Our 7 Day Full Canyon Motorized Rafting Trip: What Makes It So Popular?

Our most popular trip BY FAR is our 7 Day Full Canyon Motorized rafting trip through the Grand Canyon. For most of the summer, we offer this trip 2-3 times per week, and most of those spaces fill up. 

So what makes the Full Canyon Motorized trip such a popular trip choice? We think it comes down to comfort, convenience, and accessibility. 

Comfort and Convenience from Start to Finish

Lodging before your trip starts

A 7 Day Full Canyon Motorized trip with Hatch begins before you get on the water. The night before your trip starts, you get a complimentary stay at the Cliff Dwellers Lodge (or another area lodge) in Marble Canyon, Arizona. Dining beneath the Vermilion Cliffs and sleeping in a comfortable room before you embark is the perfect way to settle into your Southwestern surroundings. 

The short, scenic ride to the river

The morning of your trip, you’ll have plenty of time to pack up and enjoy a leisurely breakfast before your trip orientation begins. After we cover the basics, you’ll load up your gear and climb  into Hatch vans to take a 15 minute ride to Lees Ferry. Along the way, you’ll pass cool rock formations and historical sites. 

Climb straight onto the boats—no hike required

On a 7 Day Full Canyon Motorized trip, there are no required hikes to start or end your trip. As soon as you jump out of the vans you’ll be standing at the river where our boats are tied up and waiting to take you on an adventure. After a safety briefing, you’ll climb aboard, choose your seat, and be off on your adventure!

A variety of seating options

Hatch guests often remark on the comfort of our boats and the variety of seating options available. There’s the tea room toward the back of the boat near the guides where you’ll sit atop padded food and gear boxes. There’s seating around the boat’s duffel pile that doubles as a comfortable back rest. In the front of the boat, there’s the “bathtub,” so named for the way its occupants will get completely soaked in every rapid. There are even side pontoons that you can sit on in calm water. Being able to choose a seat that’s right for you and to change positions as you need makes a Hatch raft the most comfortable ride on the river! 

Comfortable camping

Campers on motorized trips with Hatch receive camp chairs, cots, tents (1 per two people) and full sleep kits to ensure cozy nights relaxing and camping on Grand Canyon’s riverside beaches. The quiet inside the canyon is unlike anything back in the “civilized” world, and the flow of the river will help lull you off into pleasant sleep.  

This is a participatory trip—meaning we expect all our guests to pitch in with boat loading and unloading, setting up their own campsites, and washing their own dishes—but you’ll feel well-taken care as you see all the work the guides put in to prepare your incredible canyon meals and make sure you have fresh coffee first thing in the morning!

An early, helicopter exit

Hatch’s motorized trips camp at Whitmore Wash right beside the helicopter pad, which means no waiting around. You’ll be the first group to climb aboard the helicopters and exit the canyon starting at 7:00 am. As you fly up and out of the canyon, you’ll get one final look at the Grand Canyon. 

Convenient final flight options

After a short layover at the Bar 10 Ranch (where you’ll usually have enough time to grab a quick shower), you’ll return to the start of your trip via plane. Hatch guests who drove to Marble Canyon at the start of their trips, have the option to fly directly back to where they left their vehicles. Most arrive by mid-day making it easy to start the journey home right away. If you used Las Vegas as a hub, you’ll return all the way back to the Harry Reid International Airport. 

What’s Included in the Cost of a 7 Day Full Canyon Motorized Rafting Trip?

• Hotel stay the night before your trip
• A helicopter flight out of the canyon at the end of your trip
• A plane flight back to Marble Canyon or Las Vegas
• All the camping and rafting gear you need to be comfortable and protected
• All river meals, snacks, and essential beverages (You’re welcome to bring your own alcohol and sodas.)
• Professional, well-trained guides—there to drive your boats, guide your hikes, prepare your meals, teach you about the canyon, and manage any tricky situations that happen to come up

A Great Trip for All Ages and Abilities

Our 7 Day Full Canyon Motorized trip is the best option for the widest range of people. We’ve accommodated groups and solo travelers alike, first time campers and experienced outdoor adventurers, kids as young as 8 and adults well into their 80s.  

You don’t need to be a great hiker, an expert swimmer, or a life-long camper to be suited to this Hatch trip. You just need to be able to be an active participant with an adventure attitude. 

This trip style also allows us to accommodate the greatest variety of physical abilities, medical conditions, and dietary restrictions. While we can’t guarantee it will be suited to every person, we are happy to discuss your concerns and required accommodations to see if a Full Canyon Motorized trip can be a good fit for you. 

We recommend reviewing our Risks & Requirements page for detailed information about risks, dietary concerns, physical requirements, and booking policies. We also recommend bringing up your concerns with your doctor. 

You could be on a backcountry vacation—unparalleled in comfort and convenience—as early as this summer! Book your trip today!