Colorado River Rafting
Float the Colorado River with ASU geologists and rafting experts!
A Trip of a lifetime
Float down the Colorado River, sleep under the stars (or in a tent if you wish!). Looking up at towering rock cliffs during the day and a star-filled sky at night. IHO secures two boats for a week-long trip down the Colorado River guided by two ASU geologists—Chris Campisano PhD and Ramon Arrowsmith PhD.
Campisano and Arrowsmith will engage you in understanding the deep geological history of the Grand Canyon, an experience you won't receive anywhere else.
Expert river rafting company Hatch River Expeditions provides seasoned river runners to guide the boats and daily logistics while also providing a wealth of knowledge about the river and the canyon.
You will be roughing it—but not totally! Sleep in tents or on cots under the stars, eat three freshly prepared meals each day under a bright blue Arizona sky, and travel down the river as we go back two billion years of Earth's history.
This is an amazing bucket list experience and includes not only some of the biggest, most famous rapids.
- Questions? Visit the Hatch River Expedition FAQ page for a full list of guest requirements and responsibilites
- Rafting itinerary can be found here
- Hatch will not take children 8 and under and there are minimum physical requirement
Join us!
Email Aubree Morrissey or call 480-727-6580
Additional Details
Sample itinerary
- Arrive at Marble Canyon for an overnight stay at Cliff Dwellers Lodge in Marble Canyon
- Be on the river the next morning
- Off the river at the end of the week by helicopter and delivered back to your car at Marble Canyon via plane or to Las Vegas McCarren Airport
- The drive from Phoenix or Las Vegas to Marble Canyon is about 4 ½ hours. There is a plane service (not included in the price) that can take you round trip from McCarren Airport before and after the trip.
Trip Costs - What's covered
The price per person is *$3,936—the cost of the trip to Hatch River Expeditions—plus $146 per person payable to ASU to support two ASU geologists for a total of $4,082 per person.
- This price includes your overnight at the Cliff Dwellers Lodge, and everything else you will need once you are on the river—food and provided drinks, sleeping gear, dry bags, life vests, helicopter ride out of the canyon on the last day back to civilization and plane back to Marble Canyon.
- The price does not include the roundtrip from your location to Marble Canyon, which is the jump-off point for the rafting trip; does not include costs of a group dinner at the Cliff Dwellers hotel on the first evening; does not include additional beverages (soft drinks and alcoholic beverages) that you can order for the river trip.
*Pricing reflects 2025 and may be subject to change.
Your Donation
IHO organizes these trips as fund-and friend-raising events. IHO's trips program helps to support IHO research, student scholarships and public outreach. We also hope that if you just like to travel, you will feel great about learning and supporting science at the same time!
A charitable contribution of $500 per adult* payable to the ASU Foundation is requested to support IHO student scholarships, field and laboratory research and public outreach. A separate letter with information about this request will be provided to confirmed travelers.
Your gift of $500 per person will be deposited with the ASU Foundation for a New American University, a separate nonprofit organization that exists to support ASU. Gifts in support of ASU are subject to foundation policies and fees. Please consult with your tax advisor regarding the deductibility of charitable contributions (IFAS 30002491).
Reservations will be managed on a first-come, first-served basis. Deposits and final payments will be made directly to Hatch River Expeditions. The $146 fee to support the two ASU geologists will be paid to the Institute of Human Origins for remittance to Hatch (due to National Park Service rules, Hatch is not allowed to collect additional funds above the cost of the trip).
In your confirmation, please include the names of people in your group (indicate any minors with ages), addresses, mobile phone number and email addresses. This information will be needed by Hatch River Expeditions to provide you with additional information and invoice you for the trip.
Note: Hatch’s cancellation policy includes forfeiture of the deposit in the event of any cancellation. If IHO receives enough responses to fill the reservation, we will begin a wait list and inform you if you are on the wait list.