SALT LAKE CITY, UT, Oct. 5, 2023 – In 2023 nature graced the Rocky Mountain West with perfect rafting conditions in the Colorado River's majestic canyons of Utah and Arizona. Those who had the foresight to book months in advance were rewarded with an unparalleled rafting experience through the iconic Grand Canyon.
However, as Brandon Lake, co-owner and CMO of Western River Expeditions, points out, "Every silver lining has a cloud. Last-minute surges in interest this summer surpassed our expectations, and, unfortunately, we couldn't accommodate everyone." While some rafting enthusiasts managed to schedule for 2024, availability is already sparse for next year.
To meet this soaring demand, Western River Expeditions will unveil its 2025 rafting dates in early December 2023, offering three-, four-, six- and seven-day Grand Canyon trips. For seasoned rafters, this is an eagerly anticipated annual event. Historically, most departures are snapped up within hours of the booking window's opening.
Lake advises, "Our six- and seven-day expeditions fly off the shelf. Mark your calendars for our December booking date to be announced in mid-November, and be poised to book your adventure online the moment we open reservations." He further recommends having alternate dates and considering shorter trips or the less-traveled Cataract Canyon Expedition.
For those who need a nudge, Western River Expeditions has curated the "Seven Surprises of a Grand Canyon Trip" to amplify the allure:
The river rafting season on the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon runs from April into September. The longer six- and seven-day trips with the thrills of class III-V rapids are open to guests as young as 12. The minimum age is 9 for three- and four-day trips that come with class II-III rapids. Western’s exclusive J-Rig raft provides accessibility for first-time rafters on even the largest whitewater rapids in the Grand Canyon. Rafting trips include plenty of hiking that allows access to waterfalls, slot canyons, native ruins and geologic wonders that the five million or so casual day visitors atop the rim will simply never see.
For details on the trips, Western River Expeditions offers complimentary Expedition Guides in PDF format (https://www.westernriver.com/expedition-guide). The comprehensive guides include river maps, overviews, full itineraries, camping and weather information, details on physical requirements, packing lists, and more. Also see https://www.westernriver.com/grand-canyon-rafting.
Grand Canyon trips are always in high demand and fill quickly. The National Park Service regulates the number of rafting participants traveling through the Grand Canyon each year, creating space limitations. However, there are comparable (but perhaps lesser known) rafting destinations throughout the West such as Cataract Canyon and Desolation Canyon in Utah. For families wishing to experience a river rafting trip, Desolation Canyon is arguably one of the best family rafting adventures on the planet.
For a copy of Western River Expeditions’ annual catalog, questions, availability and reservations call toll-free: 866.904.1160 (Local: 801.942.6669) or visit the website at: http://www.westernriver.com/.
About Western River Expeditions
Western River Expeditions is an adventure travel company headquartered in Salt Lake City, with operations and offices in Moab, Utah and Fredonia, Arizona. Annually from March through October it escorts more people down rivers on professionally guided rafting trips in Utah, Idaho and Arizona than any other company. It is the largest licensed outfitter in the Grand Canyon and the largest single tour provider in Moab, UT, through its division Moab Adventure Center (http://www.moabadventurecenter.com/).
Western River Expeditions was founded in 1961 by Colorado River rafting pioneer Jack Currey. In 2023 it was chosen by the readers of USA Today 10Best as the #2 rafting company in the nation. The company is also the proud recipient of the "Best of State" award through Utah’s Premier Recognition and Awards Program for the past nineteen consecutive years (2004-2022).
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