Grand Canyon Raft Trip: Grander than I Ever Imagined
Even as someone who has taught on creation for more than two decades, this has been an invaluable opportunity for me to develop a greater understanding of how the Grand Canyon provides powerful evidence for the biblical flood.
In April/May 2024, I had the incredible privilege of being a leader on a 9-day rafting trip, dubbed as a “hiker special.” After a rough first day in which we made very little progress due to cold, wind, and rain, the remainder of the trip was nothing short of amazing.
Adam Huff of Canyon Ministries and the four guides from Arizona River Runners set up an amazing itinerary. On most days, we covered about 20-30 miles of river along with a couple of side hikes. I had already hiked from the North Rim to the South Rim in November 2023 with Canyon Ministries, so I was familiar with what it would look like on the river, or at least I thought I knew. The rafting trip far exceeded my imagination because the scenery kept changing and there was so much to discover about the sedimentary layers making up the walls of the canyon.
While each of the hikes was special in its own way, three of them stood out above the rest. We hiked to the Carbon Canyon fold, where we stood before a massive formation of warped rocks that could only have been bent while the sediments were still soft. We also hiked up to a place called “the Patio.” I was expecting a climb to a platform overlooking the river. While it had such a viewpoint, the hike continued through a spectacular side canyon to a beautiful oasis with trees and a waterfall. I didn’t think the views could get any better, but then we hiked a short distance up Havasupai Creek. Words can hardly express the jaw-dropping natural beauty of the clear blue water cascading through this side canyon. The water was also warm enough to swim in, providing a wonderful way to relax and cool down near the end of the trip.
There are truly dozens of sites that will live on in my memory, but the greatest part was the fellowship enjoyed with the other 31 members on the trip. Everyone pitched in to help each other throughout the hikes, while we were setting up and tearing down camp, and during meal prep and clean up. There was a tremendous sense of unity within the group, even though we came from different backgrounds and very few had known each other prior to the trip.
As a leader, I had the opportunity to share devotions a few times and to give four presentations in the evening sessions. While Adam handled most of the content related to geology and the canyon’s formation, I was able to focus on biblical issues related to my areas of expertise. These presentations often led to longer discussions into the night or during our day hikes. Even as someone who has taught on creation for more than two decades, this has been an invaluable opportunity for me to develop a greater understanding of how the Grand Canyon provides powerful evidence for the biblical flood.
The river guides did a tremendous job keeping us safe on the rapids and assisting during the hikes. They also provided plenty of food and snacks each day, even for this extremely picky eater. On a few evenings, a couple of them told us entertaining stories about their own adventures on the river or about some of the early pioneers who had rafted the Grand Canyon. This gave us some little-known history of the canyon and created greater camaraderie.
While I missed my family and could not communicate with my wife for more than a week, it was still a sad day when the trip came to an end. Spending nine days on rafts in the Grand Canyon with about 30 strangers who quickly become like family is unforgettable. I truly hope that I’ll have another opportunity to run those amazing rapids, hike to those remarkable sites, and fellowship with another group of people in the Grand Canyon in the near future.
I’ll close with a little advice. Prepare to have the adventure of a lifetime. Bring a positive attitude, some rain gear, plenty of lotion and sunblock, and be prepared to deal with a lot of sand.
Thank you, Canyon Ministries, for a fantastic adventure.
Dr. Tim Chaffey
Content Manager of Attractions Design, Answers in Genesis
