About Grand Canyon Adventures
Why Tour with Grand Canyon Adventures
Grand Canyon Adventures’ mission is to provide our guests with the best possible experience when visiting the places we love so much. As a company, we’ve been sharing the Grand Canyon’s South Rim, Antelope Canyon, Sedona, and other natural Northern Arizona attractions with visitors for more than 10 years.
Our guide staff has a combined experience of over 100 years in the Grand Canyon. We KNOW this place better than anyone, and will get you to the best spots, tell you the most interesting history and geology, and show you the hidden gems.
As individuals, we’ve been hiking into the Grand Canyon and exploring the natural beauty of the country for decades. Our love for the natural beauty and history of Northern Arizona has charmed us into planting our roots here.
Since opening our doors in 2013 we’ve guided tours to the Grand Canyon, Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, and Sedona. You learn a thing or two after guiding thousands of people from all over the world. Our guides are some of the most seasoned in Flagstaff. Take a look at their mini-autobiographies below, or you can read hundreds of positive reviews about us on TripAdvisor.
MARCIA
Tour Guide
Naturalist Marcia Burns moved to Arizona over 30 years to be near the Grand Canyon and other wonderful places in the southwest. Marcia has been guiding people throughout the area for more than 16 years, sharing with them the great geology, flora and fauna, and the interesting human history of the region. She has lived and worked at both rims of the Grand Canyon, and also been a guide to the bottom. She LOVES the Grand Canyon!
SCOTT
Tour Guide
The seeds for wild west adventure were sown in 1973 when Scott’s Boy Scout troop in Maryland went to Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico. After college and a few trips out West in the 1980’s Scott came to Arizona in 1989. Being an avid outdoors man, Scott has hiked the Alps, Appalachians, Rockies, Olympics, and of course, the Grand Canyon. Having traveled extensively in both Europe and North America, and being his own guide, becoming a tour guide in 2005 was a natural move. Starting his guiding career in Alaska, he soon moved back South to sunny Arizona and took up guiding at the Grand Canyon and surrounding area.
DANE
Tour Guide
An avid outdoorsman, traveler, and lifelong Arizona resident, Dane has been a passionate explorer since an early age. Dane received his bachelor’s of science in geology from Northern Arizona University, and worked as a professional geologist before coming over to Adventure Southwest. His knowledge of Colorado Plateau geology provides for a very informative and entertaining trip. Dane also is an active member of the Coconino County Search and Rescue team.
MAGGIE
Tour Guide
Maggie grew up in ‘Wild and Wonderful’ West Virginia! She fell in love with Arizona after rafting through the Grand Canyon. She enjoys anything and everything outside, from mountain biking to backpacking, but nothing beats a great hike in the canyon! Maggie also has her Wilderness First Responder Certification.
DREW
Tour Guide
Drew Andersen was born and raised in the Phoenix, Arizona area. After finishing a B.S. in Political Science at Northern Arizona University, Drew moved around a bit before landing in the heart of the Grand Circle – Page, Arizona. It was there that Drew began guiding and wandering the Colorado Plateau. Aside from guiding, Drew enjoys fly-fishing, backpacking, mountain biking, a good beer and family.
DREW S
Tour Guide
Drew Schlachter brings many years of guiding outdoor tours across the American West. Guided trip locations include California, Washington, Alaska, Wyoming, Montana, Texas, and many National Parks in the American Southwest. As an NAU Graduate, Drew knows the Southwest and loves to highlight the amazing landscapes on his tours.
LAURA
Tour Guide
Growing up on the Appalachian trail in Pennsylvania, Laura Stinger fell in love with the outdoors at a very young age. In 2013, she joined a conservation corps and moved to Flagstaff. Laura is an experienced backpacker and knows her way around the National Parks and Forests for the Southwest. In her spare time, Laura enjoys traveling, riding dirt bikes, and eating tacos.
MATT
Tour Guide
A graduate of Michigan State University, Matt started guiding rIver trips down the Colorado River through Grand Canyon National Park in the early 2000’s. He considers himself lucky and honored to still be guiding those river trips and is happy to share that experience and knowledge with the guests of Grand Canyon Adventures. When not guiding rIver or hiking trips, Matt works for the National Park service restoring natural fish habitat for the indigenous fish species in Grand Canyon.
GAVIN
Tour Guide
Gavin Monson was born and raised in the great corn state of Iowa. Despite growing up in Iowa Gavin decided to move out west in search of adventure when he was 20. It is in Arizona where he found his joy in working outdoors and being in the wilderness in general. After this realization, Gavin decided to share his knowledge and love of nature by joining the team at Grand Canyon Adventures.
CHAD
Tour Guide
Chad Stone is an Arizona native with a career in outdoor education as well as professionally guiding Skiing, Whitewater Kayaking/Rafting, Mountaineering/Backpacking and Fly Fishing in places like Arizona, Colorado, Utah, Alaska, and Southern Germany. Chad was a long-time Grand Canyon boatman on the Colorado River and an outdoor educator for Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, AZ. He feels very connected to the Grand Canyon and surrounding areas and loves to share his knowledge of these places.
EVAN
Tour Guide
Evan grew up in the great state of Kansas where he graduated from the University of Kansas. He moved to Flagstaff to continue his graduate education and teach biology at Northern Arizona University. Evan fell in love with hiking and exploring from a very young age, and he loves to share both his knowledge about the surrounding Southwest region as well as stories from his recent mountain trips. Evan is an experienced backpacker and mountaineer, but when he isn’t guiding or exploring, Evan loves riding bikes, watching movies (and eating popcorn), spending time with his wife, and accidentally coming across mountain lions (ask him about it!).
SHEREE
Tour Guide
Born and raised in Flagstaff, AZ, Sheree has roamed around the Southwest all her life. Starting as a river guide she has shown people a unique view into the history and culture of the Southwest. Her favorite past times are hiking, fishing, boating, D&D, and sci-fi movies. Her family follows Navajo tradition and has a small ranch out on the Navajo Nation.
JEANELLE
Tour Guide
Jeanelle Carpentier first looked over the edge of The Grand Canyon while on a road trip through 28 states in 2007 and fell in love. In the back of her mind, she knew that she would return to the wild west one day–but she didn’t know to what extent. For over 8 years now, she’s called the Colorado Plateau region home. She adventures, wanders, and works all over the world guiding trips and exploring, but her heart is embedded into the high desert alpine of Flagstaff. She’s thrilled to share her home with you!
CHRIS
Tour Guide
Born in North Dakota and raised in eastern Pennsylvania, one could say adventuring to new places was innate to Chris. While growing up, Chris was dedicated to soccer, which allowed him to travel all over the country. When he wasn’t playing soccer, his family would go on local camping and hiking trips. By following his passion for soccer, it ultimately led him into university, where he pursued a degree in Health and Physical Education, all while playing the sport he loved. After university, Chris moved up to Maine and started working as a PE teacher. During his time off from teaching, Chris would explore all over New England. Trips would range from climbing along the rocky coast in Acadia National Park to section hiking parts of the Appalachian Trail. It was at this time Chris decided to move halfway across the country to Flagstaff where he can chase a life of adventure. By applying his skills as a teacher, Chris hopes to educate others on areas that are so inspiring to him.
PJ
Tour Guide
P.J. began his guiding career in 2007, working as a Photography Guide for National Geographic Expeditions at the South Rim of Grand Canyon. What he originally thought of as a summer job ended up being a career spanning over 15 years. For many of those years, P.J. was exclusively at Grand Canyon National Park, guiding both backcountry hiking and river rafting trips. He even lived and worked at the bottom of Grand Canyon, at world famous Phantom Ranch for 18 months. Since then, he has expanded his experience, guiding many guests in Yosemite, Joshua Tree, Zion, Bryce, Yellowstone, Glacier, and many other locations in his home state of Arizona. P.J. prides himself on his ever-growing knowledge of each of these area’s human history, flora, fauna, and geological features and is always happy to share an interesting tidbit(or two) in an effort to connect guests with the natural areas that they are visiting. He also likes to have fun while working, so you should be in for a good time when you’re on a trip with P.J.
JOHN
Tour Guide
Born and raised in the wilds of Northern Arizona, John is a local native. New to guiding, John enjoys his time sharing the wonders of Northern Arizona to visitors. Guiding from the beautiful mountainous town of Flagstaff, to the high desert country of Grand Canyon, all the way to the towering buttes of Monument Valley. Find him far away from civilization and people, exploring the backroads of the Southwest or hiking deep into the Grand Canyon.
RYAN
Tour Guide
Ryan enjoys traveling around the world and learning about different cultures, but his favorite place is the desert southwest. Exploring slot canyons and finding remote water sources have led him to memorable adventures around the 4 corners area. His preferred activities are canyoneering, climbing, riding bikes and walking. When he isn’t outside he loves reading history and spending time with Rosie the cat.