Phases of the Moon and Grand Canyon River Trips

Choose your trip in accordance with the moon(light) you want to see!

Remember making moon phase charts as a kid to learn about lunar phases? Though they didn’t necessarily seem practical to everyday life at the time, knowing the phase of the moon can often come in handy. Some guests choose the time of the month for Grand Canyon river trips solely based on the phase of the moon! That must mean it can make a difference. 

One of the highlights of a Hatch river trip is sleeping under the stars as they dance above you throughout the night. Read on to see how the moon can affect your nighttime views.

Phases of the Moon

There are 4 phases of the moon and each lasts about 7 days.

It begins with a New Moon which means that no moon is visible in the night sky. It then moves into the First Quarter. This begins with the Waxing Crescent where the left side of the moon is dark and the light part is growing towards the left. This phase continues with the Waxing Gibbous, meaning that it is no longer a crescent and the light is moving to the left to become a full circle. The Full Moon comes next where the moon is in fact a perfect circle. It starts to fade out with the Waning Gibbous as the phase moves into the Last Quarter. This means that the right side of the moon begins to darken and the light on the left is shrinking. This proceeds into the Waning Crescent which ends back at the start of the cycle with the New Moon.

Got it? Good!

Planning Your Trip Around the Moon Phase, or How Moonlight Affects the Nighttime Experience

Some guests try to plan trips to be on the water during the Full Moon. This means bright skies at night and amazing lighting along the Canyon walls. Other guests try to arrive during the New Moon. This can enhance the star gazing experience as the skies will be pitch black and provided it is a cloudless evening, the Milky Way might be perfectly silhouetted by the Canyon walls. Even rarer are guests that take Grand Canyon river trips during an eclipse. Check out the photo below from one Hatch guests that took a trip luckily during a lunar eclipse with Mars at near opposition. Lucky!

Moon during a lunar eclipse with Mars in opposition. Photo: Morris Outwater.

Regardless of moon phase, the scenery and backdrop of Grand Canyon provides amazing sights. For those interested in moon phase check out a lunar calendar to plan a trip accordingly. 

Book your Grand Canyon whitewater rafting adventure today view the beautiful night sky from the depths of the Canyon!