Colorado, |
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| Name | Range | Updated | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| COLORADO RIVER AT LEES FERRY, AZ | 4000 - 48000 cfs | 01h19m | 8210 cfs (rc= 0.1 ) |
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The Grand Canyon is one of the seven Wonders of the World. Magnificent views of the geological record are on prominent display throughout a journey through this canyon. Every day that passes reveals new eras of time and new aspects of creation.
The long history and multitude of stories about the Grand Canyon have built the whitewater up to
heroic proportions in the public mind. However, river running knowledge, skill, and equipment
have improved tremendously in the century that boaters have been running this section. By
today's standards the Grand Canyon is a very reasonable adventure. The gradient tells the tale;
most of Grand Canyon is flat water. The infamous 1 to 10 rating system does not mean that these
rapids are harder than class 6. The hardest rapids on the run were simply given a 10 rating and
everything else was rated respectively lower. A Grand Canyon 10 corresponds approximately to a
class IV rating on the international scale. The 1 to 10 rating was system developed for heavily
loaded large rafts, and a 10 on this scale might not require a single stroke from a kayaker
(though perhaps a lot of bracing and rolling if one wanted to try that!). Modern experienced
river runners can apply their usual river-running judgment.
The skills required for a kayaker to negotiate Grand Canyon include:
1. A bomber roll. The water is cold and the river is so wide that swimming to shore is often
difficult.
2. The ability to turn sideways to a big wave train and paddle out of it.
3. The ability to keep your balance and your cool in sustained funny water (whirlpools and boils
occur at the bottom of many rapids and along eddy lines).
4. The ability to scout and choose a big-water line.
The skills required for an oarboatman in the Grand Canyon are in some ways much more difficult. Rafts are typically fully laden and very heavy. It takes a good understanding of the rapids, early decision making and a lot of hard work to get a raft to the right place in a rapid. The risk to a a baggage boat is much greater than for other river runners. A swimmer can flush through the biggest rapids. A kayaker can get flipped and easily roll back up. But if a baggage boat flips, it will take a long time to get it to shore and a lot of manpower to got it flipped back over, upright. A flip can cost hours of effort and important supplies can be lost or ruined.
Boatmen should have the:
1. Ability to hang on to the oars in heavy water, the ability to manuver with only one oar if
needed and the ability to quickly replace an oar.
2. Ability to maintain or recover a ferry angle in heavy water.
3. Ability to catch eddies at the bottom of rapids and the ability to break out across big eddy
lines.
4. Ability to keep rowing when you miss a line, straighten out and push when facing a big hole,
and get back in the seat when knocked off.
Putting together an expedition that meets Park requirements and keeps a group of river runners
well fed and happy for 18 or more days is a challenging task.
Put in:
The primary launch point is Lee's Ferry, which is measured as mile 0 on most maps.
Trip participants can arrange to hike in or out at a variety of trails in the mid-section of the run. The most common location to swap participants is Phantom Ranch (mile 89). The allows people to do the upper or lower half of the run even if they do not have the time to do the full trip. Park service fees are about the same whether you do a full or half trip and these arrangements must be planned out before the trip.
Take out:
The majority of private trips in Grand Canyon travel 226 miles to Diamond Creek for their
takeout. Other takeouts include Pearce Ferry on Lake Mead (mile 279) which has been closed due to
low lake levels since August 2001. The next access is South Cove, which is 17 miles farther on
the lake.
Diamond Creek access information:
The Hualapai Tribe charges a fee for each person, vehicle and driver that goes to or from Diamond Creek. In 2008 that fee was $59. You can arrange for a shuttle service to pick you up or you can make arrangments with the tribe for shuttle between the river and Peach Springs. The $59 is in addition to any shuttle fee.
Hualapai River Runners
P.O. Box 246
Peach Springs, AZ 86434
(928) 769-2210
(800) 622-4409
Boaters may also launch at Diamond Creek and travel 71 miles to South Cove take out. The permit for doing this section is reportedly much easier to obtain than for launching at Lee's Ferry. Diamond-Down River Trip Application Grand Canyon NP: Diamond down information
Grand Canyon Weather links:
Weather Forecast for
Grand Canyon Park
Page, AZ, is just upstream of the put in.
Zone Area Forecast for Marble
and Glen Canyons, AZ NOAA
Zone Area Forecast for Grand
Canyon Country, AZ NOAA
Phantom Ranch is about half way through.
South Cove, Lake Mead
Other information Sources:
Grand Canyon National Park: river running information
Grand Canyon River - Audio/ Video Podcast Channel
The Grand Canyon is perennially represented among American Whitewater's Top 40 River Issues. Check out AW's articles on the fee demo program and the wilderness and access lawsuit.
Grand Canyon Private Boaters' Organization. They do excellent work for private boaters and have a very informative online discussion forum.
River Runners for Wilderness wiki
Grand Canyon River Guide's Association
Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center
Time Lapse Videos of beach erosion
Grand-canyon-favorite-hikes
Packing-for-grand-canyon-trip
There are many videos on you-tube and at similar video websites. Search for grand canyon, rafting, kayaking, whitewater and similar, or by rapid names.
Outfitters and shuttle services for private trips:
PRO; professional river outfitters
Interesting Water facts:
Lee's Ferry is the dividing point between the Upper and Lower Colorado Rivers for water rights
politics.
Water for the south rim village flows through a pipe from near the north rim, down Bright Angel
Canyon, across a bridge and then back up to the south rim. It is all gravity fed.
Reaches of the Colorado River:
01. Hot Sulphur Springs to Hwy 40 bridge (Byers
Canyon) (CO, IV)
02. Gore Canyon (CO, IV-V)
03. Pumphouse campground to Rancho Del Rio
(Pumphouse) (CO, III)
04. Hanging Lake Exit 125 (I-70) to Shoshone Power
Plant Exit 123 (I-70) (Barrel Springs) (CO, IV-V [V+])
05. Shoshone Power Plant, Exit 123 (I-70) to
Grizzly Creek, Exit 121 (I-70) (Shoshone) (CO, III-IV)
06. Cameo Dam (Big Sur / Lucky 7) (CO,
III)
07. Loma to Westwater (Ruby / Horsethief
Canyons) (CO-UT, II)
08. Westwater to Rose Ranch (Westwater Canyon)
(UT, I-IV)
09. Cisco (Rose Ranch) to Moab (Professor
Valley) (UT, I-III)
10. Moab to Powell Reservoir (Cataract Canyon)
(UT, I-IV)
11. Lees Ferry to Lake Mead (Grand Canyon) (AZ,
I-IV)
12. Black Canyon (AZ-NV, I)
Min and max flow are just a rough guide. Modern-day flows are limited by maximum output from the river outlet works and power plant which is 48,200 cfs. Historically flows were regularly greater than 100,000 cfs during spring snow melt, but currently that only occurs if the reservoir reaches the spillways.
Gage: Lees Ferry
Historical flow At Lees Ferry
USGS reports flows at several locations along the river.
Colorado River near Grand Canyon, AZ
Colorado River above Diamond Creek near Peach Springs, AZ
Lake Mead reservoir levels are reported by the Bureau of Reclamation in feet. Google maps reports in meters.
A lake elevation of 1105 feet (sept. 2008) is equivalent to 337 meters. At this elevation the river meets lake near the end of Iceburg Canyon, which is 6 miles from South Cove.
| Name | Range | Updated | Level | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| COLORADO RIVER AT LEES FERRY, AZ | |||||||||
| usgs-09380000 | 4000 - 48000 cfs | 01h19m | 8210 cfs (rc= 0.1 ) | ||||||
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| When | River/Gauge | Subject | Level | Reporter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado [AZ] |
moenkopi paddle raft in upset
|
10,000 | Brady Black | |
| Colorado11. Lees Ferry to Lake Mead [ ] |
elves chasm
|
n/a | will reeves | |
| Colorado [AZ] |
President Harding Rapid
|
n/a | Thomas O'Keefe | |
| Colorado [AZ] |
Grand Canyon
|
n/a | Thomas O'Keefe | |
| Colorado11. Lees Ferry to Lake Mead [AZ] |
Rafting on the Grand Canyon
|
n/a | Jason Robertson | |
| 229d11h18m | Colorado [AZ] |
Crystal Rapid overlook
|
7,500 - 13,500 | Paul Martzen |
| 230d11h18m | Colorado [AZ] |
Zoraster Camp
|
7,500 to 1,400 cfs | Paul Martzen |
| 231d11h18m | Colorado [AZ] |
Canoes in Hance
|
7,000 to 13,000 cfs | Paul Martzen |
| 235d11h18m | Colorado [AZ] |
Nautiloid Canyon camp
|
7,000 to 13,000 cfs | Paul Martzen |
| 237d11h18m | Colorado [AZ] |
Start of the Journey
|
1300 cfs | Paul Martzen |
| 239d11h18m | Colorado [AZ] |
Marble Canyon Rim
|
n/a | Paul Martzen |
| 2y215d19h18m | Colorado [AZ] |
Making the Move at the Top of Horn
|
n/a | Thomas O'Keefe |
| 2y216d19h18m | Colorado [AZ] |
Sockdolager
|
n/a | Thomas O'Keefe |
| 2y217d19h18m | Colorado [AZ] |
C2 through Hance
|
n/a | Thomas O'Keefe |
| 2y218d19h18m | Colorado [AZ] |
Kwagunt Rapid
|
n/a | Thomas O'Keefe |
| 2y219d19h18m | Colorado [AZ] |
Upset Rapid
|
n/a | Thomas O'Keefe |
| 2y222d19h18m | Colorado [AZ] |
Debendorff
|
n/a | Thomas O'Keefe |
| 2y223d19h18m | Colorado [AZ] |
Specter Rapid
|
n/a | Thomas O'Keefe |
| 2y224d19h18m | Colorado [AZ] |
Hole at Crystal
|
n/a | Thomas O'Keefe |
| 3y87d19h18m | Colorado [AZ] |
Diamond Creek Hydrograph
|
n/a | Matt Muir |
| Mile | Rapid Name | Class | Features (Legend) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | Lee's Ferry | N/A |   |
| 4.3 | Navajo Bridge | N/A | |
| 7.8 | Badger | III+ | |
| 11.2 | Soap Creek Rapid | III | |
| 17.0 | House Rock | III+ | |
| 21.0 | 21 Mile Rapid | III | |
| 23.0 | 23 Mile Rapid | III | |
| 24.0 | 24 Mile Rapid | III | |
| 24.5 | 24 1/2 Mile Rapid | III+ | |
| 25.0 | 25 Mile Rapid | III | |
| 29.0 | 29 Mile Rapid | III | |
| 31.6 | Paradise Canyon | | |
| 33.0 | Redwall Cavern | N/A | |
| 43.0 | President Harding Rapid | II+ | |
| 47.0 | Saddle Canyon | ||
| 56.0 | Kwagunt | III | |
| 61.5 | Mouth of the Little Colorado | N/A | |
| 65.4 | Lava Canyon (Chuar) Rapid | III | |
| 72.4 | Unkar | III+ | |
| 76.5 | Hance | IV+ | |
| 78.6 | Sockdolager | IV | |
| 81.5 | Grapevine | III+ | |
| 84.6 | Zoroaster Rapid | II+ | |
| 87.8 | Bright Angel Canyon and Trail |  | |
| 90.2 | Horn | IV |  |
| 93.4 | Granite | IV+ | |
| 95.0 | Hermit | III |  |
| 98.0 | Crystal | IV |  |
| 101.2 | Sapphire | III+ | |
| 102.2 | Agate | III | |
| 103.0 | Turquoise | III | |
| 103.5 | Ruby | III | |
| 116.5 | Elves Chasm | N/A | |
| 125.0 | Fossil Rapid | III | |
| 130.5 | Bedrock | III+ | |
| 131.8 | Deubendorff | III+ | |
| 133.8 | Tapeats Creek and rapid | II+ | |
| 136.2 | Deer Creek | N/A | |
| 149.8 | Upset | IV+ | |
| 179.3 | Lava Falls | IV+ | |
| 225.5 | Diamond Creek takeout | | |
| 229.0 | Travertine Rapid | ||
| 240.0 | Surprise Rapid | III | |
| 280.0 | Pierce Ferry Takeout |  | |
| 281.0 | Superimposition Rapid | III+ | |
| 290.0 | Iceburg Canyon rapid | II | |
| 296.0 | South Cove Take out | |
Put in There is a large parking area and unloading area next to a long boat launch area. Private groups must unload and rig on the right side while commercial groups rig to the left. There are toilets and potable water. There is a covered picnic area that can be used for lunch, but not for any cooking.
An old and a new bridge cross here about 500 feet above the river. The old bridge is now a pedestrian walkway and viewing area. On the north side of the bridge is a parking area, bathrooms and a small visitor center. The view from the bridge is tremendous. The view from below looking up at the bridge is pretty neat also.
Badger is the first real rapid with Grand Canyon waves. It is more difficult at lower flows when there are some rocks and holes to avoid.
Soap Creek enters on the right just below the beginning of the rapid. A typical rapid with large rocks and holes on either side at the top, but a wide tongue down the middle into standing waves. Decent camping above the rapid on river right.
This rapid is named for House Rock Wash. The rapid curves gradually to the right, so the current carries boats towards the left into a number of very big breaking waves. Lurking in the waves at the bottom of the rapid is a boat flipping hole.
It is easy for kayakers to go to the right of the hole, or to go through it and roll back up afterwards. Loaded rafts have to pull hard to stay right. If there is enough water, smaller rafts can sneak far right at the top and maneuver their way through shallow rocks.
Start of the "Roaring Twenties", a series of fun and relatively closely spaced rapids.
On the left is a giant natural ampitheater carved out of the limestone. It is an easy and very popular stop. It is dark and cool in the back. Sounds carry loudly through the cavern.
A big rock occupies the center of the river. Clean tongues are on either side. At some flows there is decent surfing for kayakers. At high flows, the rock creates a monster hole, but there is plenty of room to avoid it to the left. Campsite on river left.
The Little Colorado enters from the left. During the dry season it will be flowing milky blue and will be a few hundred cfs coming from limestone springs just a few miles upstream. During rainy times this river will be muddy with flows from its vast drainage.
This is the first real ass kicker with big holes. It is one of the longest rapids on the river and the rapid most cluttered with boulders and holes. Boaters must make multiple manuvers throughout the rapid. People typically scout from river left, but you can also scout on river right to better inspect the hero route through the biggest holes on the right.
Most boaters enter the rapid center right then work left to avoid the biggest holes.
Don't get too far off the big V waves and find yourself smacked around.
Trail to the rim and site of Phantom Ranch where there is a postoffice and eatery. Three different trails meet the river here. One to the north rim and two up to the south rim. You can hike a fun loop over the Bright Angel bridge and back over the Kaibab bridge.
Possibly the most difficult and intimidating rapid at lower flows. Dark walls rise raggedly on both sides. A big clean tongue enters the rapid on the right and flows into big breaking waves and finally into a monster wave hole.
One strategy is to enter on the tongue, then get left of the bottom hole. Another route is to enter between two horns at the top left of the rapid, punch some big waves then easily stay left of the bottom hole.
The waves through out the rapid are powerful.
Granite is a long rapid with big waves. The tongue funnels towards the right against the wall, and the waves tend to be largest on that side. It is an easier ride to the left of center.
Crystal became the big one in 1966, after a big flash flood in Crystal Creek dumped big boulders in the river and constricted the main channel to the left. Crystal Hole dominated the center of the river and large diagonal waves surfed rafts towards it.
Over time high flows in the main river have gradually reduced the power of the central hole and made it easier to miss the hole. It still remains a serious rapid. Scout from river right.
There is a wonderful short hike up to a pretty swimming hole. It does involve some scrambling. Adventurous climbers can continue scrambling past the main swimming hole and eventually come out above.
The main current runs down the left side of the channel then piles up against a large bedrock midstream island. Half of the current turns sharply to the right of the island and that is the safe route. The other half of the current pushes to the left of the island, then turns sharply right on the downstream side.
The left side of the island is a narrow and extremely turbulent chute. The rock walls on both sides are honecombed with potholes carved by the water.
Scout from river right and take some time to explore the interesting rock formations there. Bedrock creek is also a nice hike.
This rapid is deceiving. It is big and wide and easy at the top. Once it picks up speed it curves a bit to the right then has large holes scattered through out. With a heavy raft it is easy to blunder into a few of them.
The rapid is a minor rapid, but the creek offers wonderful hiking. Two trails climb the cliffs on either side of the creek then traverse narrow ledges above the gorge. Facing upstream at the mouth, the trail on the left is easier, while the trail on the right requires some scrambling.
Tapeats Creek flows year round because it is fed by two major springs; Thunder River and Tapeats Spring. Thunder River is the closer but still requires a couple hours of hiking. The trail past Thunder River, continues on to Surprise Valley and eventually to the north rim or over to Deer Creek.
Kayakers can carry boats up the right side trail so that they can paddle through the narrows. See Tapeats Creek— Thunder River to Colorado River.
Camping is no longer allowed at the mouth of Tapeats Creek.
Deer Creek is spring fed and flows all year long. Boaters are provided with a dramatic sight where the creek gushes out of a notch in the cliff, then free falls about 170 feet, into a pool next to the main river. A large sand bar seperates the base of the falls from the river.
There is a trail that starts at the mouth of Deer Creek and goes all the way to the north rim. A long, but popular day hike from the river, during the cool season, is from Tapeats Creek to Deer Creek via Surprise Valley. The steep hike to the valley above the falls is very nice by itself.
Experienced Canyoneers can travel through the short narrows leading down to the top of Deer Creek Falls. It requires good rock climbing/canyoneering skills. There are several bolted rappels past waterfalls within the narrows, while the final rappel is said to be 180 feet. See canyoneeringusa.com, and Todd's Hiking Guide.
This large rapid makes a gradual right turn against the cliff wall on the left with the debri fan on the right. A very large wave hole lurks in the center of the waves about 2/3's of the way through.
The conservative route is as far right as you can scrape down. An exciting line is available on the left side which avoids the main hole, but requires punching other wave holes that are only somewhat smaller.
Tougher at lower flows. Not sure at what flows the wave holes wash out.
Lava rapid (mile 179) is the most intimidating rapid in the Grand Canyon. Because of another flash flood in Prospect Canyon, the left side of the rapid (which is considered by some to be a sneak) is cluttered with boulders, and more popular with rafters at higher flows (at least 15,000). Center at the top of the rapid is one of the biggest pourover holes you'll ever see, yet you will not be the first to throw some ends there if you try. You can scout from either side, but the impressive scout is to follow a small trail on river right up to an outcrop of lava where you can overlook the maelstrom. It doesn't look good, but you can't see while you're in it. The standard line is to start center right. Rafts commonly punch through the maw of the V-wave, but kayakers can bust through the lateral that feeds it from the left and smooth out their ride.
A rough dirt road comes down the side canyon to the river. The eddy is fairly small and Diamond Creek rapid starts immediately downstream. During the monsoon season in July and August, Diamond Creek can flash flood and wash the road out.
Because of the low levels of Lake Mead, this take out and boat ramp has not been usable for several years. (as of 2008) The river is separated from the boat ramps by a mile or so of sand and silt. The reservoir needs to be 1177 or higher for this take out to be usable. Check with park service and other resources to make sure.
This new rapid that is forming at around mile 281 is becoming a class 5 to 6 on the Grand Canyon scale and should be approached with caution as there is a large wrap rock in the center of the channel. The rapid is hard to see as it is on a 90 degree corner.
Photos of Superimposition Rapid near Pierce Ferry, uncovered by the low lake levels. Photos from February 2008.
(the coordinates and location marked on the map may not be accurate.)
When the lake level is around 1105 feet or lower, a rapid appears at the end of Iceburg Canyon. An excellent surfing wave is reported to form there, also. The location and rating are approximate.
While Lake Mead is very low, South Cove is the only viable take out past Diamond Creek.
Scripps Institute has published a study suggesting that Lake Mead could go completely dry by 2021
A normative approach was used to develop evaluative information about streamflows for whitewater trips in the Grand Canyon, below Glen Canyon Dam.
River Alert
State News
River Links
NWRI - Colorado 11. Lees Ferry to Lake Mead (mobile)
User Comments
scale and should be approached with caution as there is a large wrap rock in the center of the
channel. The rapid is hard to see as it is on a 90 degree corner. Edit