Grand Canyon water rafting tours are quite popular, especially during the summer months. They are wildly popular as you might imagine, so get your seats early or you might miss out.

Find Tour Location On Google Maps

First, let's look at one-day raft tours that depart from the Grand Canyon's South Rim, which is the main point of entry to the National Park. If you want to find this location on Google Maps, just search for Tusayan, AZ.

Anyhow, South Rim rafting tours come in two versions. The first tour takes you by bus to your raft, which waits at the base of Glen Canyon Dam in Page, AZ. The deluxe version, or the second option, flies you to Page and adds in a Jeep tour of Antelope Canyon.

The river portion of your tour takes you on a raft down river for 15.3 miles until you come to Lee's Ferry. Once you get there, you hop on a bus and head back to the Grand Canyon National Park Airport in Tusayan.

No Rough Water

There's no white water rapids from the Dam to Lee's Ferry, so kids as young as 4 years of age can do this trip with ease. All ages enjoy this fun tour, even seniors. If you want to tackle whitewater, you need to find a tour operator that offers multi-day trips that cost as much as $1500 per person.

There is another fun one-day raft tour that leaves from Las Vegas. This one kicks off with a helicopter tour to the bottom of the West Rim. Then you come back up and get on a bus for the ride to Hoover Dam.

This rafting tour covers eleven miles of the Colorado River. It winds through majestic Black Canyon until you reach secluded Willow Beach. Whichever rafting tour you take, be sure to watch for all the wildlife hiding along the banks of the Colorado River and in the clefts of the rock walls.

When to Go

Grand Canyon rafting trips operate April to November. It is just too cold to be on the water during the winter and early spring. It's also rather swift due to the snow pack melting on the Colorado Rockies and flowing south through the Canyon until it reaches the Sea of Cortez in Mexico.

Be prepared for how popular these tours are with travelers to the Grand Canyon. Because of that, you need to book your seats at least a week in advance. Waiting until the last minute to get your seats is just too risky. Forget trying to book within 24 hours, especially if you are staying in Flagstaff or Williams (if you do, factor in a 60-mile drive and a 6 a.m. tour check in).

The most convenient way to book these trips is over the Internet. Just stay away from the travel sites. Go straight to the tour operator's website. They operate the raft tours so they can give you the steepest discount. Most importantly, remember to complete your shopping online in order to get the Web special.

Let's Recap

Grand Canyon rafting tours are a lot of fun for everyone in your group or family. Trips are available from the South Rim (e.g. Tusayan, AZ) and Las Vegas, NV. Each requires a full day (don't believe anyone if they tell you there's a 1/2 day rafting package), and all tours start in the morning. Book your tour online to get the low internet rate and be sure to book early.