The question we hear most often is: โWhat do I need in my day bag today?โ The easiest answer? Be like a Boy Scout: Always be prepared.
How to Pack Your Day Bag
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Grand Canyon Rafting with Something Extra
Specialty Rafting Trips in Grand Canyon
Combine Your Grand Canyon Rafting Adventure With Your Special Interest or Hobby
We figured out a way to make rafting in the most incredible place youโve ever been even better! Our specialty trips give you an opportunity to do more than just see Grand Canyon. Now you can raft, camp, explore, bond with friends and family, AND get an in depth education or practical experience on a subject you love.ย
In the past, Hatch has offered specialty trips to chartered groups with interests in art, photography, geology, and more. Now, weโre extending that same opportunity to the public. Availability for specialty trips is limited. If you see your dream trip on our list, sign up right away!
Specialty Grand Canyon Trips
Geology Focused Rafting
On this 7 day full canyon adventure, youโll focus on Grand Canyonโs unique geology. Stops will focus on sites of geological significance, and a geology interpreter will teach you about the billions of years of exposed rock layers that make up the canyonโs walls. Among the highlights are discussions of unconformities that represent huge spans of time missing from the geologic record, what the environment the Colorado Plateau was like when different sedimentary layers were deposited, and how more recent volcanic activity changed the canyonโs landscape.
Geology Focused Rafting
Trip overview:
- Geology focused interpretation provided by a professional geologist
- 188 miles of rafting from Lees Ferry to Whitmore Wash
- Pre-trip stay at Cliff Dwellers or another lodge (double occupancy provided complimentary)
- Helicopter ride & return flight to Las Vegas or Marble Canyon included
- Minimum age 8 years old
Geology Interpreter
Alison Jones
Alison Jones is a third generation geologist who loves introducing adventurous travelers to the wonders of the Grand Canyon. As a child, her familyโs vacations were centered around finding interesting rocks, fossils, and landforms. These family adventures eventually led her to earning Bachelorโs degree in Geology from Louisiana State University and a Masters degree in Geology from the Colorado School of Mines. Most of her career was spent as a hydrogeologist, doing water supply, permitting, and environmental projects. She managed the Tucson office of Clear Creek Associates, a hydrogeologic consulting firm, until she retired at the end of 2023.ย She is a past President of the Arizona Geological Society, and a current member of the Arizona Geological Society and the New Mexico Geological Society.
The Grand Canyon is the geologic phenomenon that most fascinates Alison. She has done 14 trips with Hatch through the Canyon and learned from some of the most renowned geologists in the field about the structural, stratigraphic, and more modern features (landslides, debris flows, volcanic activity) of the Canyon. The high point of one of her trips that she led was when one participant said, โIโm never traveling without a geologist again!โย ย
In 1857-1858, prior to John Wesley Powellโs expeditions, Lt Joseph Christmas Ives led a trip to explore the lower Colorado river for the US War Department.ย Ives was unimpressed with the Canyon, as he saw no commercial value to the land. But John Strong Newberry, a trained physician and a geologist on the trip, said โThe Colorado River is to the geologist a paradise. It has the most splendid exposure of stratified rocks that there is in the world.โ Alison would add that the River is a paradise not only to geologists, but to anyone who is fascinated by the enormity of earth history and the lessons it has to teach us.ย
Want to Travel with Only Your Personally Selected Guests?
We often host special interest groups on privately chartered trips. If you are a member of a club, business, or educational group, consider booking a private charter!
Testimonials
Hands Down The Best Rafting Company Out There!
Talk about a bucket list experience! Hatch outdid themselves during our private 8-day, 7-night rafting trip down the Grand Canyon! I wouldnโt change a thing about our adventure; it was complete perfection! I HIGHLY recommend Hatch and canโt wait to book another trip with them!
The best trip of a life time, Definitely a "Bucket List Item"
The absolute best 10 days of my life! I cannot praise the Staff of Hatch River enough . The boatman and swamper made me feel safe and were just great people all around. The sights and sound, and tastes are awsome, the experience of the river, rocks and water are memory makers.
Wow. Hatch knows what theyโre doing. You all have this down to a science, and your formula is spot on. I was not expecting to be comfortable on this trip (Iโve only ever camped for a few days at a time before), but at the end of 6 days I was ready to keep going for a full 12! Right on Hatch!
Ari D.
The guides navigated the waters so we always were safe. The side canyon hikes were all superb - the water falls, scenery, geology were fantastic...
Michael V.
I still cant talk about it without becoming emotional. The trip was outrageous and magical in every single way. I wont ever forget it. And thank you for supporting my vegan eating choices. HRE is top of the industry.
Anne P.
Upon post trip re reading of the โTrip Overviewโ and โTypical Dayโ 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.
All of the guides on our trip were amazing. Kelsey is a natural leader and the rest of the guys all brought something special to the trip. We will definitely be booking again in the future.
Carl T.
It was an excellent mix of guides and experience. Having Zack who is a walking historical and geological encyclopedia was invaluable. I thoroughly enjoyed each and every guide. They were all very competent and hard workers. Holden did a great job guiding his first trip.
Linda T.
Sean, Dan, and Holden were exceptional guides! If there was anything we needed, they did all the could to accommodate us. This was my 3rd Hatch trip and they keep getting better!
Mike K.
Kelsey & Holden were pros. Extremely knowledgeable and I felt very safe with them. The rafting was amazing. The daily excursions were fun and beautiful. Better than I imagined.
Demae R.
The Hatch river guides are beyond outstanding. They are professional, friendly, courteous, hard-working, and most of all, safe. The guides go above-and-beyond to make sure everyone is included, supported, doing well along the way, and having a great time. It's amazing how hard they work to make all this happen! I'm so appreciative of everything they did to make this trip a once-in-a-lifetime stellar experience. Thank you!!!
Sandy L.
Get our Guide to the Grand Canyon!
Learn fun facts about Grand Canyonโs rapids, campsites, and other interesting sites and stops along the river in this 40-page downloadable guide.
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Other Trips You May Like
Tackle the Colorado River on our motorized rafts and experience Grand Canyon from the river.
Get Our Short Guide to the Grand Canyon!
Did you know that Crash Canyon is named after a historic airline collision? Or that John Wesley Powell's crew abandoned him at Kanab Rapid and hiked out of the canyon?โจโจ
Download our 40-page Short Guide to Grand Canyon for the inside scoop on the most exciting campsites, rapids, and points of interest you can access from the river. We've included fun facts and fascinating stories for:
- 91 campsites
- 67 rapids
- 46 points of interest
Get Our Short Guide to the Grand Canyon!
Did you know that Crash Canyon is named after a historic airline collision? Or that John Wesley Powell's crew abandoned him at Kanab Rapid and hiked out of the canyon?โจโจ
Download our 40-page Short Guide to Grand Canyon for the inside scoop on the most exciting campsites, rapids, and points of interest you can access from the river. We've included fun facts and fascinating stories for:
- 91 campsites
- 67 rapids
- 46 points of interest