Lees Ferry is the launch site for all of the upper and full Grand Canyon raft trips. It is the only place within Glen Canyon where visitors can drive to the Colorado River in over 700 miles of Canyon Country, right up to the first rapid in the Grand Canyon. The photo above shows some of the rafts which were launching that day as well as the drybags for all the rafters on our trip.

The launch site is no longer a ferry but it was historically a ferry crossing during the 1800's. The Mormons were settling in that area and there were frequent clashes between the Mormon settlers and the native peoples. John D. Lee was sent by the Mormon Church to establish a ferry across the Colorado River to expand settlements. The Mormon Church provided the lumber and the manpower to build the first ferry boat at Lees Ferry, the Colorado, in 1873. Soon after wagonloads of colonists began arriving to be ferried across the river to begin new Mormon settlements in Arizona.

Although Lees Ferry no longer serves as the gateway to the Mormon world it is the gateway to anyone who wants to raft or kayak the Grand Canyon. While technically Lees Ferry is not in the Grand Canyon proper (It's in Marble Canyon), most river maps show Lees Ferry as mile 0 for the 226 mile trip to Diamond Creek, where most rafters take-out.



Although experienced rafters and kayakers can do their own trip down the Grand Canyon (with permits), the easiest way to get on a trip is to go with an established outfitter. Dad did a little internet search and came up with two options: a trip with Elderhostel (although I'm not exactly elderly, he's 76 and figured they would let me on as his guest) and a trip with Diamond River Adventures. Diamond River isn't the only outfitter licensed to do trips down the Grand Canyon, but I think it's the most affordable. Otherwise I'm sure we would have gone with someone else!



This wasn't my first raft trip. I've been on a few other class III's and class IV's. And of course I've kayaked whitewater for many years. But this was Dad's first taste of whitewater. I'm not sure he knew what to expect. I'm sure the adrenaline was pumping in the beginning but by the end of the trip the little rapids we had on that first day would probably just lull him to sleep.



I have the full photo album finished but I'm not going to post the link until the final Grand Canyon post ... otherwise people won't read all my blog posts! More posts to come.

-Susanita