Do You Really See More of the Grand Canyon on the 8-Day Trip?
Absolutely. The
8-day rafting trip covers approximately 90 additional miles of the Grand Canyon.
But that doesn't mean the
7-day rafting trip misses the heart of Grand Canyon.
Nearly all of the most famous rapids and many of the best side hikes are located in the first 187 miles of the Colorado River, above Whitmore Wash.
Both trips run the the biggest rapids of the Grand Canyon: House Rock, Hance, Sockdolager, Granite, Hermit, Crystal, Bedrock, Dubendorff, and Lava Falls.
Both trips also travel through the spectacular inner canyon, where the Colorado River cuts through some of the oldest exposed rocks in North America.
The 7-day trip ends shortly after Lava Falls, the biggest rapid in Grand Canyon.
On the 8-day trip, the adventure continues.
Below Whitmore Wash, the canyon begins to open up. The towering walls become less confining, and the night sky becomes noticeably larger.
Eventually, the river enters the Lower Granite Gorge below Diamond Creek, where the canyon narrows again and the rapids become exciting before the river reaches the waters affected by Lake Mead.
There are additional rapids, including Kolb Rapid, 231 Mile Rapid, and 232 Mile Rapid, famous for its fangs.
There are also interesting places to see, including Travertine Falls and Pumpkin Springs.
Does either Grand Canyon rafting trip feel more rushed?
People naturally assume that because one trip is seven days and the other is eight, the shorter trip must move faster because it is less days or the longer trip must move faster because in covers more miles.
That isn't really how our trips work.
On our 8-day full canyon trips, we typically camp a little below Whitmore Wash on the sixth night.
On our 7-day helicopter trips, we typically camp just above Whitmore Wash on the sixth night.
In other words, the two trips travel nearly identical distances during the first six days.
The amount of time available for hiking, exploring, and enjoying camp is essentially the same for the first 187 miles.
The difference comes at the end.
On the seventh morning of the helicopter trip, guests fly out of the canyon. On the full canyon trip, we continue downstream for nearly two more days of rafting.
After a couple of nights on the river, most guests have settled into what we call river mode. They've become comfortable sleeping under the stars, camping on sandy beaches, and letting the river set the pace of their lives.
By that point, most people don't want the trip to end, whether they're on a seven-day or eight-day itinerary.
What about taking a helicopter ride out of the Grand Canyon?
There is something pretty remarkable about finishing a rafting trip at the bottom of Grand Canyon, possibly still wet from Lava Falls, and then climbing aboard a helicopter.
After nearly a week surrounded by canyon walls, the helicopter lifts off from a sandbar near Whitmore Wash and climbs out of the canyon.
The flight takes approximately ten minutes and brings guests to the Bar 10 Ranch, where they transfer to an airplane for the return flight to Las Vegas or Page, depending on their itinerary.
It's an exciting experience, and our guests really enjoy it.
There's also something appealing about finishing your river journey just after Lava Falls. You've run the biggest rapid in Grand Canyon, enjoyed some of its best hiking, and now you get to see the canyon from the air.
For people returning to Grand Canyon for a second or third rafting trip, I think the helicopter take-out can be an especially attractive option.
It adds an entirely different experience to the adventure.
The Full Grand Canyon Rafting Experience. Why it is important to Complete the journey!
There is another way to look at a
Grand Canyon rafting trip.
Instead of ending the adventure shortly after Lava Falls, you stay with the
Colorado River all the way through Grand Canyon.
You begin at Lees Ferry, where the canyon walls are relatively low. The Indigenous People, Spanish, and eventually the Mormons used it as a location to cross the Colorado River. Almost immediately, those walls rise thousands of feet above you.
You travel through the deepest and most spectacular sections of the canyon, run its famous rapids, and explore its side canyons.
Then, below Whitmore Wash, the canyon opens up, narrows again in the Lower Granite Gorge, and eventually gives way to the landscape shaped by the changing levels of Lake Mead. And finally the walls all come down abruptly.
There is something satisfying about experiencing that entire progression.
You don't just visit the heart of Grand Canyon. You follow the Colorado River through the canyon from beginning to end.
For someone who has never rafted Grand Canyon before, I think that's a compelling reason to choose the full canyon trip.
What About the Hiking On These Grand Canyon Rafting Trips?
If hiking is one of your main reasons for visiting Grand Canyon, the choice between these two trips probably shouldn't come down to the number of days.
The best side-hiking opportunities are generally found above Whitmore Wash, and both trips travel that section at essentially the same pace.
On our full canyon trips, we generally make another two or three shorter stops below Whitmore Wash, depending on conditions and our schedule.
These can include interesting geological features, waterfalls, and other scenic locations.
But the extra day on the full canyon trip is primarily about seeing more river and canyon, not about adding an entire day of hiking.
Is One of These Grand Canyon River Trips More Comfortable or Physically Demanding?
Not really.
Both trips use the same style of motorized rafts, camping equipment, and general river routines.
At
Colorado River & Trail Expeditions, we provide camp cots, sleeping kits, tents when needed, meals, and the necessary river and camping equipment.
Neither trip requires substantially more physical ability than the other.
The helicopter take-out doesn't require any special athletic ability, and spending another day on the river generally doesn't make the full canyon trip noticeably more tiring.
Both trips can be excellent choices for older travelers and first-time rafters who are comfortable with the normal demands of a wilderness rafting expedition.
Which Grand Canyon Rafting Trip Is the Better Value?
This is one area where the answer might surprise people.
Our 7-day helicopter take-out trip is actually a little more expensive than our 8-day full canyon trip.
That's because the helicopter trip includes the helicopter flight from Whitmore Wash and an airplane flight back to Las Vegas or Page. The full canyon trip returns guests to Las Vegas by motor coach.
Both trips include transportation arrangements, food, camping equipment, and river gear.
If your main priority is getting the most time on the Colorado River for your money, the 8-day full canyon trip is the better value.
You spend more time rafting, see more of Grand Canyon, and pay a little less.
On the other hand, the helicopter trip includes a scenic flight out of one of the most spectacular landscapes on Earth. That experience has value of its own.
Which Trip Do Our Returning Guests Choose?
This is interesting because we have a lot of guests who return to Grand Canyon with us.
Among our repeat charter groups, the choice is fairly evenly divided between the helicopter take-out and the full canyon trip.
I think that tells you something important.
People who have already experienced the entire canyon often appreciate the opportunity to do something a little different.
They can revisit their favorite rapids and side hikes, finish at Whitmore Wash, and enjoy the helicopter flight.
But plenty of returning guests still want to travel the entire river again.
And I understand that, too.
Rafting the Grand Canyon is never exactly the same trip twice.
So Which Grand Canyon Rafting Trip Would I Recommend?
At Colorado River & Trail Expeditions, we run both trips, and I genuinely enjoy both.
But when someone asks me which one they should choose, I do have a recommendation.
If you're taking a motorized rafting trip through Grand Canyon for the first time, I recommend the 8-day full canyon trip.
You see the entire canyon, experience everything included on the 7-day trip, and continue through another 90 miles of beautiful scenery and exciting whitewater.
You also get an additional day on the river for a slightly lower price.
If you've already rafted Grand Canyon, or the helicopter flight is a major part of the adventure you're looking for, the 7-day rafting trip with helicopter trip exit is a wonderful choice.
And if you're considering one of our longer rowing or paddle rafting expeditions, I generally recommend the Whitmore Wash helicopter exit. Those trips travel more slowly, and ending at Whitmore makes sense for that style of expedition.
Ultimately, the choice comes down to two very different ways of completing an extraordinary adventure.
You can finish shortly after the biggest rapid in Grand Canyon, climb aboard a helicopter, and fly above the canyon you've spent the past week exploring.
Or you can stay with the Colorado River, watch the canyon change around you, and follow the river all the way to the end.
I've guided both many times. I tell my friends to do the entire thing the first time.
But Honestly, you really can't go wrong with either trip. The Grand Canyon is the best river trip in the world!
Walker Mackay has been guiding Colorado River rafting expeditions since 1995 and has completed approximately 150 trips through Grand Canyon. He is an owner and guide at Colorado River & Trail Expeditions, a family-owned rafting company operating since 1971.
