Blog

Written by: Ava Simpson

I’ve been dreaming about doing a Grand Canyon river trip since I first started raft
guiding and kayaking. Back then it felt huge and kind of out of reach — like something
more experienced guides did, something you worked your way up to over time. So
when we pushed off from Lees Ferry on December 21st, it felt pretty surreal. I’d been
thinking about this trip for years.

25 days on the Colorado River isn't really a vacation. It’s more like settling into a
completely different way of living. You wake up with the sun, make coffee, rig boats,
float, read water, run rapids, set up camp, cook, clean, sleep — and then do it all again.
After a while, that routine just becomes normal, and time starts to feel a bit different.

We spent both Christmas and New Year’s in the Canyon, which was really special.
Christmas morning was French toast, coffee, and hot chocolate, and dinner turned into
a full-on holiday meal in the middle of nowhere. New Year’s Day looked a little different
— we celebrated by running Hanceville Rapid, which felt way more fitting than
champagne anyway

Food was honestly a highlight. We ate really well — breakfast burritos, eggs Benedict
on a layover day, wraps and fruit for lunch, and dinners like steak, chicken Alfredo, and
salmon over the fire. Having solid meals every day gave you something to look forward
to and kind of grounded everything.
Camps were mostly medium size sandy beaches tucked along the river. Pretty cozy
overall. The Ledges stood out though — super windy, and at one point a raven stole an
entire stick of butter. Nights were cold, but manageable with a good sleeping bag. A lot
of evenings ended around the fire… where I also managed to burn holes in my onesie,
which honestly feels very on brand for me. Layover days were a nice break from the
routine. We’d hike, chill, write, or mess around on a SUP. Having those slower days
made everything feel a bit more balanced.

The scale of the Canyon is hard to explain. Photos really don’t do it justice. From the
river, the walls just keep going — layer after layer, changing color with the light. There
were a lot of quiet moments just floating, looking up, and taking it all in.
Those slower stretches ended up being some of my favorite parts. Just drifting, chatting,
or not talking at all. It gives you a lot of space to think, or not think.
The rapids are a huge part of the experience. Names you hear all the time —
Houserock, Hance, Horn Creek, Granite, Crystal, Bedrock, Upset, Lava. Each one felt
like it deserved full attention. You scout, talk it through, and then go for it. Running them
in a raft was super engaging — big water, big waves, and a lot of focus. Upset was
probably my favorite — fast, steep, and just wave after wave. Lava at the end definitely
lived up to the hype.

I only kayaked for three days, but it felt really fun and light — just moving with the river.
Most of my time was in a raft though, which is where I felt like I learned and grew the
most. Getting to share that with my twin sister made it even better — running rapids
side by side and building confidence together.

And yeah… the sand. Our shuttle driver warned us: “The sand is the Devil.” He wasn’t
wrong. It got into everything — gear, clothes, food, sleeping bags — and somehow
followed us home. I’m still finding it.
When we reached take-out on January 15th, I mostly just felt really grateful. It’s hard to
explain exactly what the trip gives you, but it sticks. Something about the routine, the
scale of the place, and the time spent out there. Even now, I still think about the rapids,
the canyon walls, and the feeling of being on the river. It’s one of those experiences that
doesn’t really leave you.