up” from CNN on how to distinguish Trip Advisor fake reviews from valid. One of the “bewares” was totally positive reviews. There has to be something not right about an experience. But honestly, I can’t think of it with CRATE’s trip. From special food and health considerations before the rafting trip to the final escort to our helicopter out of the Grand Canyon, everything was handled with professionalism, humor, expertise and a constant focus on customer satisfaction. Wayne Ranney, our geological guide, balanced the right amount of technical information (all those layers of rocks have special names and reasons why they’re there…I flunked Earth Science for Dummies) with hiking leadership and narratives and was just a delight at all times. Others have written about the amazing food, and they were right on target. Could go on and on, which I won’t, because that’s apparently another clue for fake reviews. Just know that if you take CRATE for your GC adventure, you’re in the very best hands. 5+ rating!

WOW! We participated in the raft trip as a group charter for 24 friends and two rafts and had Wayne Ranney as our geology guide. CRATE – we can’t sing your praises enough. Walker, Dewey, Zach and Christian were so professional, fun, and attentive! We had a wonderful time! I have specific dietary needs and Vicki who owns CRATE made sure that my needs were met. Wayne was the crowning star to our adventure with his expertise in geology and the Grand Canyon. We learned so much and screamed our heads off at the rapids when Dewey and Walker safely splashed us through them! Thanks so much for an adventure of a lifetime. Janet and Dan Wheeler

Three old friends converged on Las Vegas last month from Vermont, Montana and South Carolina…not to hit the casinos, but to jump on a comfortable motor coach at 6 am for the drive through 3 states to Lees Ferry, Arizona, the put-in for our 8-day float trip on the Colorado River guided by Colorado River & Trail Expeditions (CRATE). We loaded our dry bags onto the 35-ft., outboard-powered raft, pushed out into the river and began an adventure through geologic time.
The trip was superb. It engaged both body and mind, with dozens of exciting rapids to run every day, hikes up side canyons of surreal beauty, and 2 billion years of Grand Canyon geology to ruminate on. CRATE is an experienced outfitter, now run by a 2nd generation of family members, that leads trips on other rivers in Utah and Alaska, as well as on the Colorado.
Our guides were professional and highly knowledgeable about both the 280 miles of challenging water and the canyon’s geology. It was fascinating to hear about the formation of the different layers of the canyon as we looked at them, a geology course brought to life. We all learned the various mnemonics to keep the strata straight, such as “Know The Canyon’s History” (Kaibab-Toroweap-Coconino-Hermit) and “DUDE” (deposition, uplift, deconstruction, erosion). Each hike up a side canyon gave us a slightly different perspective on the canyon rock, as well as the chance to wade or swim in beautiful creeks, stand under falls and see springs gush from the face of cliffs. We saw a bighorn sheep descending one canyon in front of us, as well as on the riverbanks and cliffs when we were on the water. We also saw beaver, chuckwalla and other lizards, ospreys, ducks, and enormous flocks of swallows, particularly in the upper canyon. If you are a night owl you may be lucky enough to see a ringtail cat trying to plunder the campsite; we couldn’t manage to keep our eyes open.
We ate extremely well, with terrific meals prepared from fresh ingredients for the full length of the 8-day trip, thanks to the natural refrigeration of the river’s 40-something temps preserving the ice in the raft’s under-deck storage compartments. Our guides set a new standard for camp cooking, with hearty breakfasts; sandwiches, wraps and fruit for lunch and different entrees every night for dinner.
Sleeping under the stars was bliss in comfortable temperatures on the nifty folding cots. CRATE provides summer bags, so you will want to bring extra insulation like fleece tops and bottoms for trips earlier or later in the season. We used tents on only two nights during the trip when we had overnight rain.
Unless you fill a trip entirely with family and/or friends, you will be traveling in close contact with people you don’t know. Our group quickly became a close-knit bunch; enjoying an adventure together in which everyone pitches in to help created a lot of camaraderie and sort of a family spirit. In my experience, trips like this are somewhat self-selecting and weed out those who might not be comfortable with this level of intimacy and group participation.
My friends and I are in our early 60’s, but this is a fabulous trip for those of any age who enjoy adventure and the chance to experience one of the world’s geologic wonders. We had one adventurous couple in their late 70’s on the trip- they enjoyed it immensely. The motorized trips have the advantage of covering the 280 miles in 8 days, for those who can’t find the two weeks needed to run the river in a wooden dory or oared raft. We saw several dory and oared raft trips on the river, and it is definitely a sporty ride through the rapids which looks like tremendous fun. CRATE guides both types of trips. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them highly to anyone, and would love to join them on an Alaska trip one day.

Wonderful adventure all around. Saw 2 billion years of geography unfold before our eyes, hiked beautiful side canyons during the afternoons, ate wonderful meals, rode fun big rapids and enjoyed the serenity of the still waters, and slept on comfortable cots under bright stars. We all took pleasure in being on the river with a collegial and diverse group of active and adventurous people.
CRATE, our outfitter, was great. They are a 2nd generation family operation and our guides had deep, and sometimes personal, knowledge of the history of rafting down the Colorado, as well as some of the best hidden spots to explore. We were on a larger, motorized raft, with the benefit of allowing us to see all of the canyon in a manageable amount of time, and a side benefit of having plenty of stores. Each meal was delicious. The crew worked hard to make our experience special, also fun. Our group pitched in too, adding to the camaraderie.
April is a good time to visit the Grand Canyon. You share the river with just a few others and it’s before the heat of the summer.
I would unequivocally recommend CRATE and the Grand Canyon for an adventure vacation.

Just came back from an 8 day float from Lee’s Ferry to Pearce Landing on a motorized S Raft. Traveling down 280 miles of rushing river, through 1.6 billion years of sculpted rock layers to the “present” is quite a trip in 8 days. Memorable camp sites with wonderful meals, cowboy coffee, super cots, Canyon Bocce and scenic “prive” overlooks. Enchanting hikes up side canyons ranged from walks in the park to some pretty attention grabbing side cliffs. The blue waters of the Little Colorado and Havasu Falls are spectacular! Knowledgable and affable crew, guides and fellow travelers make this an unforgettable experience. Plenty of time to absorb the beauty surrounding you, visit with friends and make new ones. The Colorado water temps are on the cold side, so swimming with the fish is for the very hearty or very hot. Bring a good camera, extra batteries and good water protection…. And spend a night in Vegas on the way in or out. The contrasts become even more stunning.

Looking for a fantastic experience? Raft the Grand Canyon with CRATE. This summer we will make our 5th trip from Lee’s Ferry to Lake Mead. All of these trips were with CRATE. Over the past 35 years my husband & I have taken groups of people all over the world and have worked with many arrangers and tour guides. In comparison, we have found CRATE to be among the best; they are exceptional outfitters. The guides have an extensive knowledge of the Canyon history, ecology and geology. They also are exceptionally well trained in river running techniques and safety, but more importantly, they know how to work with people to ensure they all have a great experience. Food on the trip is a wonderful culinary delight and equipment is well maintained. I recommend CRATE to anyone looking for the highest quality rafting experience. Barb Munson, Stevens Point, WI

We took a trip on the Colorado River during our helicopter tour of the Grand Canyon, I must say I would definitely recommend this if you are planning to visit. I was able to sit on the side of the boat/raft and dangle my feet in the Colorado River it was an amazing experience and one that I am very pleased to of experienced.

My wife and I just completed the 4-Day Grand Canyon Rafting and Ranch Trip and had a truly awe inspiring, memorable time. We have taken dozens of vacations all over the world and this experience certainly ranks among the best. The Bar 10 Ranch experience on Day 1 was fun – from sleeping in an original covered wagon used by western settlers, to driving ATVs, to shooting skeet – but the best part of the expedition was by far our trip on the Colorado River with Ben and his team. We were incredibly fortunate that there was only one other couple in addition to ourselves on our piece of the trip which made the attention from, and connection to the guides very special and more personal. Once we were dropped by helicopter to the base of the river, our trip covered about 90 miles from Whitmore Wash (Mile 188) to Pearce Ferry (Mile 279). There were dozens of rapids (especially on the final morning), with several major rapids rated 5 or above on the Grand Canyon scale of 1 to 10. Our lead guide was Ben who was highly experienced on the river and a really unique and neat individual. He was supported with a tremendous team (Alex, Kendyl, Carter and LK) who were all very experienced, highly capable, friendly, interesting and fun to be with. Our trip featured small oar rafts guided by each of the guides and could not have been a better way to see and experience the river. I am still in awe at the strength and perseverance of each of our guides in being able to row these rafts continuously for three weeks against sometimes strong head winds, while toting hundreds of pounds of baggage, food, supplies and people! We saw other rafting companies on the river while we were there and they all featured much larger, less intimate rafting experiences with as many as 20 people on a single motorized raft – almost like a bus tour on the river. We hiked into one beautiful waterfall and slept outside in the stars next to another one. While we joined the team on the last of a three-part excursion on the river, we were still treated to great meals prepared by the team at each landing site. On our trip we learned from Ben that Colorado River & Trail Expeditions also conducts trips in Alaska, and will be taking a hard look at incorporating a tip with them when we vacation there in the future. If you are looking to see the Grand Canyon and experience white water rafting for yourselves, I would highly recommend the Colorado River & Trails experience over other companies, especially if your desire is to be up close to the water, meet wonderful guides, and have lasting memories.

My first CRATE trip was in 1976. Have taken at least 16 additional trips with them, including both Alaska trips. Took my daughter when she was 10 and took my grandson when he turned 10. Have observed many other outfitters, CRATE is unquestionably the best … quality of gear, safety, sanitation, food variety and preparation.
Most importantly the guides are the absolute best, knowledgeable, compassionate, professional. I have entrusted them with my daughter and grandson time and again. Have not met a CRATE guide in 17 trips that I would not go on another trip with!
Have already planned my 2017 trip.

We went down the Green River through Desolation Canyon, and it was fantastic. The trip leader was excellent–she knew the river, kept everyone organized and on time, and safety was always first. All of the guides knew the geology and botany as well as a lot of great stories as we (okay, they!) rowed down the river. The food was great, and I was shocked to find that I gained weight! This was our first river trip and they encouraged us to swim, paddle, explore, etc. Spectacular and beautiful; thank you CRATE for showing us this wonderful landscape.

This truly was a trip of a lifetime and CRATE did an amazing job! So well organized, GREAT GUIDES (Kyndyl, Adam, Carter, Jen, Zack, Nathan) and so much fun! They make you feel like you are part of the CRATE family taking a slow trip down the Canyon not in a group getting down the canyon as fast as possible, Whitewater was a blast and HUGE!! Food spectacular-pancakes, french toast, salmon, ribs, cake etc. etc. I called it “elegant, hard core” LOL Hikes to waterfalls. Even jumped over a waterfall into a pool-dream come true! I learned a lot about the Grand Canyon and its geology too. Really spectacular experience! Hope to go again!!

I just came back from an 11 day Grand Canyon paddle and rowing trip with Colorado River and Trail Expeditions. What a number one company for touring the Grand Canyon. Our Crew, Kyndl, Adam, Jen, Carter, Zach and Nate were all friendly, accommodating, knowledgeable, and highly skilled in river running, cooking, hiking and Grand Canyon history and geology.
All I can say is WOW. We had a great time from when we arrived in Las Vegas until we took the bus back from the North Las Vegas airport. The Crew was well versed in packing the rafts and keeping us all safe while having fun and being fed. The food was great fresh food from day one until our departure at Whitmore Wash. There was always plenty to eat and even had a birthday cake baked in a cast iron pot (Thanks Zach).
The Crew navigated every rapid with ease and even when we flipped in Hermit rapid they had the boat righted and we were on our way in no time. All of the side hikes were well worth the extra effort because at the end of each hike was an amazing waterfall or beautiful blue pool or a rock water slide.
Sleeping under the stars each night was like a new light show every night. We even saw satellites fly by. There were a few nights when the moon was out and it was so bright it was almost like day.
My best part of the day was waking up to the hot coffee call which was made by our guide Carter. Having coffee next to the river and watching the sun come up was awe inspiring site to be seen.
Time in camp was nice we socialized and got to know our fellow travelers and even made a couple of friends. We are trying to organize a reunion trip already for 2017.
The only thing they need to work on is time management at Phantom ranch. Some of the travelers only did half the trip and hiked out while some hiked in and did the second half. We sat at the beach waiting for three hours waiting for the new passengers to get there and be oriented and pack up their dry bags. When we could have taken a side hike or sat up at the Phantom Ranch catena and sipped lemonade until they were ready for us to move on.
I could write for days about how great a time I had with this company and crew but I will say you have to see for yourself the wonders of the Grand Canyon with Colorado River and Trail Expeditions

CRATE provided the support for a private, 12-day, 5-dory trip on the upper Colorado (from Loma, Colorado, to the head of Lake Powell: Horsethief, Ruby, Westwater, Cataract Canyons, and the relatively flat water from Westwater to Cataract); another outfitter was involved from put-in to Westwater. Staff were well-trained, friendly, and took good care of us. Food was good and prepared in a timely manner. I have done four full Grand Canyon trips with AzRA since 2010. Some comparisons: AzRA has a greater variety of breakfast and lunch menus and their tents likely were somewhat easier to put up. CRATE offers cots (great for sleeping out if rain and mosquitoes are absent, will not fit inside a tent) and chairs (great for socializing, less necessary in Grand Canyon). CRATE uses largely self-inflating pads (needed in a tent); however, the dry bag in which the pad goes (with a sleeping bag and tarp) is barely long enough for the pad and not easy to fold over the three times necessary for being waterproof. We had the new CRATE owner (son of the founders) on our trip; he has an enthusiastic and outgoing personality. The other staff were young; it appears that CRATE likes to hire approximately 20-year-olds and train them. They were mature and experienced; one 24-year-old described saving the kitchen in the Grand Canyon last year as it eroded into the river in the middle of the night. Younger boatmen may have less knowledge of Canyon geology, history, and lore than older ones.

This is a fantastic way to experience the Colorado River and Grand Canyon on a very up close and personal level. This was a motorized rafting trip, motors are very quiet and the guides got us on 2-3 side canyon hikes a day that really made the trip from seeing waterfalls and caverns to enjoying the confluence of the Colorado and Little Colorado.