Launching at Lee's Ferry

Family photo at Lee's Ferry.

ArizonaFamilyGrand Canyon NPTravelUSAkotzkids

Our crew, at Lee's Ferry

At Lee's Ferry we meet our crew (left to right): JP, the trip leader; Travis, the second boatman; Kirsten, the swamper.

ArizonaGrand Canyon NPTravelUSA

Departing Lee's Ferry

Many trips were launching this Sunday morning at Lee's Ferry.

ArizonaGrand Canyon NPTravelUSA

Boarding the rafts

Settled in on the boat.

ArizonaFamilyGrand Canyon NPTravelUSAkotzkids

Entering the Grand Canyon

The walls quickly rise as we enter the upper reaches of the Grand Canyon.

ArizonaGrand Canyon NPNatureTravelUSAapproxloc

Travis, our boatman

Travis, our boatman in the Grand Canyon.

ArizonaGrand Canyon NPTravelUSAapproxloc

Navajo Bridge

Navajo Bridge.

ArizonaGrand Canyon NPNatureTravelUSAapproxloc

Desert Bighorn

One of several Desert Bighorn we saw alongside the river.

ArizonaGrand Canyon NPNatureTravelUSAapproxloc

Lunch stop day 1

Lunch stop day 1.

ArizonaGrand Canyon NPNatureTravelUSAapproxloc

Cool shade at lunch

Lunch stop day 1 was in a cool niche in the canyon wall; I like how the rock reflects the cool green water.

ArizonaFamilyGrand Canyon NPNatureTravelUSAapproxlockotzkids

Afternoon on the river

The river continues down into the canyon.

ArizonaGrand Canyon NPNatureTravelUSAapproxloc

JP's boat leads on

JP's boat leads us onward through the cold clear waters of the Colorado.

ArizonaGrand Canyon NPNatureTravelUSAapproxloc

Rider canyon hike

We stop for a short hike in Rider Canyon, a deep side canyon.

ArizonaFamilyGrand Canyon NPNatureTravelUSA

Dried mud in Rider Canyon

Dried mud in the Rider Canyon wash.

ArizonaGrand Canyon NPNatureTravelUSA

Andy makes pictographs

Andy explains his newly made petroglyphs in Rider Canyon.

ArizonaFamilyGrand Canyon NPNatureTravelUSAkotzkids

Andy swims Rider Canyon

Andy finds the one swimmable pool in Rider Canyon wash.

ArizonaFamilyGrand Canyon NPNatureTravelUSAkotzkids

Late afternoon light

Late afternoon light on the Colorado River.

ArizonaGrand Canyon NPNatureTravelUSAapproxloc

Late afternoon light

Late afternoon light on the Colorado River. Camp 1 - Lone Cedar.

ArizonaGrand Canyon NPNatureTravelUSA

Andy watches sunset

Andy watches the sunset from Camp 1 - Lone Cedar.

ArizonaFamilyGrand Canyon NPNatureTravelUSAkotzkids

Sacred Datura blooms

Sacred Datura bloom only in the morning; at Camp 1 - Lone Cedar.

ArizonaGrand Canyon NPNatureTravelUSA

Riding in the "bathtub"

Andy, Mara, and John are ready for action in the "bathtub", front of the boat.

ArizonaFamilyGrand Canyon NPTravelUSAapproxlockotzkids

View from the front

View from the front of the boat early in the day.

ArizonaGrand Canyon NPNatureTravelUSAapproxloc

Andy prepares for a climb

Andy prepares for the Grotto climbing stopover.

ArizonaFamilyGrand Canyon NPNatureTravelUSAkotzkids

Andy studies the canyon

Andy checks out the scene at the Grotto climbing stopover.

ArizonaFamilyGrand Canyon NPNatureTravelUSAkotzkids

John pops out of a cave

John pops out of a hole in the canyon wall.

ArizonaFamilyGrand Canyon NPNatureTravelUSAkotzkids

Lead boat is dwarfed by cliffs

Approaching Vasey's Paradise, the boat is tiny next to the sheer Redwall sandstone at left.

ArizonaGrand Canyon NPNatureTravelUSA

Vasey's Paradise

Vasey's Paradise

ArizonaGrand Canyon NPNatureTravelUSA

Approaching Redwall Cavern

Our group stops briefly at Redwall Cavern, left.

ArizonaGrand Canyon NPNatureTravelUSA

Andy explores Redwall Cavern

Andy inside Redwall Cavern.

ArizonaFamilyGrand Canyon NPNatureTravelUSAkotzkids

View from Redwall Cavern

View downriver from Redwall Cavern.

ArizonaGrand Canyon NPNatureTravelUSA

View from Redwall Cavern

View upriver from Redwall Cavern, with a few oarboats (and paddleboards?!) arriving.

ArizonaGrand Canyon NPNatureTravelUSA

Lunch stop day 2

Lunch stop day 2.

ArizonaGrand Canyon NPNatureTravelUSA

Mule Deer stag

Mule Deer stag sighted along the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon.

ArizonaGrand Canyon NPNatureTravelUSA

Nankoweap peninsula

Our lead boat rounds the Nankoweap peninsula.

ArizonaGrand Canyon NPNatureTravelUSA

Travis reads at Nankoweap granaries

Travis reads to the group at the Ancient Granaries above Nankoweap.

ArizonaFamilyGrand Canyon NPNatureTravelUSAkotzkids

Nankoweap granaries

Andy checks out the Ancient Granaries above Nankoweap.

ArizonaFamilyGrand Canyon NPNatureTravelUSAkotzkids

Nankoweap granaries

David at the Ancient Granaries above Nankoweap, Grand Canyon.

ArizonaFamilyGrand Canyon NPNatureTravelUSA

View from the trail to the Ancient Granaries above Nankoweap.

ArizonaGrand Canyon NPNatureTravelUSA

View from Nankoweap granaries

View from the trail to the Ancient Granaries above Nankoweap.

ArizonaGrand Canyon NPNatureTravelUSA

Camp 2 - Nankoweap

Sunset at Camp 2 - Nankoweap.

ArizonaGrand Canyon NPNatureTravelUSA