Little Colorado

01. Below Grand Falls to above Black Falls

Reach banner
DifficultyII-III
Length16 mi
Avg Gradientn/a
GaugeLittle Colorado River Near Cameron, Az
Flow Rate as of 1 hour
0 cfsbelow recommended
Reach Info Last UpdatedSeptember 29, 2025

River Description

North of Winslow Arizona, the Little Colorado River plunges over Grand Falls, a steep escarpment higher than Niagra. Swollen with spring snow melt, summer monsoons, or hurricane bonus storm, the LCR can be an amazing sight when she's rolling.

Although the Navajo Nation prohibits boating access below Grand Falls, people have run the river downstream where one bank is privately owned.

Challenging rapids navigable by canoes, kayaks, and small rafts at moderate levels.

Seven or eight miles below the falls the river flattens out again.

Near the Wupatki take-out, what was once an old dam has filled with sand and become Black Falls. It is unrunnable.

Please get permits before boating on the Wupatki National Monument prior to putting on.


River Features

Grand Falls

Distance: 0 mi
Waterfall / Large Drop
Grand Falls

West of Wolf Crossing and NorthWest of Leupp

Take Out

Distance: 16 mi
Take Out

No trip reports yet.