A Grand Canyon Whitewater Rafting Tour with OARS – The Trip of a Lifetime
In 1962, a trip on the Colorado River through Glen Canyon started OARS President and Founder, George Wendt, on a lifelong journey to introduce people to rivers. At first, river trips were something fun to do on the weekends and during summer breaks with friends. But, by 1969 George’s trips on the Colorado River through Grand Canyon had become a full-time job. Not long after that, the company was selected as the first exclusively non-motorized rafting outfitter in Grand Canyon National Park, and was appropriately named OARS.
Since the early days OARS has earned a reputation for maintaining the gold standard for Grand Canyon rafting tour operators. That’s because our family-owned and operated company is as passionate as ever about introducing people to our cherished rivers and wild places and showing our guests the best outdoor experience of their lives. OARS employs the most experienced oar-powered guides in the Canyon, many who have been with the company for more than 30 years. Our full-time Grand Canyon rafting guides are legends in their own time and know the Colorado River’s best kept secrets. Their enthusiasm, knowledge and years of experience are unmatched in the industry.
This is North America’s ultimate river rafting trip, through one of the Seven Wonders of the World in Arizona’s Wild West. What few people realize is that because the water releases on the Colorado River in Grand Canyon National Park are controlled, flows in the Grand Canyon are fairly consistent year-round. Summer is the most popular time in the Canyon, but early and late-season trips in April or September and October offer fewer crowds, more mild temperatures and ideal conditions for afternoon hiking and evening campfires.
Side hikes in the Canyon are a major highlight of any Grand Canyon rafting trip. Hike to extraordinary spots like Matkatamiba Canyon, Deer Creek Falls, Elves Chasm, Havasu Creek and other lush oases in this desert of skyscraper rocks. We’ll also take you to some of the best swimming holes in the West!
If you can’t find space for the Grand Canyon rafting tour of your choice, be sure to add your name to our waiting list. Or, OARS offers several great alternatives to a Grand Canyon rafting trip, including the Colorado River through Utah’s Cataract Canyon in Canyonlands National Park and the Green River through the Gates of Lodore in Dinosaur National Monument.
Need help? Call to speak with one of our friendly and knowledgeable adventure consultants today at 800-346-6277.
O.A.R.S. Grand Canyon, Inc. is an authorized concessioner of Grand Canyon National Park.
