As visiting the Grand Canyon becomes an increasingly popular recreational activity, many people have developed several reasons for embarking on this trip. While some are still purist rafters who want to experience the excitement of tackling the various rapids of the Colorado River and delta, others are after something else.
Some come to the Grand Canyon for hiking and cycling experiences. Others want to soak in the magnificent view of the Grand Canyon and its environs and could do this using quick train and helicopter rides to save time.
Whatever your expectations are, you will want a complete package the first time you take a Grand Canyon trip, and a brief tour using a train or plane would not cut it. For that wholesome experience, you will need Multi-Day Trips. This article will outline some of the best multi-day trips you can embark on as a beginner. But first, why are Multi-Day Trips the best way to see the Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon is a World Heritage Site and one of the wonders of the earth. Aside from the geographic marvels of its intricate winding rocks, the Grand Canyon holds secrets you can only unravel through a detailed, guided, and unhurried tour.
You can expect to see breathtaking caves, marvelous waterfalls, exciting rapids, and a wonderful assortment of plant and animal species rarely found anywhere else in the world; it is practically impossible to discover all this in a brief air or train ride across the Grand Canyon. You would need an equally short one-day tour to do it.
Additionally, many factors contribute to the unforgettable experience of the Grand Canyon; for example, the camping experience. Imagine witnessing the majestic view of the Grand Canyon at night, experiencing the cool breeze blowing soothingly against your tent's fabrics, and the soft-flowing sound of the tranquil Colorado River; you can only experience all these during multi-day trips.
Not all multi-day trips will give you the best experience as a newbie tourist of the Grand Canyon. The last thing you'll want is to embark on any odd trip that would be ultimately unfulfilling. Fortunately, at Advantage Grand Canyon, we offer guidance on the best multi-day trips you can go on; here are some of them:
This trip will last at least three days and begin with a bus or helicopter ride from Las Vegas, taking you into the heart of the sacred Navajo Land. Only a few tourists frequently visit Zion and Monument Valley because they are remote but have some treasures. You will encounter splendid hiking trails and camping sites surrounded by the towering rocks that make up the Grand Canyon.
You will also visit the distinctive Zion and Bryce National Parks, observing the Paunsaugunt Plateau and the distinctive geological structures called hoodoos. The place has a lot of historical sites like the Temple of Sinawava, the Emerald Pools, Weeping Rocks, and the Great White Throne. This trip is considered one of the most diverse rafting trips you can take while visiting the Grand Canyon.
Glen Canyon is near Page, Arizona, and river miles are minus fifteen at the mile marker (-15). You can access the river shore through a tunnel at the bottom of the dam. The trip runs through the Horseshoe Bend and ends downstream at Lee's Ferry in Colorado; this could be a half-day raft trip or a full day. The half-day Horseshoe Bend Raft Trip is a family-friendly adventure rafting trip that inspires and calms you as you experience nature, history, and beauty.
During the trip, you will come across the Hislop cave and hear stories about Pueblo's ancestry and mining culture. Usually, the guide will stop so you can view the ancient Petroglyphs, learn about the archaic culture, and see the hand-carved images of the bighorn sheep. Something else to experience is the dam, which rises to 700 feet above a person. You can also take a rafting trip to this location.
Lee's Ferry goes by multiple names, such as Little Colorado Station or Saints Ferry, and can be an access point on both sides of Colorado. Lees Ferry creates the boundary between the upper and lower basins and is directly above the Marble Canyon, which is said to have limestone lining that gives the area a Marble-like polish.
The river here is calmer and smoother, and you can run most of the trips using a paddle and inflatable motorized rafts. The Lees Ferry is also an ending point to consider while backpacking and canyoneering; this allows you to view the historic petroglyphs, waterfalls, slot canyons, and natural bridges. Another thing you might also want to experience is fishing for large trout; in fact, fishing trips draw thousands of people a year to visit the Lees Ferry.
Rafting the Colorado River through the Cataract Canyon takes about 4 to 6 days in its 100 miles, and it is one of the best river trips you can take. The boaters usually take out at Lake Powell and put in at Potash, Moab, Green River, or Mineral Bottom; the trip could be motorized rafting trips, hybrid trips, or oar rafts. The Cataract Canyon is a popular whitewater rafting destination famous for the generally unregulated flow of Colorado at this point. The rapids of this Canyon bring an intense and wild adventure that keeps you on your toes.
The first two days of the trip will see the Colorado River meander through several districts of Canyonlands National Park before plunging into 30 or more rapids in the Cataract Canyon. Most people choose the easier option of putting in at Potash as this site is close to Moab and offers an easy meet-up point with grocery stores, a drive to the river, and a campsite. Although only some people choose to put in at the Mineral bottom as the Green River side is more remote, the canyon walls of the Stillwater Canyon are more profound and closer to the river giving it a more dramatic effect than the other river route.
Green River is the main tributary of the Colorado River and a mighty river by its rights. It runs from Wyoming to San Juan County through the rugged Sand Grand Canyon Sandstones before converging with the Canyonlands National Park.
In addition to its power, the Green River is one of the most beautiful rivers in the Canyon, and its path runs through some of the most picturesque scenes in the Grand Canyon. You will find excitement in each river mile of this river trip- you will view valleys, scarlet slot canyons, and the lush ledges of emerald evergreen in the heart of Dinosaur National Park.
You can also go rafting on the Green River for those more interested in rafting. It has exciting river rapids (ranging between levels II and III) as the river tumbles on soaring red rocks, pristine springs, and waterfalls that would increase your heartbeat. These fun whitewater rapids make for an exciting ride down the river. It is one trip you want to try out.
Idaho's main Salmon is one of the most adventurous trips. So remote is this area of the Grand Canyon that it has remained unchanged since it first appeared on the map. Yet, the area has hidden treasures that many tourists (who like sites in or closer to the Grand Canyon National Park like Diamond Creek) barely discover because they hurriedly breeze through the Grand Canyon.
The Main Salmon River is an excellent Grand Canyon rafting trip haven featuring clear, free-flowing, and its whitewater rapids have the right blend of exciting and safe bumps. Many experts who have rafted on this river insist that anyone of any age or experience can competently navigate these rapids, provided they have a capable guide.
You can also access perfect camping and playing grounds, breathtaking mountain scenery, serene beaches, abundant wildlife, and a natural hot spring, making it a river trip worth trying.
Antelope Canyon is one of the most versatile trips you can embark on and is also a fitting introduction to the Grand Canyon for a beginner. These trips begin by visiting the Hoover Dam and going along Route 66, where you will encounter shops, restaurants, museums, and other historic buildings. A competent tour guide, preferably from the National Park Service and vast in the history of the Canyon, can also inform you of the significance of some of the buildings.
This rafting trip will also take you to some of the best locations of the Canyon's South Rim. It has some of the best hiking trails and brilliant views of the Canyon as it is at the upper Canyon; you'll also explore some of the best rock formations you can find. Some find they can get the best out of this rafting trip by combining bus and aerial trips through a charter flight. The only downside is that this trip only offers a few opportunities for whitewater rafting. However, it comes with the opportunity of visiting Las Vegas.
A full Grand Canyon trip is a worthwhile and memorable activity. It is an opportunity to explore one of the greatest natural sites in the world and create a beautiful bonding experience with your loved ones.
The increasingly hectic nature of life might tempt you to subscribe to one-day trips that allow you to breeze swiftly through the Grand Canyon, either through aerial or train trips. But there are many ways to go. A rapid river trip or train ride will deprive you of the entire Grand Canyon trip or experience, especially if you're a beginner.
Multi-Day Rafting Trips, on the contrary, allow you to soak in the Grand Canyon's essence wholly. With these trips, you get camping, hiking, and rafting experiences packed into one. You will discover parts of the Canyon not easily accessible to regular tourists. The raft trips outlined in this article will help you make the most of your early trips to this great wonder of nature.
