Arizona Raft Adventures

02/08/2025

Create a caption! What could he be yelling from this hill somewhere in the bottom of the Grand Canyon?
📷: Susan Allen

02/07/2025

Celebrating Black History Month with the inspiring story of Edward Keeylocko (Dec. 3, 1931 - Dec. 25, 2018), a self-made man and true Arizona pioneer. Edward built his own town, Cowtown Keylocko, in the shadow of Kitt Peak, AZ. His legacy as a black cowboy and entrepreneur continues to inspire! 🐄🌵 Watch his interesting and unique story here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MRLBdVD4PA

Edward Keeylocko speaks about how he hand-built his very own cowtown in the desert of Arizona.

02/07/2025

A Flash Back Friday photo for our 60th Anniversary Year! An older AzRA paddle raft entering Horn Creek Rapid (?) at low water. Note the old style frame and military surplus black personal dry bags. Guide maybe Joel Schaler? Anyone know the guide and rapid? This might be a Bob Melville photo.

02/06/2025

Did you know the Little Colorado River (LCR) begins its journey 107 miles east in the White Mountains? Its turquoise-blue waters, rich with dissolved calcium carbonate, create a stunning contrast to the surrounding landscape. However, half the year, runoff from rain or snowmelt can muddy the waters. The LCR is home to native fish like the humpback chub, flannelmouth sucker, and bluehead sucker. Many trips include a stop here to relax and swim in the warm, inviting waters. 🌊💦
AzRA acknowledges that we are located on and visit the ancestral homelands of the Diné (Navajo), Havasu Baaja (Havasupai), Hoputuh Shi-ni-mu (Hopi), Hwal-Pai (Hualapai), Nde (Apache Western/Yavapai), Nuciu (Ute), and Numa (Paiute) Peoples, past and present. We thank the people who have stewarded these lands since time immemorial and the vibrant Native communities who make their homes here today.

📷: Kevin Housh

02/05/2025

Where are we Wednesday! Correctly name this location by noon tomorrow and you will be entered into a drawing for a small prize. Not the beaver dam/lodge or pile of sticks in foreground.
📷: SHester

02/03/2025

Happy Monday and it is only two more months until our 2025 river season begins in April! Woo-hoo!

02/02/2025

Check out our latest Youtube video of our Grand Canyon Motorized Raft Adventures! Fun, excitement, nature, serenity, comradery and fantastic scenery all on a 8 day adventure! https://youtu.be/pyfVCH58AQo?si=7qAHVGXhVa85wMj0
📷: William Thompson

02/01/2025

It is Black History Month! Let’s honor the incredible contributions of Black trailblazers and visionaries who’ve shaped our world. This month, we celebrate their legacies and embrace the richness of culture, resilience, and unity. Black Americans have long contributed to Grand Canyon History working for Fred Harvey, as foresters, railroad workers, early river explorers and with the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). Learn more about the history of Black Americans with the CCC at Grand Canyon. https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/company-818-and-segregation-in-the-civilian-conservation-corps.htm

"It [The CCC] was extremely well-conducted. It made, out of what could have been a dreadful flop and a dreadful hazard, a project that was intelligent, well-behaved, and therefore is well thought of in the community. We did it by getting the Army to run it, the Forest Service to direct its work. We....

01/31/2025

Foliage Friday! Utah Agave plants send up their stalks in the spring! Not every agave plant will bloom, they only bloom when they have stored enough energy to do so. This could be several years depending on the location of the plant. Once they have bloom they die. The agave blooms attract many insects and carpenter bees nest in their sturdy stalks. Agave was an important as food and fibers for indigenous peoples.
📷: Steve K

01/30/2025

Five great books to read before (or after or during) your Grand Canyon rafting adventure! https://azraft.com/5-books-to-read-before-your-grand-canyon-trip/

Going on a Grand Canyon trip, particularly a rafting adventure? These 5 books to read before your Grand Canyon trip will inspire you even more! Take a look!

01/30/2025

12 Ways to Tell If Someone’s Just Back From a Grand Canyon Rafting Adventure and Is Trying to Survive in the Office:

1) Shaking out shoes – No matter how many times they clean them, there’s still sand everywhere—shoes, hair, pockets, and even inside their toothpaste. “I swear, I got it all out... why does it keep coming back?”

2) Fingerprint ID fails – Their fingerprint no longer works on their phone due to all the wear from the trip, but they shrug it off.

3) Coffee drama – When brewing coffee, they yell “CAAAAWFFEEEE” and may add sand to their mug. “ You wouldn’t understand—this is authentic Grand Canyon-style brew, its better with some drama & sand!"

4) Extreme office temperature – Their desk fan is set to max behind a space heater to recreate the 110-degree heat of the Canyon. “I just need that desert breeze to get into my summer raft trip zone.”

5) Nature flick obsession – They’ve started watching documentaries about bats, snakes, and scorpions.

6) River Scars Display – They will pull up their pant legs at the slightest hint you are interested to show you their river battle scars. “This one’s from a Class 10 rapid, man."

7) Can crushing – They all crush cans in the break room for fun, applying their rafting can crushing skills to soda cans. “I’m just streamlining the process, guys.”

8) Reliving river moments– At lunch, they sit on the hood of their car with a sandwich, eyes closed, pretending it’s the river. “I just need to feel the raw elements, man.”

9) Sandals tan – They proudly show off their exotic patterned foot tan.

10) Canyon gear displays– Their desk is covered in Grand Canyon books, maps, carabiners, & salve they took on the trip. “I’m just airing them out for the next adventure.”

11) Changing clothes – They change clothes in front of coworkers without hesitation. “What? I’ve done this in front of 28 people on the river.!”

12) Computer Screensaver – Their screensaver is a never-ending loop of their Grand Canyon photos, leaving nothing else on their computer all day.

Bonus Roast: They’ll claim they’re still ‘adjusting,’ but they’re really just waiting for their next river trip. “Office life? Nah, I’m just here for the paycheck, until I can get back to the Canyon.”

Any of these sound familiar? Do you know of other signs that someone recently did a Grand Canyon rafting adventure?

01/29/2025

Whitewater Wednesday! Name this rapid correctly by noon tomorrow and you will be entered into a drawing for a small prize.
📷: Kent Devine

01/28/2025

Tasty Tuesday! Taco Salad lunch, served in a tortilla wrap! Our meals are plentiful, delicious and fresh! You wont lose weight on one of our rafting adventures!
📷: Michael Strickland

01/27/2025

Monday Funday! Come take a trip through the Grand Canyon on one of our motorized adventures! See 226 miles of the Grand Canyon in only 7 nights, from the comfort of a large stable motor raft! Delicious food and all camping equipment provided! Everyday are stops for hiking and exploring side canyons! We still have space on some trips in 2025 and lots of space in 2026.
AzRA acknowledges that we are located on and visit the ancestral homelands of the Diné (Navajo), Havasu Baaja (Havasupai), Hoputuh Shi-ni-mu (Hopi), Hwal-Pai (Hualapai), Nde (Apache Western/Yavapai), Nuciu (Ute), and Numa (Paiute) Peoples, past and present. We thank the people who have stewarded these lands since time immemorial and the vibrant Native communities who make their homes here today.
📷: Dan Finn

01/26/2025

Sunday Art Day! Beautiful artwork of the view from Stairway! Bring a small cache of art supplies on your trip for your pleasure!
🎨🖌️ : Stacy Egan