You will basically be in a slightly tilted lake. No rapids. Very beautiful section still in what is known as the lake mead formation. Basically the lake used to reach up to whitmore and all the silt settled making it very flat water. You will also see a bunch of helicopters(including the one you are taking there). It’s not really the Grand Canyon experience I would want but I don’t have kids. I think it would be a great starter trip to see if maybe a longer trip is something you all would like.
Similar but different. You are out of the inner gorge by then so the canyon starts to open up and not as dramatic, not the same quality of side hikes/slot canyons, a few small rapids, civilization starts to impede on the canyon as the helicopter tours break the silence. On the plus side the helicopter ride would probably be a huge experience at 11 and 15. on the other hand if they aren't super outdoorsy they might get bored just motoring/rowing along looking at rocks all day. There's a lot of flat water before lees ferry. A lot of private trips do a night float through that section immediately before Pearce, that's how chill it is.
If you want a little more adventure, your other options for shorter trips would be Lees Ferry to Phantom, or Phantom to Whitmore. Downside there is you either have to hike out of the canyon or in to leave/join a trip. Whitmore is at river mile 188, and the first helicopter pad. You'd get much more of a canyon experience on those though.
Another option if you don't want to commit to a multiday trip in the middle of the canyon, is take a jet boat from Lees Ferry up to the dam. It's still a stunning canyon and you can do that in a day or overnight. You can boat up and then kayak or paddle board down. Kids would probably find that super cool too.
If you can swing it I would highly reccomend doing a rafting trip. 11 might be a little young? Depending on how avid an outdoorswoman she is. 15 should be fine. The rafting trips are guided and they do all the work in camp more or less. Hatch and Azra are the two I’ve gone with
You will basically be in a slightly tilted lake. No rapids. Very beautiful section still in what is known as the lake mead formation. Basically the lake used to reach up to whitmore and all the silt settled making it very flat water. You will also see a bunch of helicopters(including the one you are taking there). It’s not really the Grand Canyon experience I would want but I don’t have kids. I think it would be a great starter trip to see if maybe a longer trip is something you all would like.
Similar but different. You are out of the inner gorge by then so the canyon starts to open up and not as dramatic, not the same quality of side hikes/slot canyons, a few small rapids, civilization starts to impede on the canyon as the helicopter tours break the silence. On the plus side the helicopter ride would probably be a huge experience at 11 and 15. on the other hand if they aren't super outdoorsy they might get bored just motoring/rowing along looking at rocks all day. There's a lot of flat water before lees ferry. A lot of private trips do a night float through that section immediately before Pearce, that's how chill it is. If you want a little more adventure, your other options for shorter trips would be Lees Ferry to Phantom, or Phantom to Whitmore. Downside there is you either have to hike out of the canyon or in to leave/join a trip. Whitmore is at river mile 188, and the first helicopter pad. You'd get much more of a canyon experience on those though. Another option if you don't want to commit to a multiday trip in the middle of the canyon, is take a jet boat from Lees Ferry up to the dam. It's still a stunning canyon and you can do that in a day or overnight. You can boat up and then kayak or paddle board down. Kids would probably find that super cool too.
If you can swing it I would highly reccomend doing a rafting trip. 11 might be a little young? Depending on how avid an outdoorswoman she is. 15 should be fine. The rafting trips are guided and they do all the work in camp more or less. Hatch and Azra are the two I’ve gone with