On December 3 at 6 p.m. MST (8 p.m. Eastern), Western River Expeditions’ website will accept reservations for Grand Canyon 2026 departures that are among the world’s most coveted rafting vacations (and the first to fill up). These early bird booking dates are expected to secure reservations for up to 90 percent of Western River Expeditions’ 2026 Grand Canyon vacations inventory. Western River Expeditions says historically, demand outpaces supply; within hours of the reservation window opening, many departures are sold out. (To protect the Canyon, the National Park Service closely regulates the number of rafting participants traveling through the Grand Canyon each year, creating space limitations and a scramble for reservations.)
Reservation requests are best fulfilled, said Bonnie Cratch, reservations manager, if clients are flexible and aren’t locked into just one single departure date. While you can make a reservation request immediately online, those phoning in may experience short waits as reservationists work as quickly as they can to satisfy callers.
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 to V rapids are open to guests as young as 12. The minimum age is nine for three- and four-day trips that come with Class II to III rapids. Western’s exclusive J-Rig raft provides accessibility for all levels of rafters on even the largest whitewater rapids in the Grand Canyon. Rafting trips include plenty of hiking in side canyons that allow access to waterfalls, slot canyons, native ruins, rock art and geologic wonders that the 5 million or so casual hikers from the rim may never see.
For details on the trips, Western River Expeditions offers Expedition Guides. These include river maps, overviews, full itineraries, camping and weather information, details on physical requirements, packing lists and more.
For those who are flexible or miss the boat on Grand Canyon reservations, two lesser-known options to rafting the Grand Canyon include:
- A four-day trip through Utah’s Cataract Canyon, often referred to as the “The Grand Canyon’s Younger Sister." Located deep within Canyonlands National Park, this canyon is near enough in scale, appearance and proximity to the Grand Canyon.
- A five-day family-oriented journey down Desolation Canyon on the Green River in Utah. This is a mellower but offers a rafting experience suitable for kids as young as five.
If you’re looking to visit in 2025, Western River Expeditions still has some availability on select departures in the Grand Canyon as well as some experiences in Utah, Idaho and Oregon. To know more, call toll-free 866-904-1160 or visit www.westernriver.com.
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