White Water Rafting and Camping in the Grand Canyon with Wilderness River Adventures – Mile 127 127 Mile Rapid to Mile 168.6 Fern Glen Rapid

September 2023

White Water Rafting and Camping in the Grand Canyon with Wilderness River Adventures – Mile 127 127 Mile Rapid to Mile 168.6 Fern Glen Rapid

Read about Mile 93.9 Granite Rapid to Mile 127 127 Mile Rapid here!

Day 3

As the stars began to fade and the sky became a little brighter, the 530AM coffee call was announced as our alarm clock. The camp site began to stir and the sounds of breakfast began to sizzle. We started getting ready for the day – changing into our boat clothes, packing up our things into the dry bags and breaking down the cots. By this morning, everyone in our group had used the Oscar which felt like a huge river running accomplishment. Breakfast was ready around 6AM and we were treated to pancakes and eggs While the crew packed up the kitchen, we finished backing up our things and brought them to the rafts for a bag line to get everything back on the raft. We were loaded onto the boat and pushing away from our campsite around 8AM.

We had another crazy rapid day and if we had enough time, a few points of interest to stop off at. We were still in the deep part of the canyon with the granite layer prominently on display which meant rough rapids ahead. Our morning started with a set of intense rapids that are technically very difficult to navigate. Before heading into the rapids, we pulled over and our guides tried to get a better look at the rocks to determine the best way to navigate the rapids. Specter rapid was super fun and directly after is Bedrock Rapid. This one has a giant rock in the middle of it so you can go to the left or right of it but it is apparently very dangerous and not recommended to go left. Once we got through, you could see the relief on Kody’s face but it was only there briefly as we immediately went into Deubendorff Rapid. As both rapids completed the final rapid, there was cheering on both how fun they were and how well our guides navigated them. Through the difficult rapids, Kody focused on the rapids while Holly’s eyes continuously did a head count of everyone on the boat to ensure no one fell off as we went through the rapid. 

We made our first stop at Stone Creek Falls. A short walk from the shore led to a small cove with crystal clear water coming from a small crack in the rock. Knowing this was the cleanest water, we all took turns taking a shower rinse off and it felt amazing, even if it was quite cold.

This part of the river is known as Granite Narrow – the most narrow part of the Grand Canyon at 76 ft wide. After a short ride on the raft, we stopped at another waterfall – Deer Creek Falls. This waterfall is giant and powerful. The 180 ft drop sends water plummeting fast and hard to create gusts that can knock you over. This waterfall was definitely not for bathing but the pool the falls create at the bottom is very peaceful.

I took a turn in the bathtub for a relaxing part of our journey and it is definitely a fun perspective as you are going into rapids to be going head first. It was also a perfect sport for taking photos – the views continued to get more and more expansive. It is amazing how a bunch of rocks can leave us stunned. The rock walls towered us and turned into jagged points – our guides referred to as the “land of the noses” as it looked like a bunch of noses in the rocks. There were moments where the guides turned the motors of the boat off, turned music on, and we simply floated with the river. It was truly magical, peaceful, and awe-inspiring. We also saw many great blue herons, big horned sheep, and I swore I saw a kingfisher. Our lunch was a quick stop for southwest salad wraps.

Our final big rapid of the day was Fishtail Rapid and while it can be a mild rapid, at the low waters it really ramps up. Kody reminded us multiple times to hang on before entering into the rapid and my goodness, I do not know if it was just the way the raft was hitting the waves or what. There was a giant ledge where the boat just sunk and we were completely engulfed by water- the entire 35 ft boat – the wave just ate the raft. The raft bent in a way I did not think it could tolerate but the raft popped up out of the water and did not flip. Everyone held on and stayed on the raft through that rapid and we collectively exclaimed how we could not believe what we just went through. We will never forget going through this rapid.

The next stop was a bit challenging as we had to dock the raft in the middle of Havasu Rapid but our guides mastered the parking job perfectly. We climbed around the rocks to reveal a stunning oasis. Havasu Falls is becoming a quite popular social media destination and it is a hike that requires a permit to access. What makes it so unique is the crystal blue, clear water. That and the lush foliage, it really is so beautiful. For us, we were able to access the falls downstream where it enters the Colorado River. After taking many photos, we enjoyed the water and once again found ourselves just in awe of this secrete oasis.

We packed ourselves back onto the rafts and continued floating to find a camp site. The views continued to amaze us and the way the sunlight was hitting the rocks, I feel like these are some of the best photos of the trip.

Day 3 rapids conquered:

• Mile 127.5 – 127 Mile Rapid (Class 3 Rapid)
• Mile 129.2 – 128 Mile Rapid (Class 4 Rapid)
• Mile 129.7 – Specter Rapid (Class 6 Rapid)
• Mile 131.1 – Bedrock Rapid (Class 7 Rapid)
• Mile 132.3 – Deubendorff Rapid (Class 7 Rapid)
• Mile 134.3 – Tapeats Rapid (Class 5 Rapid)
• Mile 135.4 – 135 Mile Rapid (Class 3 Rapid)
• Mile 135.6 – Granite Narrows
• Mile 136.9 – Deer Creek Falls
• Mile 138.4 – Doris Rapid (Class 4 Rapid)
• Mile 139.2 – 138.5 Mile Rapid (Class 3 Rapid)
• Mile 139.7 – Fishtail Rapid (Class 4 Rapid)
• Mile 141.7 – 141 Mile Rapid (Class 2 Rapid)
• Mile 144.0 – Kanab Rapid (Class 3 Rapid)
• Mile 148.4 – Matkatamiba Rapid (Classs 2 Rapid)
• Mile 150.2 – Upset Rapid (Class 8 Rapid)
• Mile 154.0 – Sinyala Rapid (Class 2 Rapid)
• Mile 157.3 – Havasu Canyon Rapid (Class 3 Rapid)
• Mile 165.0 – 164 Mile Rapid (Class 2 Rapid)
• Mile 167.0 – National Rapid (Class 2 Rapid)
• Mile 168.5 – Fern Glen Rapid (Class 2 Rapid)

The first camp site our guides had in mind was unfortunately taken already by a group of paddlers. But joke is on them cause we instead camped at our favorite camp site of the trip – Fern Glen. We evolved our strategy after the first two nights and found water view property – which was fortunately plentiful at the large campsite. We set up right by the water ready for a good night’s sleep. This was the first time we arrived at camp and I felt confident in the routine – we had everything down and felt like we knew what we were doing on night three.

There were points in the journey where we would pass another group or lucky lottery paddler and they would always be in need of ice to which our guides had plenty and used to trader, typically for some beer for the group to enjoy. This time, the traders were particularly excited to give us their bottle of Everclear for that precious ice… what were we back in college? We made our tequila cocktails and enjoyed a fajita dinner while we reminisced about the adventure we had today. This was the first and only night we were awake long enough for dessert – brownies – while the group enjoyed camp made jungle juice with that handle of Everclear, just like those good old college days.

And for the first time, I tucked myself into the sleeping bag with the cool breeze coming over from the river and fell right to sleep.

Read about Mile 168.6 Fern Glen Rapid to Mile 187.4 Whitemore Heli-pad here!

Here is the Ultimate Packing List for White Water Rafting and Camping in the Grand Canyon

Read all the details of our adventure exploring the Grand Canyon here!

Thinking of going on a trip like this? Read What to Expect white water rafting and camping through the Grand Canyon here!

Read all blog posts for this Grand Canyon adventure here!