Which Grand Canyon rafting company is the best? It’s a common question, and we’re often asked, “Why should I choose Arizona River Runners (ARR)?” Thankfully, that’s easy for me to answer because I love ARR, and I think you will too!
This is a small, family-run business. The owners, Bruce and Bill, are former Grand Canyon river guides who built a company culture that puts you first because they want you to have an unforgettable adventure. Bill’s son, TJ, has been managing the Operations Warehouse since 2012, after guiding river trips for 16 seasons. Bruce’s daughter, Lindsay, is involved in the administrative side of the business.
Grand Canyon river trips are the sole focus of our business – it’s all we do, and we can put all of our efforts into fine-tuning trips each year. The entire staff team (owners, office staff, guides, drivers, and trip hosts) is passionate about your experience. It’s fun to work with people who love what they do and care about each guest.
Our reviews are filled with compliments about our guides. This isn’t by accident. Each new guide works alongside various senior guides on numerous Grand Canyon trips before becoming a boatman. They learn how to cook delicious meals, where the best waterfalls are, how to run each rapid, when shade will reach each camp (the importance of this cannot be overstated), and fun ways to share facts about canyon geology, flora, fauna, and human history. They are certified in Wilderness First Aid or beyond. Our guides are with you to show you the best of what the Grand Canyon has to offer, and we work hard to keep them coming back. We have a low staff turnover rate, and we’re one of the few Grand Canyon companies to provide profit-sharing retirement accounts for seasonal staff – this is an awesome perk!
We have an incredibly knowledgeable reservations team. ARR sends office team members on a Grand Canyon trip each year so we can help you choose the best trip type, answer your detailed packing questions, give advice on how to pee in the river or keep cool on a hot day, and anything else you want to know. When you call our office, you’ll talk to one of our six office staff members instead of a distant call center. We get to know you and you get to know us. We’re your pre-trip guides, and we want your trip to go as smoothly as possible.
Our gear is top-notch. I’m probably biased, but I think our motorized rafts are the most comfortable style on the river. You’ll sit up higher, enjoy a back rest, and look out at the amazing scenery. Our oar rafts are great too, and we often send a motorized support raft, which carries some extra amenities and gives you more room to sit in the oar rafts. We provide fabulous meals, snacks, sodas, water, tents, cots, camp chairs, dry bags, sleeping bags, sheets, and pillows. You bring a duffel bag of your clothes and toiletries and a sense of adventure. We’ll take care of the rest.
I’ve worked here for over ten years now, and I’m as proud as ever to be a part of this hardworking team. Our owners really care about you, the staff, and sharing the Grand Canyon in a way that preserves it for future generations. As they step back from the day-to-day operations, they’ve empowered TJ, Lindsay, and the entire team to carry on their legacy. Now let’s go rafting!