Grand Canyon Rafting Adventure

Grand Canyon Rafting Trip Lengths & Map Guide | Miles, Sections & Duration

GRAND CANYON RAFTING TRIPS

Visualize Trip Durations and River Routes from Lees Ferry to Pearce Ferry

Advantage Grand Canyon offers the most complete overview of Grand Canyon rafting trip lengths available anywhere. Our experts have mapped every route—from Lees Ferry (Mile 0) to Pearce Ferry (Mile 280)—so you can see exactly how long each trip takes and where it begins and ends.

This guide combines trip durations, river mile markers, and hiking logistics to help you plan your perfect expedition. Whether you want to raft the full canyon, hike in at Phantom Ranch, or fly out by helicopter, this is your go-to trip planning resource.

See how long each Grand Canyon rafting trip takes, where it starts and ends, and what access methods you’ll use.
This page combines trip durations, river mile markers, and entry/exit logistics — everything you need to visualize your adventure from Lees Ferry to Pearce Ferry.

This page is for you if: you want to see how trip lengths translate into miles, sections, and hiking or helicopter access points.

Want to understand what each trip actually feels like day-to-day?
Visit our Grand Canyon Trip Itineraries by Section & Raft Type ».

ADVANTAGE GRAND CANYON

How Long Do Grand Canyon Rafting Trips Take?

Commercial Grand Canyon rafting season runs April–October, with trip durations ranging from 3 to 16+ days depending on raft type and section.

Trip Type	Motorized	Non-Motorized	Start / End	Access
Upper Canyon	~4 days	6–7 days	Lees Ferry → Phantom Ranch	Hike out via Bright Angel Trail
Lower Canyon	5–6 days	7–10 days	Phantom Ranch → Whitmore / Diamond / Pearce Ferry	Hike in via Bright Angel Trail
Full Canyon	6–8 days	12–16 days	Lees Ferry → Whitmore / Diamond / Pearce Ferry	No hiking required
Western Canyon	3–5 days	—	Whitmore Wash → Pearce Ferry	Helicopter access

Trip Lengths at a Glance

Blue bars = Typical trip duration

Gray bars = Extended range

Hike icons = Trips requiring Bright Angel Trail hike (Upper & Lower Canyon)

👉 Shorter motor trips cover the same miles faster.
👉 Longer non-motor trips allow for deeper immersion, side hikes, and slower pace.

Get Personal Trip Match

Interactive Canyon Map (Coming Soon)

Soon you’ll be able to hover over river sections to see trip durations, mile markers, and access points in an interactive format.
For now, here’s a quick look at the key Grand Canyon landmarks along the river:

Lees Ferry (Mile 0): Launch point for Full & Upper Canyon trips
Phantom Ranch (Mile 88): Midway hike in/out access
Whitmore Wash (Mile 188): Helicopter access point
Diamond Creek (Mile 225): Common takeout for oar and paddle trips
Pearce Ferry (Mile 280): Final takeout for most motorized trips

(Distances may vary slightly depending on water flow and outfitters.)

GRAND CANYON RAFTING

Trip Lengths by Section

Upper Canyon

Duration

Motorized ~4 days | Oar/Paddle ~6–7 days

Miles:

0–88

Highlights

Redwall Cavern, Vasey’s Paradise, Little Colorado River confluence

Challenge

Hike out via Bright Angel Trail (7.5+ miles, 4,400 ft elevation gain)

Best For

Adventurous hikers and first-timers short on time

Lower Canyon

Duration

Motorized 5–6 days | Oar/Hybrid/Paddle/Dory 7–10 days

Miles:

88–188/225/280

Highlights

Havasu Creek, Deer Creek Falls, Hermit Rapids, Lava Falls

Challenge

Hike in via Bright Angel Trail (7.5+ miles downhill)

Best For

Whitewater enthusiasts and strong hikers

Full Canyon

Duration

Motorized 6–8 days | Non-Motorized 12–16 days

Miles:

0–188/225/280

Highlights

Every major canyon landmark, from Marble Canyon to Lava Falls

Challenge

No hiking required — continuous river travel

Best For

Bucket-list travelers ready to see it all

Western Canyon

Duration

Motorized only, 3–5 days

Miles:

188–280

Highlights

Travertine Falls, Pumpkin Springs, lava formations

Challenge

None — helicopter access in and out

Best For

Families, first-timers, or travelers short on time

ADVANTAGE GRAND CANYON

Physical Requirements by Section

Commercial Grand Canyon rafting season runs April–October, with trip durations ranging from 3 to 16+ days depending on raft type and section.

Section	Hike Required?	Details
Upper Canyon	✅ Yes – Hike out	7.5+ miles uphill (4,400 ft gain)
Lower Canyon	✅ Yes – Hike in	7.5+ miles downhill – steep terrain
Full Canyon	❌ No	Continuous river travel
Western Canyon	❌ No	Helicopter access