The Grand Canyon and Glen Canyon professional river outfitters have embarked upon an exciting new effort to develop and implement alternative motorboat technology suitable for commercial river operations within Grand Canyon National Park and Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Program goals include the development and implementation of proven, environmentally-sensitive non-fossil fuel based motorboat propulsion systems with low noise and low or zero emission operating characteristics suitable for sustained commercial river operations. This alternative system will be designed to replace the conventional 30hp Honda four-stroke outboards used in the Grand Canyon and the 135hp outboards used in Glen Canyon.

Established in 1988 and managed on a voluntarily basis by a group of the Grand Canyon river outfitters, the Grand Canyon Conservation Fund is a non-profit public charity. Each year, we award grants to various conservation groups and those working to provide access to backcountry outdoor experiences for persons with disabilities. Since its inception, the Fund has awarded roughly $600,000 to groups like the Grand Canyon Trust, American Rivers, the Peregrine Fund, and many others. Donations come primarily from outfitted river trip passengers who contribute $1 for each day of their river trip.

Each year, the members of the Grand Canyon River Outfitters Association run, on a no cost basis, four extended off-season river trips through the canyon on which National Park Service field personnel and the canyon’s professional river guides work together on resource protection, visitor impact mitigation, and other conservation related projects. A variety of good works is accomplished and the joint exercise serves to build an important spirit of calibration and partnership.

In the summer of 1997, the Grand Canyon’s professional river outfitters announced a voluntary transition from the traditional two-stroke outboard motors used in the canyon for decades to newly available four-stroke models. The transition to these new low emission, low noise outboards represents a $1.5 million capital investment program voluntarily undertaken by the outfitters for the good of the canyon and the visitor experience. Our 100% transition is now complete. Four-strokes offer a dramatic reduction in motor emissions, including a ninety percent reduction in released hydrocarbons. Additionally, the new motors are substantially quieter than those they replaced. Learn more about the environmental benefits of four-stroke motors.