Grand Canyon Rafting - Lees Ferry to Phantom Ranch
Overview
This 87-mile section of river is an excellent introduction to the canyon as the rapids progress from moderate to extra large and the cliffs and rock layers rise higher and higher. We see some of the most striking and vibrantly colored limestone cliffs as we pass Marble Canyon. Our adventure includes visits to Native American ruins, the fern-fringed spring of Vasey’s Paradise, the cool recess of Redwall Cavern, ancient fossils and a swim in the turquoise blue Little Colorado. At the end of the week of floating, hiking and camping we arrive at the boat beach near Phantom Ranch, deep in the Granite Gorge. After a final night in the canyon, the trip concludes with a dramatic 9.7 mile hike up to the South Rim the following morning.
O.A.R.S. Grand Canyon, Inc. is an authorized concessioner of Grand Canyon National Park.
Itinerary at a Glance
- Shuttle from our meeting point in Flagstaff, AZ to our put-in below Glen Canyon Dam at Lees Ferry
- We enter Marble Canyon and within the first few miles of the trip we see the first signs of the fascinating geology of the canyon as the Kaibab and Toroweap formations make their appearance, followed by Coconino Sandstone
- Raft Badger and Soap Creek rapids before stopping to camp at a sandy beach
- The first signs of Esplanade Sandstone appear in the canyon walls followed by the Wescogame, Manakacha and Watahomigi formations as we negotiate a series of 8 medium intensity rapids
- As we float deeper into the canyon past Vasey’s Paradise we reach Redwall Cavern, a vast chamber in the canyon wall that Powell estimated would seat 50,000 people
- Deeper still, we raft through Mile 36 Rapid and Mauv Limestone appears in the canyon walls followed by Temple Butte Limestone and Bright Angel Shale
- A hike to the ancient Native American granaries at Nankoweap rewards us with one of the best downriver views in the Grand Canyon
- The canyon begins to spread out in front of us as we encounter Tanner, Unkar, Nevills and the formidable Hance Rapid
- Black Vishnu Schist and pink Zoroaster Granite (some two billion years old) appear in the canyon walls
- Spend our last night in the canyon at Phantom Ranch before hiking 9.7 miles out of the canyon on the Bright Angel Trail the next morning
Have you run the wild ones?
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