One day rafting and helicopter trip in Grand Canyon West – A real winner

Hualapai River Runners on the Colorado River. Courtesy: Hualapai Tourism

If you want a short rafting trip through a portion of the Grand Canyon, you can head to Hualapai land in Arizona and the Grand Canyon West area. Evidently visitors love the experience. Hualapai River Runners, the only one-day whitewater rafting trip though the Grand Canyon, was awarded TripAdvisor’s “Certificate of Excellence: A Testimonial to Your High Standards” for 2012.

The “Certificate of Excellence” honors businesses that consistently earn top ratings from TripAdvisor travelers and staff. With a rating of 4.0, Hualapai River Runners has “earned a place among the very best,” according to the certificate proudly displayed at the Hualapai River Runners ticket counter in the Hualapai Lodge on Historic Route 66.  

This season marks the 39^th consecutive season of Hualapai River Runners, which is owned and operated by the Hualapai Tribe in Northwest Arizona. In appreciation of the visitors that have given consistent positive feedback, Hualapai Tourism is offering a special that includes a FREE room at the Hualapai Lodge with continental breakfast bar at the Diamond Creek Restaurant with any Hualapai River Runners reservation for two for the remainder of the 2012 season, which ends October 31. This special, a $110.00 value, has never been offered.

Guests can receive the special by mentioning the promotion code “LC12” while making reservations online at http://www.grandcanyonwest.com/ or by calling 1-888-868-9378. There is still availability, but seats are limited.  Guests are encouraged to reserve their trips immediately to ensure their seats are reserved and the “LV12” special is not valid with any other offer. Raft trips run seven days a week and reservations are required. All other Hualapai Tourism options, including Grand Canyon West – home of the Skywalk – and the Hualapai Lodge, remain open 365 days a year (weather permitting). 

Hike to Travertine Falls. Courtesy: Hualapai Tourism

The one-day rafting trip departs daily from the Hualapai Lodge on Historic Route 66 in Peach Springs, AZ at 8:00 A.M. The rafters are driven down the only road that leads to the bottom of the Grand Canyon, on Hualapai reservation land, Diamond Creek Road (only accessible with a permit from the Hualapai Tribe). The rafters launch from the riverbanks on 8-passenger whitewater rafts specifically designed for traversing rapids of the Colorado River.  The first set of rapids is just downstream from the launch point, providing a taste for what lays ahead. The rafters then dock along the riverbank where guests can take a short hike up to one of the hidden treasures of the Grand Canyon, Travertine Falls. The rafts continue downstream until they stop for lunch right on the riverbank. A few rapids later, which range from a rating of 3 to 7 (Colorado River is rated from 1 to 10), the water becomes smooth and rafters reach the bottom of Grand Canyon West, home of the Skywalk, where they take an exhilarating flight 4,000 feet up to the top of the canyon via helicopter.

Rafters can add the option of walking on the Skywalk before returning by ground to the Hualapai Lodge. Rafters arrive back at the Lodge at approximately 6:00 P.M. where they can stay the night and enjoy the saltwater pool, Diamond Creek Restaurant and Native American culture or continue on their journey.