Hatch River Expeditions has been in the
Colorado River Rafting business since 1929. It all began when "Bus" Hatch turned his weekend obsession with exploring wild places, and
white water rivers into a way of life for the Hatch family.
Born in 1907, Robert Rafael "Bus" Hatch was a carpenter in Jensen, Utah by trade, but he couldn't leave
wild rivers and canyons alone. In the late 1920's, Bus and a few of his brothers and cousins took some homemade wooden boats down the Green River to explore its mysterious
canyons. It was a dangerous, and (some might say) stupid idea. Folks thought they were crazy. Maybe they were. They had a few false starts and bad runs, including once losing all their provisions. They finally developed a workable boat design and completed the run.
Bus was hooked. Despite some irritated (and lonely) wives, Bus and his crew continued their wild
white water river running adventures. Having conquered the Green and Yampa rivers, the "Dusty Dozen" as he and his buddies were called, moved on to other treacherous river canyons, including Cataract Canyon, known as the "Graveyard of the Colorado". The Dusty Dozen was among the first 100 people to survive a
Colorado River Run through the Grand Canyon. They were also one of the very first parties to complete the Middle Fork of the Salmon River in the Idaho Wilderness.
Word got out of Bus'
skills and experience in white water river running, especially in the
Grand Canyon. Bus was being called upon more and more to take parties of surveyors, engineers, fishermen, hunters and plain old thrill seekers down rivers. When he realized people would be happy to pay him for his
river running service and expertise, he cut back on his carpentry work and found himself running
the very first professional river running company, Hatch River Expeditions.
Bus got his sons, Gus, Frank, Don and Ted involved....They got their children involved. And so it continues. Proprietors Rick Hatch, Bus Hatch's grandson, and his wife Sara are thrilled to bring the family's adventurous tradition of
Grand Canyon white water rafting and
Grand Canyon exploring to anyone who desires this amazing experience.
Since 2001,
Hatch River Expeditions has brought the
Grand Canyon river running experience to those who may not have the opportunity otherwise, by teaming up with SPLORE, a group that provides
outdoor recreation and exploration, including white water rafting through the Grand Canyon, to those with physical and mental disabilities.
Hatch River Expeditions and the Hatch family have developed a
Grand Canyon Whitewater Rafting philosophy. They believe in protecting the environment and partner with the Leave No Trace Organization. They believe in giving back to the
Grand Canyon River Running community by supporting the
Grand Canyon River Runners Association, the Whale Foundation, The
Grand Canyon River Guides, and the
Grand Canyon Conservation Fund. They believe everyone should have a chance to experience the
Grand Canyon's Colorado River and work with SPLORE to make it happen.
Hatch River Expeditions is the original
Grand Canyon white water rafting company.
