Our mindfulness retreat with meditation teacher Heidi Bourne offers the perfect opportunity to take pause from daily life and develop a deep connection to yourself and the natural world.

Featuring

Heidi Bourne is a meditation teacher in the Insight Meditation tradition and is the founder and guiding teacher of Pacific Mindfulness. She has been teaching since 2005, offering classes, series courses, nature retreats, trauma-informed/sensitive and resiliency-focused professional programs, and regularly teaches for Spirit Rock Meditation Center. Heidi is especially interested in the integration of the common sense, accessible, and timeless teachings of awareness, ethics, and compassion into the complexity of our everyday lives. She is known for her grounded, down-to-earth humor and presence. Heidi holds certification in mindfulness facilitation, trauma resiliency, and Trauma Sensitive Mindfulness. She has a background in nursing and over 35 years in small business leadership.

About This Trip

Start each day with a peaceful morning of meditation and mindfulness instruction, followed by a full day of rafting, scenic hikes, and hearty meals on this beautiful and underrated stretch of the Colorado River. Suitable for both new and experienced practitioners, this unique retreat invites you to unplug, recharge, and reconnect with nature, yourself, and others.

Each evening, after dinner, Heidi will lead a guided mindfulness practice by the river. From that moment until after the following morning’s session and breakfast, the group will observe a period of quiet reflection and silence, offering a rare opportunity to settle fully into presence. Conversation resumes naturally after breakfast as the day’s adventure begins.

Over the leisurely course of 41 miles on the Colorado, you’ll enjoy tranquil floating through picturesque Ruby Horsethief Canyon before entering Westwater Canyon, a dramatic Precambrian time capsule featuring nearly two-billion-year-old geological formations. Each day will include plenty of downtime for mindfulness, abundant wildlife viewing, and hiking to stunning views and historic homesteads. Your final day will be topped off with a 4-mile stretch of thrilling Class III-IV rapids, including the ever-popular Sock-It-To-Me and infamous Skull. With a mix of oar boats, dories, paddle rafts, and inflatable kayaks, there’s a new way to experience the river each day. Evenings at camp bring connection and calm. With Heidi’s thoughtful guidance, you’ll deepen your mindfulness practice while sharing a meaningful wilderness experience with like-minded travelers on one of the most iconic rivers in the world.

In support of our contemplative practice and our time together, this trip will be free from alcohol and drugs and includes extended periods of silence from the end of the evening through breakfast the next day. It’s a precious opportunity to connect with ourselves, each other, and the natural world.

TRIP RESOURCES