There are three different river trip opportunities through Grand Canyon National Park.

1 Day Commercial River Trips – Half-day and full-day whitewater and smooth water trips on the Colorado River. Some take place between Glen Canyon Dam and Lees Ferry (northeastern end of Grand Canyon), and others launch from Quartermaster or Diamond Creek (western end of Grand Canyon).

2 to 5 Day Noncommercial River Trips – Noncommercial trips that launch from Diamond Creek and takeout at Lake Mead typically are 2 to 5 days in length. Permits for these whitewater trips are available to the public starting one year in advance and are distributed on a first-come first-served basis.

Lees Ferry to Diamond Creek River Trips – Motorized and non-motorized whitewater rafting trips which launch from Lees Ferry and take-out at Diamond Creek vary greatly in length. Motor trips usually take a minimum of 7 days to reach Diamond Creek, but half trip options are available for those who wish to hike in or out at Phantom Ranch. Individuals can choose between commercial and noncommercial trips.         

3 to 18 Day Commercial River Trips. These are professionally guided raft trips, available to the public and often reserved a year or two in advance.

12 to 25 Day Noncommercial River Trips. These are self-guided raft trips, sometimes referred to as private river trips. Permits for these trips are made available to the public through a weighted lottery.