Grand Canyon Rafting, This Year’s Bucket List Experience

There’s never been a time like Fall 2020 for a Grand Canyon rafting adventure, this year’s premier bucket list experience. Look ahead to possibly months of remote work and learning. Tap into that wanderlust; you’ll see why there’s no better time for an outdoors adventure than now. In fact, OARS has just announced a special on the Oct. 24th Grand Canyon trip by dory — you can save $500 per person or $1000 per person for every two people you book!

Travelers typically have to plan more than a year in advance for this trip of a lifetime, says OARS, a company that operates rafting and dory trips on the Colorado River.

From our sources, we learned about some cancellations for Fall 2020 (the rafting season ends in October.) That’s opened up a variety of late summer and fall rafting trips through the Grand Canyon. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to go whitewater rafting in the Grand Canyon — now!

What’s Safer Than Being Out on the Water?

Of course, traveling during a global pandemic isn’t for everyone. But OARS is not just any tour operator. They have been a fixture in Grand Canyon rafting for more than 50 years and have won more awards than we can count.

OARS put together an extensive COVID-19 mitigation plan to include all the safety precautions in the many states they operate. They added an enhanced screening process for crew and guests. Then, in July, OARS resumed its Grand Canyon rafting and other whitewater trips across the West.

“After months of monitoring the situation, we are now operating with a mitigation plan in place that is guided by industry standards and approvals from state and local health departments,” says Steve Markle, VP of Marketing for OARS. “The feedback from guests so far has been super positive.”

The Great Outdoors is the Great Healer

We know a wilderness expedition like a Grand Canyon rafting trip can be a much-needed respite from the ongoing worries and hectic nature of our day-to-day lives.

“There are no words to capture the overriding awe that one experiences spending 15 days on the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon,” shares Kate, a recent OARS Grand Canyon guest. “Little by little, day by day, the craziness of the world floats away with the mist from the rapids and is replaced by a sublime sense of wonder and gratitude that such places exist and that we are lucky enough to fully experience this place.”

During challenging times, this sounds like just the kind of wilderness therapy many families need. Keep in mind that this tiny window of opportunity — to hop on a raft and head down the mighty Colorado River – is only open through October.

In our view, it’s the perfect family adventure for fit adults traveling with children at least 12 years of age.

Remote Learning On A Grand Canyon Rafting Experience

The Colorado River by raft:  a natural wonder revealed by guides schooled in geology, history, botany, geography, Native American culture, environmental science and more. Seamlessly absorb their teachings as you tackle rapids, float along or participate in onshore hikes.

Can you imagine telling the kids, ‘Hey, we’ll be distance learning from the bottom of Grand Canyon for the next two weeks?’

Even if school’s in session in your region, there’s no better teacher than real life experience. Many say that autumn is the best time for Grand Canyon rafting, too -– picture complete solitude, idyllic weather. OARS expert Grand Canyon guides say it’s the best time of year for epic hiking each day of your adventure.

Book Your Grand Canyon Rafting Trip with OARS Now!

Outfitters like OARS offer everything from the full, two week, 280-mile Lees Ferry to Lake Mead canyon experience to a handful of shorter Grand Canyon river trips. Families with less time can hike in or out mid-canyon at Phantom Ranch (another bucket list adventure!) and tackle the upper or lower canyon. Even families on the great Western road trip from Phoenix to Las Vegas during the fall semester should add a whitewater adventure to their journey.

Or, maybe it’s just something to look forward to in the future. If you can’t make it happen this year, you can get yourself on the waiting list for 2021. Can’t decide now? OARS expects to open up reservations for its 2022 Grand Canyon and other epic river trips in October 2020.

For more info or to book a trip visit https://www.oars.com/grandcanyon/

This blog post was sponsored by the adventure trip operator OARS to provide information about last minute availability on their Grand Canyon rafting expeditions. The author’s opinion that it’s the family adventure of a lifetime is their own.