Grand Canyon Dories

A low snowpack is setting the stage for a different kind of rafting season out West—but that doesn’t mean you should sit this one out. 🚣

In our just-released 2026 Whitewater Rafting Outlook, OARS Grand Canyon Manager, Lars Haarr, shares that while there are a number of uncertainties surrounding negotiations among the Upper and Lower Basin States about Colorado River allocations, and Lake Powell reservoir levels are at a historical low, Grand Canyon rafting operations are expected to be normal in 2026.

Across the region, our operations managers are seeing similar silver linings. Curious what to expect this season in Grand Canyon and beyond?

Read the full report in the comments.

Steve Kenney has been an OARS fixture since 2003. For decades, he’s been “scribbling” on scraps of paper tucked into ammo cans and journals between rapids, documenting the highs, the lows, and the colorful characters of the river in his journals.

Those notes have finally flowed together into his first book: Scribblins - Poetry from Mountains, Deserts and Rivers. In his signature, no-nonsense style, Steve shares about the wild and wonderful life of a river guide from the raw adrenaline of the big runs to the serene, quiet moments in between.

📖 You can pre-order his book here: https://www.thethalweg.com/chap.../p/scribblins-steve-kenney

And if you’re in the Flagstaff area, join us for the book release party at our warehouse, along with Whale Foundation and The Thalweg.

📍 Sunday, April 5th | 6-8 PM
OARS Grand Canyon Warehouse
1802 W Kaibab Ln #250, Flagstaff

"State leaders and water managers should climb into a raft and keep floating downstream until they figure out how to stretch less water further, and how to fund an infrastructure that sustains it."

How To Save the Colorado River The Colorado River is running dry. Cooperation is the only way forward, writes Pete McBride.

🎁 SHOP the OARS SHACK and save 20% of everything through Dec. 7, including this custom-designed Grand Canyon dory tee by OARS guide and artist Camryn Donovan >> https://bit.ly/OARStees

What an honor! OARS founder George Wendt will be inducted into the International Whitewater Hall of Fame. From his first trip through Glen Canyon in 1962 to founding OARS in 1969, he believed that by bringing people to wild places, we could inspire them to protect them. His legacy of generosity, adventure, and river advocacy continues to flow strong. 🙌 #whitewaterrafting #oarslife #riverconservation

Cue the happy screams. 😂 It doesn't more fun than Hermit Rapid.

THIS is what we mean when we say the ride of a lifetime. 🤘🌊 These ladies had a blast in Hermit Rapid. #oarslife #whitewaterrafting #grandcanyon #dories #coloradoriver #gopro

What an honor! About Damn Time is a Vimeo Staff Pick. 🎬 Watch the NEW Director's Cut with never-before-seen scenes below!

ABOUT DAMN TIME The Dory Women of Grand Canyon in Vimeo Staff Picks Amidst the roar of rapids and the serenity of the Grand Canyon, ABOUT DAMN TIME chronicles the journey of trailblazing boatwomen who, guided by legacy and determination,…

The Dragon Bravo Fire burned more than 140,000 acres on the North Rim this summer, reshaping part of Grand Canyon National Park. 👉 Find out how the fire affected Grand Canyon river trips, what rafters can expect in 2026, and how wildfire season can impact future river trips.

Dragon Bravo Fire: Understanding Wildfire Impacts on Grand Canyon Rafting Trips While the Dragon Bravo Fire was extreme, wildfires are a recurring part of the Grand Canyon’s ecosystem, and they can affect river trips.