Grand Canyon Rafting in September

Deciding what month you want to go on your Grand Canyon rafting trip is a big decision. In the past we have covered what it’s like to raft in different months of the year, but we have yet to cover the month of September! So let’s talk about what September rafting in the Grand Canyon is like and see if it’s the right fit for you!

Let’s start with one of the biggest questions we get asked when guests are deciding which month to raft in: “ How’s the weather?” The weather in September is one of the big reasons many of our guests choose it!  The intense heat of summer starts to wane in late August and September. During the day the temperatures tend to stay in the mid 90’s, which may sound hot but when you’re getting wet on the river it’s pretty nice! At night, the temps are usually in the high 60’s low 70’s, the perfect temperature to sleep outside under the stars! 

Monsoon season is still happening, but that’s not a bad thing. Rainstorms in the grand canyon during the monsoon season tend to be pretty quick. They roll in in the afternoon and dry up almost as quickly as they start, most of the time leaving you in a dry camp that has been cooled down by the rain.  Because of the monsoons, the river isn’t clear. It’s full of silt that turns it a reddish brown. But it is still just as gorgeous as when it’s blue! 

While the weather is still one of the biggest reasons guests are drawn to September, there is still one other big one. The summer crowds of June and July have eased. There is a limited number of people and trips that can be within the canyon at any given time of the rafting season, so the bottom of the canyon is never super crowded. But September is when you start to really see the number of trips wind down as the commercial rafting season gets closer to its end. This means that you’ll see even less people, which can really add to the backcountry experience.

This next reason why September is so great really is about the weather, but it has its own separate draw for guests. That is that the cooler weather opens up more opportunities for hiking! In the middle of the summer it can be too hot to do any hikes in the canyon that don’t follow a creek or end at a waterfall to cool off in. But when the temps drop, hikes that don’t center around water are ok to do! This draws in a lot of hikers, and lucky for them, in September of most years we do a trip that focuses on hiking!  

While every month is a great month to raft the Grand Canyon, maybe September is the best fit for you!

Check out some of these other months too!

What is the Best Month to Raft Grand Canyon?

5 reasons rafting in July and August are so worth it!

Why is June ideal for your Grand Canyon rafting trip

5 reasons Hatch guests love traveling in May