Spring is in the air and that means it\’s time to book that Grand Canyon float tour. There are several outstanding adventures from which to choose and here\’s a quick overview of the best.

The Starting Point

The South Rim is by far the place to be when it comes to float tours. Trips start from Grand Canyon National Park Airport in Tusayan, which is the small town just outside the gates of the South Rim.

The most inexpensive option is the one that goes by bus from the South Rim to Page, AZ. The drive takes about 3 hours and it goes through some incredible countryside that includes the Little Colorado River Gorge and the Painted Desert.

Once the bus reaches Page, it heads for Glen Canyon Dam, the foot of which is home to the docks that hold the 19-man, adventure grade pontoon rafts. Before getting there, however, the bus has to go through a major tunnel to the base of the Dam.

The Float

At the dock, you\’ll transfer to the raft and begin the 15.5-mile float tour down the majestic Colorado River, the course of which takes you by the internationally famous Horseshoe Bend, a red sandstone cut in the river you\’ll never forget.

En route to Lee\’s Ferry, which is the terminus, you\’ll pull off at several sandy beaches, including one where you\’ll enjoy lunch (included in the package) and another where you\’ll have the option to do a short walk into a mystic canyon to view ancient Indian rock art. Of course, swimming is welcome and it\’s why I recommend folks dress for it, especially during the summer months when the bottom of the canyon can get hotter than 100 degrees (and it\’s why I also recommend wearing a brimmed hat and bringing lots of sun block).

The Trading Post

Once the float concludes, you\’ll hop aboard an air-conditioned bus and make your way back to the Rim after making a quick stop at the famous Cameron Trading Post where you\’ll find a monster selection of authentic Indian handicrafts.

Option #2 is more expensive and does everything Number One does except instead of taking the bus to Page you fly over. Flight time is just 60 minutes and you\’ll cruise past some of the most notable landmarks in the National Park like Desert Watchtower, the Colorado River Confluence and Imperial Point.

You\’ll land at the Page airport, transfer to a 4×4 Jeep and do tour of Antelope Canyon, famous for its slot canyons. Then it\’s back on the Jeep straight for the bottom of Glen Canyon Dam and the docks so you can partake in the float tour. At Lee Ferry, you\’ll join the others on the bus back to the South Rim.

Conclusion

I hope this article about 1-day Grand Canyon float tours helped you decide between option #1 (the bus) and option #2 (the airplane and Jeep). Keep in mind that there are NO whitewater rapids on this tour so kids as young as 4 are welcome. It\’s also a great trip for active seniors. So come aboard! It\’s time to cruise the Colorado River!

The author is an expert in Grand Canyon tours and recommends you read this float tour review before going here for a list of the best 1-day South Rim rafting trips ever offered: http://www.grandcanyondaytrips.com/float-trips/

The author is an expert in Grand Canyon tours and recommends you read this float tour review before going here for a list of the best 1-day South Rim rafting trips ever offered: http://www.grandcanyondaytrips.com/float-trips/

Author Bio: The author is an expert in Grand Canyon tours and recommends you read this float tour review before going here for a list of the best 1-day South Rim rafting trips ever offered: http://www.grandcanyondaytrips.com/float-trips/

Category: Travel
Keywords: grand canyon, grand canyon rafting, grand canyon float, 1-day rafting, south rim rafting, tips,