3 Reasons the Holidays are Perfect for Planning Your Grand Canyon Rafting Adventure

3 Reasons the Holidays are Perfect for Planning Your Grand Canyon Rafting Adventure

Grand Canyon? Rafting? But it’s winter!

During the cold of winter and the craziness of holiday schedules, a Grand Canyon rafting trip might be the furthest thing from your mind. BUT we think this is actually the perfect time to start dreaming about, talking about, or even planning your next river trip with Hatch. 

Why you should think about Grand Canyon rafting this holiday season:

Family at the Little Colorado on a Hatch rafting trip. Photo credit: Megan Ford-Fyffe.

1) Holidays are the time to gather with family and friends

Will you be inviting your family over for Thanksgiving dinner? Exchanging gifts with loved ones around a tree? Ringing in the New Year with friends? This is the time of year when we gather together to celebrate, give thanks, and show our appreciation for one another. 

That also makes it a great time to start planning your next big family vacation! At Hatch, we’ve been helping families and friends connect on Grand Canyon rafting adventures for 90 years. As a family-run business, we understand the value of sharing unique experiences with those we love away from the hectic schedules of our everyday lives. 

While you’re together, see what your family thinks about a shared rafting trip for your next vacation. Our Full Canyon Motorized trips are great for kids (as young as 8) and adults of all ages. They are available throughout the summer, so we’re sure you can find something that works with everyone’s schedule. Or check out our other options.

Photo credit: Amy Horn

2) Dreaming of warmer weather

In the midst of winter and the challenges it brings (scraping ice off car windows, shoveling snowy driveways, navigating icy roads…) pass your time by dreaming about the warmth of summer! The Grand Canyon is located in the warm and sunny Arizona desert. Napping on a sun-kissed rock, burying your feet in warm sand, and splashing in the pleasantly cool water of the river are all part of the package. 

Spending a bit of time in the cold season envisioning warmer days can be a great way to warm up (emotionally if not physically). Plus, putting a vacation on the calendar gives you something to look forward to!

3) Our booking calendar for 2026 opens December 10th!

If you’re ready to go Grand Canyon rafting right away, we still have spaces available for you and your family and friends to join us in 2025.

BUT if you want to be first in line for a new line up of prime dates, our opening day for 2026 bookings is just around the corner! If you want one of our trips with limited availability (such as our Hiking Focused or Oar Powered trips) we recommend as soon as possible after the calendar release on 12/10/24. Those signed up for our newsletter will be the firs to know. If you aren’t signed up yet, you can do that at the bottom of our website (we promise not to spam you). Or follow us on social media – Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest.

We think that the holidays are perfect for planning your next Grand Canyon rafting trip. If you aren’t sure what style of trip is best for your family, compare our standard trip types online or check out our specialty trip options. We look forward to seeing you on the river in no time!