It\’s summer at the Grand Canyon and it\’s hot. So if you are looking for a way to cool off, try a 1-day float tour. Trips depart daily from South Rim but it\’s always best to book them early because they are popular and tend to sell out.

South Rim

The rafting tours that I\’m referring to all start at Grand Canyon National Park airport, which is located next to Tusayan, a small town that borders the Park. They depart once a day in the morning around 7 a. M. And return to town around 5 p. M. And you will have to allocate an entire day.

There is a basic and a deluxe float tour. The basic one is the cheapest option. It utilizes a bus to transport travelers to the base of Glen Canyon Dam, which is the embarkation point for all such trips. The basic also includes free hotel pick up and drop off at Maswick Lodge, which is located inside Grand Canyon Village.

The deluxe tour uses an airplane to get people to the Dam and it takes less than an hour to reach it (by contrast, it takes the bus 2.5 hours). Moreover, this tour includes a Jeep tour to the world-famous slot canyons at Horseshoe Bend before joining up with the bus travelers at the base of the Dam.

Horseshoe Bend

The rafting segment of the trip is 15.3 miles long and takes about 3 hours to complete. En route, you\’ll float through Horseshoe Bend before straightening out and stopping at several beaches. At one beach, there\’s a short walk into a hidden canyon where you can see ancient Native American petroglyphs.

Swimming is encouraged and so you should come dressed accordingly. I usually recommend bringing a dry bag with an extra set of clothes. This comes in handy when you get on the bus for the trip back to the South Rim (deluxe visitors take the bus back, too). I also suggest you bring a brimmed hat, sun block, a lightweight long-sleeved shirt and a pair of running shoes or river sandals.

The motorized pontoon rafts used on these adventures are adventure-grade and can hold up to 19 people. It should be noted that there are no white water rapids on these trips and so kids as young as 4 years of age can do them. Each raft is manned by a professionally trained river pilot who is well versed in the River.

Lee\’s Ferry

The float stops at Lee\’s Ferry, which used to be an old Mormon town and fort. Nowadays, it\’s the dividing line between float tours and white water tours that start just a bit further downstream. This is also where your bus awaits for the trip back to the Park that includes a stop at the Cameron Trading Post, home to a huge selection of Native American arts and crafts.

I hope this article about 1-day Grand Canyon float tours was helpful as you plan your vacation. These tours are ideal for families, groups and couples and make for a great day on the refreshing Colorado River. Again, there are no white water rapids and as such kids as young as 4 can do them. I do recommend you book your rafting adventure as early as possible because they sell out. Further, buy it on the Internet because this is where you will get the best price.

The author is an expert on Grand Canyon tours and recommends that readers go here for the best 1-day South float tours that start from the South Rim of the National Park: http://www.grandcanyondaytrips.com/float-trips/

The author is an expert on Grand Canyon tours and recommends that readers go here for the best 1-day South float tours that start from the South Rim of the National Park: http://www.grandcanyondaytrips.com/float-trips/

Author Bio: The author is an expert on Grand Canyon tours and recommends that readers go here for the best 1-day South float tours that start from the South Rim of the National Park: http://www.grandcanyondaytrips.com/float-trips/

Category: Travel
Keywords: grand canyon, grand canyon tours, grand canyon rafting, grand canyon float