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About Canyon Dave Tours

“Canyon Dave” Thayer first visited the Grand Canyon as a boy, with family. By age 18, he was a frequent hiker and backpacker in the canyon, and by age 29 he had hiked over 1,500 miles in the Grand Canyon. He earned an MS degree in geobiology from the University of Arizona.

Dave moved to Prescott, Arizona, where he was professor of Geology for eight years at Yavapai Community College. He then took the position of Curator of Geology at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum in Tucson, Arizona. Dave has written and published on Grand Canyon topics: several articles, a geology trail guide, a faunal list, and two books: Geology of Grand Canyon along Bright Angel Trail (1986) and Introduction to Grand Canyon Fossils (2009).

While at the Desert Museum, Dave met his wife, Dora. Dora has her BS degree in field biology, specializing in marine biology. Dora, then a Grand Canyon ranger, joined Dave full time in 2004, operating their tour business at Grand Canyon.

In 2005, the company began tours in Sedona, Arizona. On January 1, 2008, the company incorporated, with Dave as President and CEO and Dora as Vice-President and CFO. Canyon Dave Tours, Inc. is currently based in Williams, Arizona.

At the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Dave and Dora were inspired by the delightful tours and field trips, many of which they led or in which they participated. 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, Inc. was and is founded on these same principles.

"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, the tour guest—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 or your guide: you are increasing your own understanding of local nature, history, and culture. Learning leads to love, and love to protection and care.

We have designed your tour so that you will visit interesting people and viewpoints. We foster open-minded conversation rather than giving a canned spiel. While the goal is to learn about our destination, having fun is also vital—happy, engaged people are more alert and experience more. That’s why your contribution is the very heart of our tour. You are more than a passenger. We want you to bring your viewpoints to our viewpoints. We always hope your tour is not over when it’s over.”
--Canyon Dave