A Grand Canyon float tour is probably the best way to take in this majestic National Park. As you meander down the smooth Colorado River, you'll come to appreciate the immensity of this natural wonder. Photographs just don't do it justice. Grand Canyon float tours all start at the same place on the river, but there are several ways to get there. The best choice is a tour that incorporates two modes of transportation: a plane ride to the spot where your pontoon raft is launched into the river, and then a bus ride back, with a stop along the way for shopping at historic Cameron Trading Post.
Plane flights leave from Grand Canyon National Park Airport, located in Tusayan, Arizona just outside the park's main gates. Flying east, you'll pass over Navajo country and the fabulous Painted Desert before landing at Page, Arizona.
A 4x4 Jeep will then drive you to Antelope Canyon, an otherworldly place that's one of several unique sights in the region. The channels cut between the rocks of the canyon are wide enough to walk through. Your Jeep will then drive through a two-mile tunnel, after which you'll arrive at the river bank at the base of Glen Canyon Dam. The dam itself is a spectacular sight, towering more than 70 stories high. Grand Canyon smooth-water rafting tours launch from this awe-inspiring spot.
If you'd rather skip the flight, you can take a motor coach tour to Glen Canyon Dam. Along the way, you'll have a stopover at Glen Canyon Recreational Area. The bus drivers and river guides are full of interesting information about the geology and history of the area, and they're happy to share it with you as you're witnessing the area's spectacular scenery.
Grand Canyon float tours meander down the Colorado River for more than 15 awesome miles - enough time and distance to let you see some truly majestic sights as you're soaking up the area's tranquility. You'll land at Horseshoe Bend, where after a short walk you'll be able to view ancient Native American petroglyphs (rock drawings). You'll also enjoy lunch while relaxing in the shade of the orange cliffs towering above you.
After lunch, you'll continue down the river to historic Lee's Ferry, which features an old trading post and fort. Your smooth-water rafting ends here, and you'll board a bus to take you back to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. Along the way, you'll stop at Cameron Trading Post for a quick shopping opportunity - it offers some of the region's finest Native American handicrafts.
Wear a wide-brimmed hat and sunscreen, because you'll be spending several hours in the hot sun. Long-sleeved shirts are recommended, but wear your swimsuit under your regular clothes, because you'll be stopping at places where you can enjoy a cool, relaxing dip in the river. Your smooth-water rafting tour should provide plenty of drinking water.
Half-day rafting is one of the most memorable of all Grand Canyon adventures. The water's calm (no whitewater rapids are in this part of the Colorado River), so these river excursions are suited to people of all ages - seniors and kids four years of age and up included. Book your tour in advance, because seats fill up fast. Find a reputable, dependable tour company and then make your reservations as soon as you can.
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