"Canyon Dave" Thayer's lifelong passion for the Grand Canyon began when as a boy he first hiked the Kaibab, Bright Angel, and North Kaibab Trails. By age 18, he had become a frequent hiker in the Canyon. By age 29, he had backpacked 1,500 miles on the many trails, cliffs, and slopes. Now he has rafted 10 times down the length of the Colorado River.
Dave's academic credentials solidified his status as an authority on the Grand Canyon. He attended Yale University and earned his Master's Degree in Geology from the University of Arizona.
For eight years, Thayer was a Professor of Geology and later the Science Division Chairman at Yavapai Community College in Prescott, Arizona. He then took the position of Curator of Geology at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum in Tucson, Arizona, overseeing its exhibits, geology programs, and many field trips.
Dave Thayer has published extensively on the Grand Canyon, elevating awareness through trail guides, scientific articles, books, and more. His "Geology of Grand Canyon along Bright Angel Trail" (1986) and "Introduction to Grand Canyon Fossils" (2009), are guides to the canyon's geology and ancient past.
In 2001, Thayer founded Canyon Dave Tours. Canyon Dave personally trains his guides in the history, geology, and ecology of the Grand Canyon. These fun-loving guides, the "Grand Canyon Supergroup," lead their guests on transformative, educational journeys along the South Rim of the canyon that they know so intimately.
Canyon Dave Tours is the culmination of Thayer's career - enabling people worldwide to experience the magic of Grand Canyon since 2001.
Dave's wife Dora, former Grand Canyon National Park Ranger, now CFO and guide, partners in sharing Thayer's knowledge and love of the Grand Canyon.
Dave met Dora while working at the Desert Museum, he as Curator of Geology and she as a volunteer docent. Dora Thayer has her BS degree in field biology, specializing in geology, botany, and marine biology. Dora joined Dave full time in 2004, operating their tour business at Grand Canyon.
In 2007 the company incorporated, with Dave as President and CEO and Dora as Vice-President and CFO. Canyon Dave Tours, Inc. is currently based in Flagstaff, Arizona.
At the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Dave and Dora were inspired by the delightful tours and field trips, many of which they led. They were each further inspired by a stated and implied invitation to every visitor that they participate in conservation of nature and natural areas. Canyon Dave Tours is founded on these same principles.
Canyon Dave drew these cartoons to tell how and why we started Canyon Dave Tours.
Hi I’m Keaton. I grew up in Phoenix where I always loved exploring the desert landscapes of
Arizona. In 2013 I graduated from Arizona State University with degrees in Life Sciences
and History. Looking for opportunities to share my love of Arizona with others, I moved to
Flagstaff. There I met Canyon Dave, a geology professor/tour guide and I knew he was
who I wanted to work for. Dave taught me all about the fossil record, rock layers, and natural
history of Grand Canyon.
In my free time you’ll find me on an outdoor adventure. Hiking, biking, or snowboarding are
my main hobbies and I love any opportunity to hike down into the canyon itself. As a tour
guide that’s what I wanted to share with you. Spending the day together, I’ll educate you
on geology, ecology, history as well as sharing stories of other adventures I’ve had in the
amazing Grand Canyon!
I go by Leo [pronounced Lay-oh]. I am from Bogota, Colombia S.A. where I
was an avid rock climber and mountaineer. I participated, representing Colombia, in the First
Womens Andes Mountaineer meeting, organized by Chile in the late 1980’s. I spent the next
decade climbing the snow-covered peaks of Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador and Colombia. When
I came to visit my brother in Arizona, he took me to the Grand Canyon, and I knew this would
be the next chapter in my life.
Here I am teaching Grand Canyon fossils to some lovely children.
I have always climbed up and was very attracted with the fact that to hike the Grand
Canyon you walk down. So, I moved to Arizona in 1998 and in 2001 I majored in Parks
and Recreation with Outdoor Emphasis, at Northern Arizona University. While studying at the
University, I worked as a field instructor for the backcountry guides program and had the
amazing opportunity to hike many of the trails of the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. When
school was out, I volunteered several summers with the Conservation Corps, building steps for
many of the trails that I had hiked.
I am a teacher at heart. Once I had children, I joined their school as a volunteer, ending up
back at university and specializing in Waldorf Education. I worked for more than a decade
teaching indoors, but my heart was calling me to be outdoors. The Universe gave me the opportunity
to join Canyon Dave Tours 3 years ago, where I have deepened my knowledge of geology, biology and
the incredible natural history of the Canyon. I feel very privileged to have been able to learn
firsthand from Dave and Dora in order to be able to share the wonders of the Grand Canyon. I love
the fact that my job gives me the chance to interact one-on-one, for a few hours, with our guests
in the amazing Grand Canyon National Park.
In my free time I enjoy cooking, movies and of course hiking with my friends and/or family on the
beautiful trails of Northern Arizona.
Hi, I'm Tim. I grew up in the Valley of the Sun and graduated from Arizona State University in 2008. After school I moved to northern Arizona to work for Arizona Conservation Corps. This was when I was first introduced to Grand Canyon, working on the trails. I fell in love with the awe-inspiring wonder pretty quickly and had to learn everything about it! Thankfully I met Canyon Dave, who taught me everything there is to know about Grand Canyon geology. It's been a privilege working for him for almost 15 years. When I'm not guiding or talking geology, you'll find me on a trail hiking or biking. I enjoy backpacking and camping trips in the Canyon and try to get down there as much as I can. I'm also an avid reader, especially anything pertaining to history and natural science.
"We had a fantastic day with this company - extremely knowledgeable, fun and fabulous people, we actually had THE 'Canyon Dave' on our tour in March this year along with his protégé Rachel who was lovely. Well worth the money and definitely recommended." CaroleJane BT.
“At Canyon Dave Tours, we really listen to you, our tour guests—we never spout information like a TV that no one is watching. Your contribution to our tour is essential because you are doing something bigger than yourself: you are increasing your own understanding of local nature, history, and culture. Learning leads to love, and love to protection and care.
We foster open-ended conversation rather than giving a canned spiel. While the goal is to learn about
the Grand Canyon, having fun is also vital! Happy, engaged people are more alert--they learn and
experience more. That’s why your contribution is the heart of our tours--you are
much more than a mere passenger. We hope you will bring your viewpoints to our viewpoints. And
we always hope your tour is not over when it’s over.”
--Canyon Dave
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