Compare Grand Canyon Rafting -- Lees Ferry to Phantom Ranch by O.A.R.S vs Hiking and Camping in Yellowstone by Intrepid Travel
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| Trip |
5 | Excellent
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4.5 | Great
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| Duration | 7 days | 5 days |
| Price From | $ 2,578 | $ 2,230 |
| Price Per Day | $ 368 | $ 446 |
| Highlights |
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| Trip Style | Group tour | Small group tour |
| Lodging Level | Premium | Basic |
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| Flights & Transport | Ground transport included | Ground transport included |
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| Meals Included | N/A | N/A |
| Description |
This 87-mile section of the Colorado River is an excellent introduction to the Grand Canyon as the rapids progress from moderate to extra large and the cliffs and rock layers rise higher and higher. We see some of the most striking and vibrantly colored limestone cliffs as we pass Arizona's Marble Canyon. Our Grand Canyon adventure includes visits to Native American ruins, the fern-fringed spring of Vasey’s Paradise, the cool recess of Redwall Cavern, ancient fossils and a swim in the turquoise blue Little Colorado. At the end of the week of floating, hiking and camping in the Grand Canyon's majesty, we arrive at the boat beach near Phantom Ranch, deep in the Granite Gorge. After a final night in the canyon, this Grand Canyon rafting trip concludes with a dramatic 9.7 mile hike up to the South Rim the following morning. O.A.R.S. Grand Canyon, Inc. is an authorized concessioner of Grand Canyon National Park. |
Immerse yourself in an outdoor adventure with comforts like showers and cosy sleeping amenities and go on five diverse Yellowstone hikes which come together to create a comprehensive, unforgettable experience. Enjoy breathtaking mountain scenery, the park’s most well-known and spectacular geysers, and spectacular wildlife viewing. Relax around the campfire, eat tasty meals cooked by your guide, and soak up the magic of Yellowstone before and after your hikes. Enjoy fantastic hiking and learn about America’s first national park while camping in its beautiful backcountry surrounds. |
- Shuttle from our meeting point in Flagstaff, AZ to our put-in below Glen Canyon Dam at Lees Ferry
- We enter Marble Canyon and within the first few miles of the trip we see the first signs of the fascinating geology of the canyon as the Kaibab and Toroweap formations make their appearance, followed by Coconino Sandstone
- Raft Badger and Soap Creek rapids before stopping to camp at a sandy beach
- The first signs of Esplanade Sandstone appear in the canyon walls followed by the Wescogame, Manakacha and Watahomigi formations as we negotiate a series of 8 medium intensity rapids
- As we float deeper into the canyon past Vasey’s Paradise we reach Redwall Cavern, a vast chamber in the canyon wall that Powell estimated would seat 50,000 people
- Deeper still, we raft through Mile 36 Rapid and Mauv Limestone appears in the canyon walls followed by Temple Butte Limestone and Bright Angel Shale
- A hike to the ancient Native American granaries at Nankoweap rewards us with one of the best downriver views in the Grand Canyon
- The canyon begins to spread out in front of us as we encounter Tanner, Unkar, Nevills and the formidable Hance Rapid
- Black Vishnu Schist and pink Zoroaster Granite (some two billion years old) appear in the canyon walls
- Spend our last night in the canyon at Phantom Ranch before hiking 9.7 miles out of the canyon on the Bright Angel Trail the next morning
Day 1 Yellowstone National Park
After a pick up at your accommodation in Jackson, we'll we'll drive to the Elephant Back Mountain for our first hike of the trip, taking in flecks of black obsidian beneath our feet on our way to a lookout spot which offers an awe-inspiring bird’s eye view. Take in the glittering waters of Yellowstone Lake on a hike to Storm Point, a relatively flat loop that leads to a stunning vista of the largest lake above 7,000 feet in North America. The hike begins at Indian Pond, a favourite locale for bison, and continues through a lodge pole pine forest to a bluff overlooking the picturesque shore of this hydrothermal fed lake. Before completing our loop, we will walk past enormous boulders, which are home to a colony of yellow-bellied marmots. If we are lucky, we may see them basking in the sun.
Day 2 Yellowstone National Park
Start your day with one of the most beautiful hikes in the park, a walk to the summit of Mt. Washburn at over 10,000 feet. The trail to the summit travels through picturesque subalpine parkland where wildflowers cover the grass and bighorn sheep are sometimes seen grazing in nearby meadows. Enjoy spectacular views of the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone – a giant rift in a landscape of forested hills - and Yellowstone Lake, the Teton Range, and Electric Peak. From here, we’ll drive to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone for a short stroll out to Artist Point for phenomenal waterfall views.
Day 3 Yellowstone National Park
Today we’ll kick off our hiking day with a visit to one of the Park’s most iconic features – Mammoth Hot Springs – where we will view steaming travertine terraces streaked with colourful microorganisms. From here, we will leave the crowds behind and head out on the Beaver Ponds Trail where we will hike through a forest that is home to a variety of wildlife including bears before we reach small ponds where it’s possible to spot waterfowl. Take in the scenic view from grassy hilltop as you keep an eye out for pronghorn, deer, and elk.
Day 4 Yellowstone National Park
Begin your day in the Upper Geyser Basin where you’ll be able to take in some of the park’s most famous features, including Old Faithful. Next we’ll travel a few miles down the road for a hike out to Lone Star Geyser. This is a beautiful hike along the aptly named Firehole River to the largest backcountry geyser in the park: Lone Star Geyser. Lone Star is found in a clearing surrounded by dense forest and erupts from a shed-sized cream-coloured mound. The geyser erupts around every three hours and a log book is kept nearby so we’ll know when the next eruption is set to occur.
Day 5 Yellowstone National Park
Our final day’s hike takes us through classic Yellowstone meadows and lodgepole pine forests to Fairy Falls, a 200-foot waterfall plunging off a pine-studded cliff. After we soak up the sights and sounds of Fairy Falls, we will end our tour with a stop at the Grand Prismatic overlook. The Grand Prismatic is the largest hot spring in the United States and one of the most iconic features in the park. It is a great way to close out our Yellowstone adventure. Our hiking adventure concludes with a relaxing shuttle ride back to Jackson where your trip will come to an end at approximately 7 pm.
