Excellent service. Capt Clay was helpful and safety…read moreconscious. Good company with well maintained equipment. Will definitely use their service again.

Kayaking the Colorado River in this canyon was one of the most memorable experiences of my…read morelifetime! The first time I visited Horseshoe Bend from the top, I spied with my little eye kayakers in the water and knew that my next visit would be a completely different adventure! Kayaking down this very slow stream of water with wildlife and breathtaking walls surrounding you under a clear blue sky....it all seemed like a dream. I mean, I know I was there and have videos and photos to prove it, but nothing compares to the actual experience of being there. For my third visit in the future, I'll be taking the backhaul/taxi all the way to Glen Canyon Dam and camping on the way out! There are a number of companies to choose from for this experience, and they all start at Lee's Ferry. Kayak Horseshoe Bend had some of the more competitive prices and best launch times for us, and we're glad we chose this company. The staff was lovely and gave us guidance on stops along the way. Even though the water taxi/backhaul service was pricey, it is well worth it, as I don't think even on my best day that I could kayak upriver for that many miles. We got a tandem kayak because my girlfriend has weak hands and wrists, and the kayak was sturdy. Our water taxi driver wasn't lying when he said, "You would have to really try to capsize this thing." Our one complaint is that the backrests on our kayak were garbage. They provided no support and made for some uncomfortable positions. Overall, this was a peaceful and wondrous trip. For those wondering, it is about 5 hours from the petroglyphs back to Lee's Ferry. I can't wait to return!

"This is not a vacation...this is an expedition!" was the first thing our fearless captain Josh…read moresaid to us during our orientation - and that's when I knew this was going to be an epic adventure. The week I spent rafting the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon National Park with Hatch was one of the most epic and incredible experiences OF MY LIFE. Firstly - our awesome boatman Josh and his amazing "swamper" (aka second in command) Jeremiah were just all around wonderful human beings - helpful, extremely knowledgeable river/backcountry experts with kind, happy hearts and a deep love and respect for the river and the canyon. They kept us safe, happy, entertained, and surprisingly well fed all week. So, a huge TY to Josh and Jeremiah for giving our group such an epic adventure! Our days would start with delicious coffee around 530am, followed by a substantial breakfast. The options varied each day but included bacon, ham, or sausage, pancakes, French toast, breads, cheeses, fruits, and Jeremiah even cooked our eggs to order each day - however you liked them! He was a phenomenal chef! Then we'd pack up camp and hit the river for a day of running rapids, sightseeing, and side hikes. In between the rapids and adventures, we'd find a magnificent spot to stop for lunch where we'd unload part of the "kitchen" and have various sandwiches, chips, and cookies after exploring the canyon for a bit. By 330-4pm everyday we'd find our camp for the night, unload the boat, and our guides would get to work on dinner while we set up our tents and cots. Dinners were just mind blowing - we had something different every night and the spreads were impressive. They'd start us off with hors d'oeurves of various cheeses, crackers, and accompaniments to hold us over until the main show - Steak, carnitas, pork roast, tortellini, burgers, salmon, and all manner of veggies, salads, and sides. And each night we even had desserts like cakes and puddings! Josh wasn't lying when he said this trip was an expedition. In between all the fabulous meals, our days consisted of loading/unloading all the gear off the boats (and it was a TON of gear), barreling through intense whitewater rapids in water less than 60°F off and on for 6-8 hours, hiking, swimming, setting up camp, and sleeping under the stars! It was one of the most challenging - things I've ever done. And even though Hatch and our guides did a substantial amount of the hard work, I highly recommend you take their preparation suggestions seriously - especially planning ahead for the physical requirements bc this trip is extremely taxing. For almost 8 months ahead of my trip, I did hikes 4-5 days a week with at least 450 feet elevation gain, a mile swim once a week, weight training 3x/week, and once a week I tried to hike close to 1000 feet gain for conditioning. It paid off tremendously on this trip - and helped me to enjoy the experience so much more than if I hadn't prepared. That being said, the hiking they offer is optional and most of your boat-mates will do the heavy lifting if you aren't able. It was impressive how everyone pulled together as a team to help each other out in these extreme backcountry environments. Our camp environments changed each day ranging from sandy beaches to steep rocky ledges right next to the river. The further down into the canyon we ventured, the hotter it got, so sleeping inside the tent was pretty unbearable. Daytime temps ran from mid-90s to low 100s. I ended up sleeping outside under the stars on my cot every night. We did encounter a few rainstorms so we always set up our tent anyway just in case we had to jump in it if the rain was too heavy (which only happened twice). And as for the toilet/bathing situation- this is probably one of the most anxiety-inducing aspects of this extreme backcountry camping for most people. There is no "bathing" really - I brought lots of bath "wipes" and wiped down once or twice a day - and would swim in the river when I could, using an eco-friendly soap if river bathing was available. Sometimes it wasn't based on the extreme topography of the campsite and the dangerous currents/rapids of the river. Toileting is interesting haha! All urine must go into the river (it's the law actually and they take it seriously). So we'd either cop-a-squat in the water or use the pee bucket by the "groover" (aka the poop toilet lol) and then rinse it out in the river. The groover is exclusively for going #2. It's a chemical toilet container fitted with a toilet seat and was relatively comfortable - and always had incredible views of the river haha! Can't be shy on an expedition like this! I learned so much about myself and about one of the world's most dramatic and beautiful natural wonders - tysm to Hatch, Josh, and Jeremiah (and our photography workshop leader Colleen Miniuk) for the adventure of a lifetime!! My goal is to take my son on this incredible journey someday so hopefully I'll get to see you all again!

Great rafting trip in the Grand Canyon. Food, staff and camping were excellent. Side hikes were…read morenot to be missed.

Great customer service and hospitality. Very friendly and welcoming. They know the area for guidanceread more

My favorite place to stay when I'm in the Marble Canyon area!! It is such a cute and cozy place,…read morethe views are incredible, the staff are awesome people, and there's so many cool hikes in the area. At night you will see a blanket of constellations in the sky and it's the most incredible night sky I have ever seen. Highly recommend this gem!

Amazing trip. A bit busier than when I travels there 7 years ago but still very secluded and…read moretranquil. Kayak the Colorado was accommodating and the guides were excellent. I would do this again and again

Shaun was so kind - I almost made a much bigger drive than necessary but he kindly informed me of…read morethe fallacy of my plans. Grateful for his service

Our 7-day rafting trip through the Grand Canyon with Wilderness River Adventures (June 12-18) was…read morean experience my kids (Elise and Jake) and I will never forget. From start to finish, it was everything we hoped for--and so much more. The scenery was, of course, jaw-dropping. Towering canyon walls, hidden waterfalls, star-filled skies--it felt like stepping into another world. But what made the trip truly exceptional were our guides. Billy and Lori led one boat, and Kale and Hollywood the other. These four didn't just steer us through the rapids--they brought the river to life. They were incredibly knowledgeable about the geology, history, and wildlife of the canyon. Their storytelling kept us all engaged, and their cooking? Surprisingly fantastic for a remote river trip--think fresh fruit, fish tacos, fajitas, smoked salmon, guacamole, and even brownies one night! Elise, Jake, and I have all done trips like this before--this was my fourth, and their second--and we agreed this was one of the best. The guides struck the perfect balance between adventure and comfort, creating a fun, relaxed atmosphere while keeping everything running smoothly and safely. Wilderness River Adventures runs a tight, professional operation with just the right amount of laid-back charm. If you're looking for a meaningful, memory-making adventure with your family, this is it.

Just took a trip through the Grand Canyon with Wilderness River Adventures. To say it was the trip…read moreof a lifetime, is an enormous understatement. Kale, Hollywood, Billie & Lori are the best guides ever!!! They really know their sh*t.

What a phenomenally epic journey we enjoyed with CRATE! This company really knows how to raft the…read moreColorado River. My husband and I went on the nine-day journey through all 280 miles of the Grand Canyon, and when we finished, we wanted to do the whole thing again. We've been back home for a month and a half, and we can't stop thinking about it and yearning to return. The early stages of planning involved lengthy phone conversations with the owner, Vicki, and she was so kind and patient throughout the whole process. The river guides (Ben and John) were phenomenal, and so were the swampers, Lon and Rob. Exquisite food, astonishing beauty, life-changing adventure. Thank you!

I've been on 3 of these rafting trips and CRATE is the best. You won't get more committed folks who…read moreare passionate about both 1) the Grand Canyon and nature, and 2) making sure your experience is the best. These folks are the most wonderful people and no one knows how to navigate the wonders of the Grand Canyon better. Do yourself the favor of a wilderness expedition with CRATE. We're doing Alaska next!

I booked online about a week in advance but accidentally selected the wrong time. After a little…read morephone and email tag, their team quickly helped me switch to my preferred slot. The day before our tour, Julia called to let us know strong headwinds were expected and asked if we wanted to adjust our time. We already had a different morning tour scheduled, and they were incredibly accommodating with our plans. At the launch site, we met our guide Logan, and we were lucky that it was just our family of four on this tour. Husband and I wore aqua shoes and my daughters opted to wear their Birkenstock sandals and go barefoot, which was fine if you're okay with getting red mud on them. Logan was friendly, patient, and extremely knowledgeable. I was a bit nervous since I'm a beginner kayaker, but he let us move at our own pace. It ended up being a great workout while still feeling peaceful and relaxing. The scenery was absolutely stunning. The canyon was quiet, beautiful, and not crowded at all. We paddled across Lake Powell and into the canyon, and the cool lake water felt amazing in the warm end-of-March weather (mid-80s). They provided life jackets, offered bottled water, and Logan even took photos of us both on the water and at the end of the canyon, which we really appreciated. He also shared helpful paddling tips along the way. The entire tour lasted about 2.5-3 hours and was a perfect mix of adventure and relaxation. Highly recommend for families and beginners looking for a scenic and well-guided kayaking experience!

This was such a cool experience! We had the best guide John who was an absolute gem! Our group was…read moreabout 6 people all varying in age and fitness level. Our group completed the kayak and hike which were very much worth it! We needed slight accommodations and Sid and John were reassuring and supportive for both my mom and I. This tour is really for everyone and I can't recommend this tour company and John enough. Because we traveled during off season, we had the entire lake and trail to ourselves. John left much time for us to take cool pictures and was a wealth of knowledge. He made sure to engage with each person in the group and was successful in getting the more shy individuals to step out of their comfort zones. John and Sid (the other employee) made this tour worth it. They provided awesome recommendations for things in the area and also future outdoor related activities in the U.S. Be sure to pack enough water. Remember you are in a kayak and your items will likely get soaked. Luckily they provide one water proof bag per kayak which can hold your phone and camera. If you feel the need to pack more, I recommend that you bring your own waterproof back pack. I opted to go barefoot in the kayak and wear shoes on the hike. You will have to walk through water to get on and off of the boat. Do not let your size and fitness level deter you from this tour. The team is incredibly accommodating and reassuring, making this the perfect tour for all. Highly recommend this tour and either Sid or John!

I cannot recommend this enough…read more This was the most breathtaking kayak through the canyons; and the hike was spectacular. A friend and I booked this event for her 40th birthday and it was the absolute highlight of our trip! We were thinking of renting kayaks and doing it ourselves but are both so grateful that we didn't because our tour guide, Ryan, was fantastic-- extremely knowledgeable, helpful, witty, and patient with us, as we were both beginners. He made it really fun! We learned that Britney Spears shot her video "I'm not a girl, not yet a woman" there, too! This was so worth it and will definitely be coming back and booking with Ryan!

I'll say the customer service at the shop was amazing; REALLY nice girls. We asked if we could take…read moreour boards there. She said yes but the benefit of using them was they carried the boards down and up a steep hill. We were there on Saturday April 25th. So we rented two paddle boards and she warned us about the winds. It was like $155. She was nice so we went for it. We get to the site and are waiting around. They haven't even taken the boards off the truck, but we were fine waiting. Layla finally made it up the HILL and had 2 boards taken off the truck and laid on the ground. I asked if any of the MANY men who were there and carrying kayaks down, was going to carry them down. She said no, you carry them. And that hill was STEEP. I figured meh, okay. I was annoyed since we were told they'd be ready for us at the bottom. Layla carried my paddle. Once I saw the hill, I was even more annoyed but I already paid $155 plus $30 entry to the lake. When we got to the bottom, she mentioned when we got back I had to carry it back up. I said I'm not doing that. lol. She held my leash so I could climb on my board. Not an easy task where we were. The paddle boarding was rough but we knew that, the girls at the office warned us. 5 miles later we returned. I STRUGGLED getting off the board and trying to haul it up by myself, my body was shaking and I was visibly exhausted. A young man who worked for this place, WATCHED me struggle. Asked how it was, I said it sucked. He mentioned me carrying the board up that steep hill, while I was shaking from exhaustion and out of breath, and I said "I'm not doing that" and he replied with "why is it heavy?" I did carry my life jacket and paddle...but after that comment I REALLY didn't want to. Layla gave me a water at the top and said to take a breath, I was breathing very heavy. I'd say don't rent paddle boards. You will have to carry them up and down the hill and will get no assistance getting off the board either. But they did carry the kayaks and help those people who also paid like we did, in and out of the kayaks. So maybe rent those and not the paddle boards.

What a thrill. Just got back from the 8 day motorized raft trip! Been waiting my whole adult life…read morefor this trip and it did not disappoint! Our guide Adam was the best. He knew the river and canyon backwards and forwards. He was a great storyteller and a wonderful guide and boatman. I always felt safe and he got us the best camping spots and the knew the best side canyons to explore. Swamper Orion was awesome. He was a great cook and a hard worker. We were never hungry! Both these guys were the best.

What can you say? This was glamping beyond my wildest expectations! The food was fresh every day,…read moretwo hot meals and a cold lunch each day, cold juice and soda beverages at any time. The guides, Glade and Hannah, were terrific, like personal chefs there to assure you had a great time and were safe. They aimed at the best part of every rapid- a real E-ticket ride. Some advice: 1. bring more alcohol-it was hot in August, probably 100, we are not big drinkers but 3-4 cold beers a day would sure have been nice, we ran out on day 6 2. wear light colored clothes if the weather is going to be warm 3. bring a walking stick, very helpful on the hikes scrambling over boulders and rocks 4. bring more alcohol 5. a waterproof day pack to have some gear readily accessible on the raft would have been nice 6. Have a set of river shoes, and a set of hiking shoes for shore excursions. My river shoes were great on wet rocks in the river, but tenuous at best when hiking 7. bring more alcohol 8. I balked at the sarong idea and regretted it, sarong would have been great to keep cool on the raft and to provide additional sun protection 9. Gel or spray on deodorant would have been nice, I brought body wash but it did not really cut it. 10. Consider going in May-mid July time frame when river is running clear. Once monsoon season starts in Arizona the river runs silty. Still a great trip. GCE is one of the few companies that provides cots and sleeping pads and sleeping bags as part of the experience, other companies might charge extra.