4 Types of People You’ll Meet on a Hatch River Trip Like any travel destination, the Grand Canyon has numerous appeals...
4 Types of People You’ll Meet on a Hatch River Trip
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Start your journey with a hike into Grand Canyon then enjoy a thrilling raft adventure
Lower Canyon Oar Powered
7 Day Lower Grand Canyon Oar Powered Expedition
Perfect for experienced distance hikers with a week to spend adventuring in the backcountry! Our lower canyon oar powered trips give travelers an opportunity to hike, raft, camp, and explore Grand Canyon all in one vacation. Your trip begins with a descent down Bright Angel Trail from Grand Canyon’s South Rim to the Colorado River. Then, you’ll spend each day rafting the stretch of river between Phantom Ranch and Whitmore Wash. Your small rafts will be rowed by experienced Hatch guides. Every day, you’ll stop to check out hidden waterfalls, natural swimming holes, gorgeous viewpoints, and other exciting places within the canyon’s walls. At night, you’ll camp on a sandy beach or rocky ledge along the river’s edge. On the final day of your trip, you’ll get to view the canyon by helicopter* as you fly out and away from the river.
*In rare instances, a helicopter may not be available for the September launch of this trip. Guests on a trip without a helicopter will hike out of the canyon on Whitmore Trail and take ATVs to Bar 10 Ranch where they will board a fixed-wing aircraft to their destination.
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- 99 miles of rafting from Phantom Ranch to Whitmore Wash
- 9.5 mile hike down Bright Angel Trail
- Helicopter ride* & return to Las Vegas or Marble Canyon included
- minimum age 12 years old
- 99 miles of rafting from Phantom Ranch to Whitmore Wash
“This trip was one of the best trips of my life. I can’t wait to take my kids when they are older.” – Megan S.
2025 Regular Rate
Cost per person
$4263
2026 Regular Rate
Cost per person
$4263
What to Expect
A Colorado River rafting trip is an active vacation in a wilderness environment. To ensure you have the best experience possible, we recommend showing up with an adventure attitude, ready to roll with the rapid’s waves and whatever other challenges may arise. You’ll spend days hanging on through the Colorado River’s famous (and chilly!) rapids and scrambling down Grand Canyon’s unmaintained trails. At night you’ll camp on sandy beaches or rocky ledges between the canyon walls. There are no hotel accommodations or hot showers. The beauty of this type of vacation is the journey and discovery that comes along with it.
Learn more about what to expect on a Grand Canyon rafting trip with Hatch:
The Bright Angel Trail
This trip starts with a hike from the South Rim of Grand Canyon all the way to the Colorado River. You’ll meet your hiking guide at Bright Angel Lodge at 5 a.m. to avoid hiking in the midday heat and meet up with our boats around lunch time. This all morning hike is 9.5 miles long, mandatory, and strenuous, so make sure you prepare in advance! As you head down the trail, make sure to take breaks and admire the view of the canyon you’re descending into. This trip is only recommended for experienced hikers.
Transportation and Lodging
Hatch Books:
- Your helicopter ride out of the canyon and return to the South Rim or Las Vegas at the end of your trip
You Book:
- Transportation to the South Rim - make sure to arrive the night BEFORE your hiking date!
- Transportation away from the South Rim or Las Vegas at the end of your trip
Get your trip packet!
Looking for specific details about what to pack, where to go, and how to prepare? Download the Lower Canyon Oar Powered trip packet for the complete run-down.*
*If you’ve already booked, check the “View Info and Documents” section of your Activity Manager for this information. Your Activity Manager link is in your email!
Lower Canyon
Experience the thrill of whitewater rafting in Lower Canyon
Sample Itinerary
Get an idea of what your trip could look like. Note: This is a sample only. We can never guarantee specific stops.
5:00 a.m., meet our hiking guide in front of the fireplace in Bright Angel Lodge’s lobby. We begin hiking down Bright Angel Trail early to beat the heat. The hike usually takes 5-6 hours, setting us up to arrive at the boats by lunch time. Meet guides and go over safety instructions and raft familiarity. Load onto the rafts and begin your expedition. Prepare for large rapids: Horn, Granite, Hermit, and Crystal all promise impressive waves and epic rides.
Explore Shinumo Creek, Elves Chasm or Deer Creek Falls for more hiking, water play, and views. Check out the Bright Angel Shale or Tapeats Sandstone as you pass through the towering canyon walls.
Relax and enjoy swimming in the famed Havasu Canyon. (It’s a real paradise!) Play in the pools or hike up the creek for more sights. Prepare for Lava Falls, one of the most famous rapids in the world!
Helicopter flights to Bar 10 Ranch begin at 7:00 a.m.— enjoy the sights from above. Get a photo before you leave for your flight + shuttle transportation to Las Vegas or the South Rim (and have a safe trip to your final destination!)
Weather Forecast
Wondering what to bring and wear on the Colorado River? Check the weather before your trip so you can make last minute adjustments!
7 Day Forecast
Get the 7 day forecast for Phantom Ranch at the bottom of Grand Canyon.
How to Prepare
Learn how to manage weather conditions you may encounter rafting in Grand Canyon.
Phantom Ranch, US
4:36 pm,
Feb 28, 2025
71°F
clear sky
Not up for a long hike?
Hiking the Bright Angel Trail isn’t for everyone, but it is mandatory on Upper and Lower Canyon trips. If you’d rather not hike quite that far, check out our Full Canyon trip instead.
Begin your adventure at Lees Ferry and raft 188 miles to Whitmore Wash.
Testimonials
Upon post trip re reading of the “Trip Overview” and “Typical Day” documents you sent, I must say they were both accurate and precisely what we experienced. It was an exciting, spectacular, and professionally guided 7 days!
Rumsey Y.
Very friendly and professional guides
Chet M.
The guides were amazing! We can’t thank them enough for an amazing experience sharing their knowledge and expertise of the River while making sure we were cared for and safe.
Jennifer S.
Truly one of the best experiences of my life! Dangerous, sure. More than I knew it would be. But that seemed to add to the realness of it all. It definitely wasn't a "vacation", but rather an expedition. My family walked away different people and are already wanting to do this again. "There's this river", and everyone should experience it!
Taylor F.
This trip was one of the best trips of my life. I can't wait to take my kids when they are older.
Megan S.
Good people, fantastic guides who were a pleasure to be with and talk to. Everyone I'm sure had the same thoughts as mine. Very good job.
Lyle R.
Worth every penny! Wish I were still on the river with our group. What a great group of people to go down the Colorado River with. The guides and friends made during the trip were all great. Safety paid to customers was high on the guides priority. I saw that through out. I was never once in fear and was an active participant in my own safety. I highly recommend Hatch River Expeditions.
Heather D.
Genuine guides with abundant skills beyond rowing & reading the River - geology, cooking, musical, story telling and sense of humore
Joan Z.
The guides are outstanding. Well informed, skilled and patient with some of the less capable guests. I can't say enough about them.
Patrick S.
I can hardly believe that I got to experience the Grand Canyon and the Colorado River White Water like this. It was a fabulous experience, and all of the logistics were so well planned. The side hikes in slot canyons, the stops for lunch on a sandy beach, and the nightly camp routine were all executed with perfection. This made all of the parts of the trip so enjoyable. Who knew I would love not so cold beer!! I really appreciate all the work that goes in to making this trip a lifetime memory!
Louise C.
It would be nice if possibly older guests start the trip earlier than younger ones. The wait at the bottom of the canyon in the hear with no shade for 4-5 hours was no fun (an we weren't even the first to be down at the bottom). Otherwise good trip, would have liked to do some extra hikes for views.
Lilla W.
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