28 Seasons on the River: A Legacy of Lives Changed
Nate Loper - September 11, 2025 As Clay Miller and I helped the last group of guests step off the jet boat at Pearce Ferry, we closed the chapter on another remarkable season. Canyon Ministries has now completed 28 consecutive seasons guiding Grand Canyon river trips—a milestone that fills me with gratitude and awe. Each summer, we lead 4-, 7-, and 9-day Grand Canyon river trips, covering either the 187-mile upper stretch or the 90-mile lower section of the Colorado River. These trips are more than just exciting vacations—they
Lessons from Lava Falls
Nate Loper - January 25, 2025 Like those river runners who have documented stories and details of Lava Falls for the past 150 years, Scripture provides us guidance through life's most challenging waters. There's a moment of pure anticipation that every Grand Canyon rafter knows—when the distant roar of Lava Falls first reaches your ears. It is one of the defining features encountered on a Grand Canyon river trip. Mile 179 on the Colorado River holds what some consider the ultimate test of courage and skill in North
The Best Ballad Ever Written
I'm a huge fan of the classic western ballads. I like a song that gets somewhere and tells a compelling story. The best ballads make you laugh, cry, shudder a bit, and leave you inspired. There have been some fantastic ballad writers/singers over the years: Marty Robbins, Jimmy Dean, Johnny Cash, John Denver, Tom T. Hall and many others. However, these are completely forgettable names when compared to the ballad God wrote when He formed Grand Canyon. The Ballad of Grand Canyon inspires from the first note. Launching from Lee's