Suggestions for Professionally-guided Grand Canyon Outfitter

[Mike_P]

I'll be in Phoenix, AZ this weekend for a work trip & thought about scouting out an outfitter or two in the Phoenix/Flagstaff area that does profesionally-guided raft/oar trips down the Grand Canyon. Mainly want to make some contacts for possible future trip when my kids get older.

Any suggestions for which outfitters to talk to based on your experience? There are a handful in that area.

Thanks!
Mike P.
Rogers

[okieboater]

Brady at

http://moenkopiriverworks.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

gets a lot of good posts on several GC message boards I monitor.

would be nice to get a review from you on his operation

[prophet]

Moki Mac. great people

[Mike_P]

Thanks Dave!

[Crane]

Pat and I have done two trips with Canyoneers & they, too are professional, reliable, and try to give everyone the best possible experience. Crane

[flow]

Mike,
I have my 4th trip through Grand Canyon reserved for this May. All 4 with Grand Canyon Expeditions, GCEX.com Can't miss with these folks! The only outfitter that does the whole 277 miles from Lees Ferry to Pierce Ferry! Located in Kanab Utah.

Phil

[okieboater]

"Mike,
I have my 4th trip through Grand Canyon reserved for this May. All 4 with Grand Canyon Expeditions, GCEX.com Can't miss with these folks! The only outfitter that does the whole 277 miles from Lees Ferry to Pierce Ferry! Located in Kanab Utah.

Phil"

Phil, I did my first GC run with them back in 1991. I was in my kayak but I remember the food and support service was great. This was a Bob Foote canoe trip but since I had canoed with Bob a bit when he lived in the Tulsa area, he put me and a couple more Canadian kayakers on the trip. If memory correct the boatman was a gent named Fox and he was a great boatman and even better camp chef.

dave

[flow]

Dave,

Have never met Fox.
Celebrated my birthday at Cardenas camp just above Unkar in 2005. Swam Lava Falls in 2008 (flipped Dory in the second wave) ! Did you hike Nankoweap?

Phil

[Steve S]

We had a great trip in 2004 with Grand Canyon Expeditions (GCEX).

[Jaytee]

Virtually every outfitter approved as a park service concessionaire has been in busy for decades, has an impeccable reputation, and offers a similar "product." I've gone with both Grand Canyon Expeditions and Arizona Raft Adventures (AzRa) and they were both so terrific that you truly can't claim one is better. Hatch, Canyoneers, all have great reputations. Not all offer motorized trips, so if you want to see the entire canyon and can't swing a 14-16 day trip, you'll need to go with a company that offers that. Otherwise, all offer paddle or oar trips, and almost all offer dory trips.

The only weakness to GCEX was that I hate Las Vegas and when you go with them, you start and finish there (what culture shock, after getting off the river). On the other hand, AzRA starts and ends in Flagstaff, and there's no easy/cheap way from here to there, so you are talking about more inconvenient travel.

But I would go with any NPS approved concessionaire in a heartbeat. Check their websites... they can vary in terms of trip lengths, speciality expeditions, gear provided, and slightly in cost. I'd let those factors help you choose a company, rather than the other way around.

[Mike_P]

Good call thanks for all the advice. I didn't make it up to Flagstaff yesterday. FYI the original rec Dave made (Brady's company) emailed me back that they didn't fo guided trips.

[okieboater]

OOPS, sorry Mike. Brady gets a lot of recommendations and my mistake on guided trips.

Having said that looks like if you fly in and out to los wages, Grand Canyon Expeditions might be a good way to go, if you drive into Flagstaff one of the others that base out of there would be good.

My bud, Orville Wright used to do some work with a western river guided trip outfit, not sure about the company name. Getting in touch with Orville might give you some hands on recommendations.

[prophet]

My bud, Orville Wright used to do some work with a western river guided trip outfit, not sure about the company name. Getting in touch with Orville might give you some hands on recommendations.

OW doent get on here much so - Moki Mac is the outfittr he works with. Again, great people and if you're lucky the owner of the co. will be on your trip

[jermdog]

I work for Fort Tuthill doing mostly diamond down's, Moenkopi is awesome, Canyoneers are good, and Canyon REO are pretty good as well. Plus they're only 4 blocks from my house which is nice. Anywho, have fun.

[canoe]

Moki Mac. dale