Truly an Unforgettable and Fun Experience!

Rated 4.9 out of 5 based on 2025 customer reviews

Caroline R. - CA, United States | April 20, 2024

We went on a 3-day trip on the Colorado River as a family of four with 2 kids, 11 and 13. This was the perfect duration for us - just long enough to get a great variety of views and activities, but brief enough that I didn't miss being connected or having my usual creature comforts.

First of all, the guides were top-notch. We happened to be on the first trip of the season, but they worked together well and things ran smoothly. I learned that Western River Expeditions has been running these trips since 1961, and their experience really shows. The food was really really good, especially the hot breakfasts and dinners. I admit I wasn't expecting much, but we were all blown away by the delicious meals, and I could not resist the scrumptious desserts. I highly recommend bringing your own beer or other canned beverages to complement the meals (water and lemonade are provided) if that's your thing.

We had 28 participants and 4 guides on two rafts. While you don't need to worry about logistics, there are multiple modes of transportation required to get to and from the river and a good deal of waiting in between, so make sure the kids have water, snacks, and any low-tech entertainment to keep them happy.

I won't go into a lot of detail about the details of the trip, but I'll share a few tips - first and foremost, be prepared for extremes in temperature. Don't worry about having multiple changes of clothes - you're not going to properly bathe, so just plan to rinse your wet items in the river and hang them to dry overnight.

Next, plan to sleep under the stars! I had never done this before and thought it would be too much for me with other people around and no privacy, but it was surprisingly comfortable! There were no pesky bugs or critters and it was easy to fall asleep in the open air. I was so exhausted each day by the time we had set up our tents, cots, and chairs, that I could barely make it past dinner. I passed out on my cot the first night before it was fully dark out. I did wake up several times in the middle of the night, and the night sky was stunning and full of multiple constellations and shooting stars.

Women and girls - get comfortable with squatting to pee, because it's the only way, unless you have a stand-to-pee device.

Sit at the front of the boat at least once. I don't love to get drenched with icy water, but it was thrilling going over some of the bigger rapids.

You can choose to be as social or quiet as you like - we had a good mix of personalities and I felt very comfortable with the group.

This is not an inexpensive trip, but to me it was worth every penny for the attention and care given to every aspect of the trip, especially our safety. Our guides were highly skilled at rafting and camping, but also super friendly and personable, and they clearly love what they do. They somehow memorized all of our names, which was a very nice touch. I always felt safe on the boat and appreciated the briefings we got about what to expect and what we needed to do.

As we wrapped up our trip, my 11-year-old son declared, "I want to do this again!" I smiled and told him, "You can bring your kids here someday!"

The picture I'm sharing is from the second day when we hiked and climbed to a hidden waterfall at Travertine Grotto.