Camping In The Grand Canyon During A Colorado River Rafting Trip

Camping In The Grand Canyon During A Colorado River Rafting Trip

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Not only does a Grand Canyon rafting excursion allow one the opportunity to discover one of the world's most extreme rivers, but it's an opportunity to camp out in the ancient canyon wilderness. Away from all development, multi-day Colorado River rafting trips are the ideal way to experience the canyon from the bottom up, with no commercial businesses anywhere in sight. It is certainly possible to overnight in developed campgrounds, car camp just outside of the park or acquire a back country camping permit. Each of those possibilities comes with disadvantages, though, and none give you the thrill of rafting the amazing rapids of the mighty Colorado.

The Grand Canyon has several developed campgrounds including Mather, North Rim and Desert View. They are used primarily by hikers, backpackers and other visitors. These offer many amenities, including showers, and hygiene facilities. But, when rafting, guests can choose to spend each night on the riverbanks - and sleep underneath the stars if they wish. Remember that these are not well-established campgrounds, but rather, are undeveloped areas. If you are rafting with professional river guides, they surely know the best sandy spots along the river, so there's no guesswork involved.

Compared to backpacking, rafting and camping is a vastly different experience. Out of about 30,000 annual requests for backpacking within the canyon, only 13,000 permits are issued, so there's a lot of competition. And, of course, backpackers have to haul all of their food and supplies in with their packs and haul all of it back out again, including trash. These packs can easily weigh 50 pounds or more. While rafting, the neoprene raft hauls the supplies. Because the rafts can carry coolers, food is fresher and far more plentiful on the water. In addition, on guided river rafting tours, the guides also prepare the meals, and it is said that they are very capable cooks indeed. Dining on these trips is reported to be excellent.

In terms of safety, independent backpacking expeditions certainly aren't for the inexperienced. In addition to the extreme heat, one must always be on the lookout for rattlesnakes and other serious critters that populate this region. Mountain lions, too, are present but are few in number. Backpackers must also navigate the maze of gorges to keep from getting lost in the wild terrain. For those who do choose to backpack and camp on their own, it is very important to carry satellite phones so emergency services can be reached if necessary.

For those rafting with a commercial outfitter, their rafting guides are very well trained and knowledgeable about the river and the shoreline. For the most part, they are certified in CPR and other emergency procedures, and of course, they all carry satellite phones in case of emergency. Their guests are in good hands, both when going over huge rapids and when on shore for the night. While guests may often participate in the cooking and cleaning at each camp site and help to ensure the safety of the group, having an experienced, knowledgeable guide leading the way helps to assuage any fears. For those rafters who are not using the services of commercial outfitters, camping is still a similar experience, except cooking and clean up falls on their own shoulders. With or without a guide, it is always wise to check shoes and clothing, shaking them out to make sure there are no scorpions hiding in the creases, before putting them on or packing them up to take on to the next stop.

After the sun sets, the amazing views of the darkened sky are unimpeded by city lights. A full galaxy of stars and the swirl of the Milky Way is almost always visible. The ideal times of the year to raft and camp in the Grand Canyon are spring and early autumn. In the early fall, guests enjoy blue skies and slightly cooler days and evenings. When rafting, a group is far away from development and day tours, so it's possible to commune with nature minus the crowds. Though there are not any pre-fabricated fire pits on the sandy shores of the river, the fire danger is relatively low.

The highlight of this trip is of course, riding the rapids of the Colorado River,, but don't forget about its other aspects. Unroll a sleeping bag and camp out under the stars, or in the case of rare inclement weather, pitch a tent. The next big day of river thrills begins after breakfast and promises to be great.

About the Author:
If you are interested in booking a high adventure Colorado River rafting trip and camping in the Grand Canyon, author Stephen Daniels recommends Hatch River Expeditions. Their skilled guides will show you the Grand Canyon as few see it, and will educate and entertain you with tales both true and tall as you experience the beauty around you.



Article Originally Published On: http://www.articlesnatch.com


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