Arizona law protects Grand Canyon outfitters from some injury claims

Commercial river outfitters have no duty to reduce the built-in risks of Grand Canyon river trips and are protected from claims for injuries or deaths caused by those risks. Commercial outfitters are entities allowed under federal law to offer Grand Canyon trips. The term includes employees acting as part of their jobs. A trip includes agreed guiding or outfitting activities on land or water. The outfitter and participant may identify the risks in a contract, and that identification is binding. This protection does not apply if the outfitter is grossly negligent or acts or fails to act wilfully, wantonly, or intentionally. It also does not apply when the outfitter knows or should know about a hazard and fails to disclose it.

A commercial river outfitter is protected from a claim based on ordinary carelessness only if the participant waives that claim in a liability release. This applies to commercial outfitters and trips in Grand Canyon National Park, including agreed guiding or outfitting activities on land or water. A person may choose to release an outfitter from liability for an injury or death resulting from a river trip. The release does not protect an outfitter from gross negligence or wilful, wanton, or intentional acts or omissions.