- Overcoming Barriers Together: To make sure the natural backcountry environment is welcoming for everyone, we use creative thinking, capable volunteers, and specialized gear to successfully accommodate travelers who are deaf, blind, in wheelchairs, experiencing PTSD, or intellectually disabled.
- Evolving Trip Options: Our collaborative adaptive river trips have grown from a full canyon launch between Lees Ferry and Diamond Creek to customized shorter schedules, including 3-Day and 4-Day Escape itineraries.
- Apply for Upcoming Seasons: If you or a loved one are interested in joining a future adaptive trip, you can learn more and apply directly through Ability360.
Over the years, Arizona River Runners has partnered with various organizations to provide opportunities for people with disabilities to raft the Grand Canyon. Recently, we’ve teamed up with Ability360 – a fantastic non-profit organization out of Phoenix, Arizona, that helps people with disabilities with employment, home care, and recreation.
“Wilderness, by definition, is not accessible,” said Gus LaZear, Vice President of Operations with Ability360. It takes a lot of hard work, creative thinking, capable volunteers, and extra gear to make these trips possible. By working together, we have been able to accommodate folks who are deaf, blind, in wheelchairs, experiencing PTSD, intellectually disabled, and more.
In 2022 we ran a full canyon disability trip from Lees Ferry to Diamond Creek, and in 2023 we did a 3 Day Escape. In 2024, we added one more day and were able to run a 4 Day Escape trip. We’re already planning trips for upcoming seasons. A local Phoenix TV station did a great story about our 2023 trip. You can see photos from some of our trips below.
We’re so thankful for the expertise of the Ability360 staff, who help us make Grand Canyon river trips accessible to more people! If you are interested in participating in one of these trips, reach out to Ability360 directly via their signup page.
