Colorado River We'd like to send you lake news articles, videos, and podcasts from around the web. We will never share your email Colorado River Length: 1450 miles (2,333 kilometers) Colorado River rising in the Rocky Mountains of north Colorado, in northwest Rocky Mountain National Park northwest of Denver, and flowing generally southwest through Colorado, Utah, Arizona, then between Nevada and Arizona, and Arizona and California, and then into Mexico, emptying into the Gulf of California. The Colorado River drains 244,000 square miles. The source is surrounded on three sides by the Continental Divide; flows south through Grand Lake (Shadow Mountain Reservoir) and Lake Granby reservoirs, then generally southwest past Glenwood Springs, Rifle, and Grand Junction, Colorado, where it receives the Gunnison River from southeast, into Utah, where it forms the south boundary of Arches National Park at Moab, then through Canyonlands National Park, where it receives the Green River, its longest tributary from the north.

The Colorado then enters Glen Canyon National Recreational Area and Lake Powell, formed by the Glen Canyon Dam at Page, in extreme northeast Arizona, and at 26,997,000,000 cubic feet is the 2d largest reservoir in the United States. The Colorado receives the San Juan River from the east. Below Glen Canyon Dam, the river enters Marble Canyon and Grand Canyon National Park. (The river and part of Lake Powell form the northwest boundary of the Navajo Indian Reservation.) Due to major park expansion in 1975, the river flows 140 miles through the park, through Marble Canyon and the spectacular Grand Canyon; then for another 100 miles it forms the south boundary of the west extension of the park and north boundary of Hualapai Indian Reservation. It then enters Lake Mead National Recreational Area (at 28,253,000,000 cubic feet Lake Mead, formed by Hoover Dam, is the largest reservoir in the United States). The lake and Lake Mohave below it, formed by Davis Dam, form the Arizona-Nevada state line. The large north arm of Lake Mead receives the Virgin River from the northeast.

Below the Hoover Dam, the river flows almost due south. Below the Davis Dam, it flows through Fort Mohave Indian Reservation and becomes the California-Arizona state line. It forms the boundary of Havasu National Wildlife Refuge, east, and Chemehueva Indian Reservation, west, flowing past Lake Havasu City and through Lake Havasu, formed by Parker Dam. Below Parker Dam, the river flows past Parker; through Colorado Indian Reservation; through Cibola and Imperial National wildlife refuges; forms east and south boundary of Fort Yuma Indian Reservation; and past Yuma, Arizona. Around Yuma, the Colorado passes through Imperial, Laguna, and Morelos dams, each with minor reservoirs, the volume of the river having been reduced by diversion to major cities and irrigation projects in California, Nevada, and Arizona. Just east of Yuma, the Colorado receives the Gila River from east. Below Yuma, the river forms part of the United States-Mexico border. Approximately final 100 miles of the river, reduced to a braided trickle, flows through Mexico, forming the border between Baja California Norte and Sonora states, and enters the north end of the Gulf of California. In its small delta is Isla Montague.

Many national parks, monuments, and recreational areas are located along the river banks. The Colorado’s waters are used for power and irrigation, especially by means of the Colorado River. storage project, the Colorado–Big Thompson project, Hoover Dam, Davis Dam, Imperial Dam, the All-American Canal, Parker Dam, and Glen Canyon Dam. Controversies over water rights on the Colorado have long raged between the United States and Mexico and among the bordering states; treaties and compacts regulate the river’s use. COLORADO RIVER LAKES NCHGC: History: Colorado River Colorado River Audio Tour COLORADO RIVER The Colorado River at the confluence of the Little Colorado River. Credit: National Park Service The Colorado River carves a distinct course through the depths of American cultural history. The river has been an important source of water and life for Native American groups for over 12,000 years, launched the business and adventure of modern river running, honed the political capabilities of the environmental movement through its battles against dams in the United States, and provided inspiration to noted American painters, photographers, songwriters, and authors.

Because of the carving forces of the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon, the river’s course tells the story of the earth’s formation and structure like few places on earth. We can learn much about the nature, culture, and history of the Grand Canyon and America by taking a closer look at this magnificent river. The Colorado River cuts deeply into the geologic history of the Grand Canyon. The canyon’s depth varies from almost a vertical mile from Grand Canyon Village along the South Rim to the river to almost 6,000 feet at other locations along the canyon. The canyon’s width ranges from an average of 10 miles across near Grand Canyon Village but may be as wide as 18 miles across from rim to rim. Over the past 6 million years, the Colorado River has carved through almost 2 billion years of the earth’s geologic history at the Grand Canyon. Layers of limestone, sandstone, shale, granite, and schist make up the Grand Canyon’s rock sequences. These layers continue to be worn away through water and wind erosio, creating the cliffs and slopes that make up this fantastic play of shape and color through time and space.

The diagram at right shows the layers of time that hikers and mule riders descend through on their way to the Colorado River. Visitors to the Canyon's South Rim can learn more about the layers by walking the Trail of Time, scheduled for completion in October 2010. The two-kilometer interpretive trail begins at Yavapai Observation Station in present-day time and takes the visitor "back" a million years for each meter walked. Dr. Steven Semken, associate professor of Geoscience Education and Geological Sciences in the School of Earth and Space Exploration at Arizona State University , has collaborated on this long-term project with researchers from the University of New Mexico and the University of Massachusetts, as well as the National Park Service and National Science Foundation. The USGS Web site has 3D tours of national parks, including one of the Grand Canyon, using historic images from John Wesley Powell’s Colorado River Expedition surveys from 18710-1879. A geologic cross section of the Grand Canyon reveals a variety of rock layers. Image: U.S. Geological Survey Granaries built by Ancestral Puebloans remain tucked into the cliff face above Nankoweap in Marble Canyon, Grand Canyon National Park.

Credit: Mark Lellouch, NPS. The Colorado River is important to many Native American communities surrounding Grand Canyon National Park. For over 12,000 years, the river has been an important source of water and life for indigenous groups living in and around this vast canyon. Indigenous groups used the river’s water for agriculture and to fortify their lives in the canyon and along the rim. Contemporary Havasupai, Hopi, Hualapai, Paiute, Navajo, Yavapai-Apache, and Zuni Tribes are active in decisions and discussions regarding the uses of the Colorado River. The Intertribal Council of Arizona includes over 20 Colorado River Indian Tribes that own more than one third of the allotment of water rights—717,000 acre feet of senior water rights to the Colorado River—in the state of Arizona. For more information on tribes connected to Grand Canyon, see our Native Cultures page. Or visit the websites of Arizona tribes at the Intertribal Council of Arizona .

Although there are no dams inside the national park boundaries, two dams on the river flank the park and have a great influence on the plant and animal diversity, river flows, and human use of the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon and beyond. The Hoover Dam and Lake Mead were completed in 1936 at the lower or southwest end of the canyon. The Glen Canyon Dam , completed in 1963, lies at the upper end of the canyon near Lees Ferry and creates Lake Powell . Cities and farms in the arid Southwest draw heavily from the Colorado River. More water is exported from the Colorado River than from any other river in the United States. Cities such as Los Angeles, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Denver, San Diego and many other communities draw water from the Colorado River basin for municipal and industrial uses. In addition, 2 million acres of land are irrigated by water from the Colorado River. Some people are content to view the Grand Canyon from the rim. Others hike down into the inner gorge, camp or stay at Phantom Ranch. Still others think to truly experience the Canyon requires a trip down the turbulent waters of the Colorado River. Read about some famous river runners in Grand Canyon history on our Running the River page .

The Glen Canyon Dam lies on the upper end of the Grand Canyon. Image courtesy of the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation. 1988. Photo # C45-300-21094 Rafting the entire Colorado River through the Grand Canyon from Lees's Ferry to Lake Mead Rafting the Whole Length of the Grand Canyon Lee's Ferry to Pearce Ferry, Lake Mead 286 river miles All the rapids, class I to X From Lee's Ferry to Lake Mead, the Colorado River flows, churns, and gouges its way through the Grand Canyon. In places where the river encounters metamorphic rock formations, or where debris has been washed into the river, rapids are created. On the average, there is a rapid per mile, ranging from ripples to major falls. You will plunge through the mountainous waves of Badger, Grapevine, Horn Creek, Granite and Upset before hearing the thunder of Lava Falls, one of the biggest "Big One's" alerting its proximity by the falls roaring sounds.

Between the rapids there are stretches of calm water where one can lean back and gaze about in wonder while floating through narrow canyons of fluted schist and polished granite. Beyond each terraced slope, around each bend is another breathtaking view. Some days will be spent mostly on the boat as you run the river's booming rapids. Other days you will take off-river hiking excursions. There are side canyons with waterfalls and natural swimming pools where tropical monkey flowers grow within six feet of desert cactus. Some hikes lead to high plateaus where you are rewarded with a panoramic view of the Grand Canyon. Other trails lead to abandoned mines or ancient Native American ruins. Each day will be full and varied. Camping at night on big sandy river beaches with huge, hearty meals prepared by your guides with foods from an onboard larder filled with fresh and frozen meats, vegetables and desserts. After dinner watch the setting sun and listen to the quiet canyon as you settle into your sleeping bag. Rise and shine to a hot breakfast, fresh fruit and juices. Then it is on the river again for more rapids and magnificent scenery.

You will come to know the Grand Canyon "up close and personal," in a way that few other people have experienced. Prices start at: Motorized Craft for 7 to 11 days - $2,295 per person Oar Raft for 12 to 14 days - $3,485 per person To talk to a live person call us toll free: 1-800-222-6966 or 702-655-6060 If you have any questions regarding a trip, please CLICK HERE to fill out our form. This will speed up the process of getting you accurate information regarding your trip. If you would like to send us an email other than about an up coming trip you can contact us at info@raftingthegrandcanyon.com . We look forward to helping you plan your trip! (Please NO Travel Agents) American Whitewater - 18. Lee's Ferry to Lake Mead , Colorado Arizona, US 18. Lee's Ferry to Lake Mead , Colorado Arizona, US Old browser warning Site look funky?

Your browser is either Internet Explorer (hit refresh (F5) several times due to a bug in Microsoft's code that we can't work around) or is 10 years old and standards-based layouts and styling confuse it. Consider updating. One excellent option is Mozilla Firefox , versions of which are available for Linux, Mac and Windows. Safari 1.0+ and IE 6.0+ are also supported. Colorado - 18. Lee's Ferry to Lake Mead Colorado, Arizona, US 18. Lee's Ferry to Lake Mead (The Grand Canyon) Usual Difficulty Granite Camp , Day 8 Granite Camp , Day 8 Photo of The last sunbeams of the day light up the horizon line at Granite. by Daniel W. Webb taken 08/08/04 @ 18000 Gauge Information River Description Summary: 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 todays 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 need 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. 5. Ability to rig very well and maintain your anchor lines through changing night time water elevations. 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 zero 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 outs: The majority of private trips in Grand Canyon travel 226 miles to Diamond Creek, Arizona for their takeout.

Diamond Creek is an intermittent stream that doubles as a roughshod road. 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 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 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. 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. 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: 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 right Angel Canyon, across a bridge and then back up to the south rim. It is all gravity fed. Pumpkin Springs is arsenic. Reaches of the Colorado River: Permits for the Grand Canyon are required and available through a weighted lottery system in February (additional dates may be distributed throughout the year).

StreamTeam Status: Not Verified Lee's Ferry, Mile 0 Photo of Lee's Ferry - The day before put-in by Daniel W. Webb taken 08/09/04 @ 18000 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. Navajo Bridge (Class N/A, Mile 4.3) 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 (Class III+, Mile 7.8) 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 Rapid (Class III, Mile 11.2) 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. House Rock (Class III+, Mile 17.0) Flip at House Rock Rapid Flip at House Rock Rapid Photo of Rafters from the Mesa - Tempe Group by Ratt Boy (KHCC-GC) taken 06/24/04 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.

21 Mile Rapid (Class III, Mile 21.0) Start of the "Roaring Twenties", a series of fun and relatively closely spaced rapids. 24 Mile Rapid (Class III, Mile 24.0) 24 Mile Rapid Photo of Chrissy Zeltner by Ratt Boy (KHCC-GC) taken 06/25/04 This rapid is new and formed in 1989 24 1/2 Mile Rapid (Class III+, Mile 24.5) A BIG hole scout left. Photo of Vasey's Paradise by Ratt Boy (KHCC-GC) taken 06/26/04 A hike Redwall Cavern (Class N/A, Mile 33.0) 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. President Harding Rapid (Class II+, Mile 43.0) President Harding Rapid President Harding Rapid Photo of Brian Day by Thomas O'Keefe В© taken 5APR07 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. Kwagunt (Class III, Mile 56.0) Kwagunt Mouth of the Little Colorado (Class N/A, Mile 61.5) Little Colorado Little Colorado Photo of Little Colorado and North Rim by Ratt Boy (KHCC-GC) taken 06/28/04 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. Unkar (Class III+, Mile 72.4) A long boulder strewn rapid. Hance (Class IV+, Mile 76.5) Hance Rapid, first half Hance Rapid, first half Photo of Mark Mastalski by Thomas O'Keefe В© taken 04/07/07 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. Sockdolager (Class IV, Mile 78.6) Sockdolager Photo by Thomas O'Keefe В© taken 04/08/07 Don't get too far off the big V waves and find yourself smacked around. Grapevine (Class III+, Mile 81.5) A long set of big wave trains. Zoroaster Rapid (Class II+, Mile 84.6) Zoraster Camp Photo by Paul Martzen taken 03/25/09 @ 7,500 to 1,400 cfs Only relevant at low flows. Bright Angel Canyon and Trail 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. Horn (Class IV, Mile 90.2) Making the Move at the Top of Horn Making the Move at the Top of Horn Photo of Amanda by Thomas O'Keefe В© taken 04/09/07 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 (Class IV+, Mile 93.4) Granite Granite Photo by Thomas O'Keefe В© taken 04/09/07 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. Hermit (Class III, Mile 95.0) hermit The biggest free standing waves up to this point on the river. Crystal (Class IV, Mile 98.0) Raft runs Crystal Raft runs Crystal Photo of Steve Ingalls by Judi Cleary (KHCC) taken 08/15/01 @ 17,000cfs 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. Turquoise (Class III, Mile 103.0) More of teh "gemstone series" Elves Chasm (Class N/A, Mile 116.5) elves chasm elves chasm 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. Fossil Rapid (Class III, Mile 125.0) Side hike her also Bedrock (Class III+, Mile 130.5) 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. Deubendorff (Class III+, Mile 131.8) Debendorff Debendorff Photo by Thomas O'Keefe В© taken 04/02/07 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. Tapeats Creek and Rapid (Class II+, Mile 133.8) Tapeats Rapid Tapeats Rapid Photo by Thomas O'Keefe В© taken 04/02/07 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 .

Deer Creek (Class N/A, Mile 136.2) Deer Creek Falls Deer Creek Falls Photo by Judi Cleary (KHCC) taken 08/15/01 @ 17,000cfs 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 . Upset (Class IV+, Mile 149.8) upset upset This large rapid makes a gradual right turn against the cliff wall on the left with the debris fan on the right. A very large wave hole lurks in the center of the waves about 2/3 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. Lava Falls (Class IV+, Mile 179.3) Raft Running Lava Falls Raft Running Lava Falls Photo of Raft Running Lava Falls by M. White taken 06/06/01 @ 14,000 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. Granite Springs Rapid (Class III+, Mile 220.7) Granite Springs drainage flashed sometime in 2016. The river was narrowed and many boulders were deposited in the channel. A large boat flipping hole or wave is in the middle of the rapid. Diamond Creek takeout 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.

Pearce Ferry Takeout (Class N/A, Mile 280.0) 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 at elevation 1,177 or higher for this take out to be usable. Check with park service and other resources to make sure. Superimposition Rapid (Class III+, Mile 281.0) 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. Reservoir silt has filled in the old river channel which ran along the cliffs to the north. The river has cut a new channel to the south, exposing a rock ridge. As the reservoir level dropped the rapid has become bigger and bigger. Photos of Superimposition Rapid near Pierce Ferry, uncovered by the low lake levels.

Photos from February 2008. Durango Bill's page with excellent photos and explanation of the formation of this rapid. The satellite view on the map tab gives a good close up view of this new rapid when you zoom in. Iceberg Canyon Rapid (Class II, Mile 290.0) 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. I have collected video, GPS info, River Mile Markers (Blue Flags), Camp Locations (Green Flags), Rapid Locations ( Red Flags), Points of Interest (Yellow Flags), videos (click on Rapid Flags), NPS Regulations, interesting links, Photos, Wikipedia links, and AW... links, and ... if you want something on there let me know. It's a work in progress, I'm already behind a major update so check back every couple of days or so.

Once you get Google Earth open, and get tired of flying around on your own, if you look in your Google Earth Temporary Places and click around, you'll find a funny looking triangle looking icon. If you play it, it will fly you down the entire Grand Canyon. You can see the various Places as you fly. Stop anywhere and click on a marker for more info. It is a long flight. Sawyer The Full Grand Canyon - 13 Day River Rafting Trips from Lee's Ferry to Lake Mead The Full Grand Canyon 13 - 15 Day Trip from Lee's Ferry to Lake Mead The Grand Canyon reserves its greatest rewards for those who take the time to experience the full river trip. This full trip begins at Lees Ferry and traverses the entire length of the Grand Canyon to Separation Canyon where a jet-boat will shuttle us across the flat water of Lake Mead to an awaiting motorcoach for transportation to McCarran Airport and Las Vegas. The night before the trip begins, we meet you for an orientation meeting at the Marble Canyon Lodge. Overnight accommodations are recommended and can be arranged by OU.

It is a quiet place just five miles from Lees Ferry and only a short walk to the canyon rim and the awesome overlook at Navajo Bridges. We will start our trip bright and early the next morning, traveling at an easy pace, with time to stop and explore the many unique features of this grand canyon. Redwall Cavern, the Little Colorado, Elves Chasm, Deer Creek Falls and Havasu Creek will be among the places visited (visit the Photo Gallery for a look!). Entering the inner gorge, we encounter some of the oldest exposed bedrock on earth, exquisitely polished schists and granites nearly two billion years old. Further on we see evidence of immense volcanism in the diamond-hard black basalt around us. Here lava flows dammed the Canyon creating a lake that extended into southern Utah, only to be eventually worn away by the restless river. This is also where one of the Canyon's more famous rapids, mighty Lava Falls, is found. Some days will be spent mostly on the boats as we run the river's booming rapids. Other days we will take extended side hikes or perhaps short excursions to ancient Native American ruins, hidden canyons or gushing springs.

Each day will be full and varied, your nights spent on sandy beaches beneath a canopy of stars bracketed by towering canyon walls. Eventually the lower gorge closes around us as we take the final plunge through rapids to the head of Lake Mead 240 miles and 100+ rapids from our starting point. Start planning your Full Grand Canyon Rafting Trip today by visiting Trip Dates & Rates or calling 1-800-637-RAFT. One Trip Per Year Rule Due to limited availability, the National Park Service has limited use in the popular Lees Ferry to Diamond Creek section of the Colorado River to one recreational river trip per individual each calendar year. Because of this regulation, Outdoors Unlimited cannot accept a reservation from any individual who has or will participate in any other full or partial canyon commercial or non-commercial river trip within the same calendar year. If you have already completed or have plans to participate in any other Grand Canyon river trip this year and would like to go again, please respect your fellow boaters by waiting until next year or sometime thereafter to book your next trip. Grand Canyon National Park’s one-trip-per-year rule is strictly enforced. U.S.

Southwest's Colorado River (Geography and More) Source: La Poudre Pass Lake - Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado Source Elevation: 10,175 feet (3,101 m) Mouth: Gulf of California, Mexico Length: 1,450 miles (2,334 km) River Basin Area : 246,000 square miles (637,000 sq km) The Colorado River ( map ) is a very large river located in the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico . The states it runs through include Colorado, Utah, Arizona , Nevada, California , Baja California and Sonora. It is approximately 1,450 miles (2,334 km) in length and it drains an area of about 246,000 square miles (637,000 sq km). The Colorado River is important historically and it is also an major source of water and electrical power for millions of people in the areas in which it drains. Course of the Colorado River The headwaters of the Colorado River begin at La Poudre Pass Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado.

The elevation of this lake is approximately 9,000 feet (2,750 m). This is a significant point in the geography of the United States because it is where the Continental Divide meets the Colorado River drainage basin. continue reading below our video 10 Facts About the Titanic That You Don't Know As the Colorado River begins to descend in elevation and flow to the west, it flows into Grand Lake in Colorado. After descending further, the river then enters several reservoirs and finally flows out to where it parallels U.S. Highway 40, joins several of its tributaries and then parallels U.S. Interstate 70 for a short time. Once the Colorado River meets the U.S. southwest, it begins to meet several more dams and reservoirs- the first of which is the Glen Canyon Dam which forms Lake Powell in Arizona. From there, the Colorado River begins to flow through massive canyons which it helped carve millions of years ago. Among these is the 217 mile (349 km) long Grand Canyon.

After flowing through the Grand Canyon , the Colorado River meets the Virgin River (one of its tributaries) in Nevada and flows into Lake Mead after being blocked by the Hoover Dam at the Nevada/Arizona border. After flowing through the Hoover Dam, the Colorado River continues its course toward the Pacific through several more dams, including the Davis, Parker and Palo Verde Dams. It then flows into the Coachella and Imperial Valleys in California and finally into its delta in Mexico. It should be noted however, that the Colorado River delta, while once rich marshland, is today mainly dry aside from exceptionally wet years due to the removal of water upstream for irrigation and city uses. Human History of the Colorado River Humans have inhabited the Colorado River basin for thousands of years. Early nomadic hunters and Native Americans have left artifacts throughout the area. For example, the Anasazi began living in Chaco Canyon at around 200 B.C.E. Native American civilizations grew to their peak from 600 to 900 C.E. but they began to decline after that, likely due to drought. The Colorado River was first noted in historic documents in 1539 when Francisco de Ulloa sailed upstream from the Gulf of California.

Shortly thereafter, several attempts were made by various explorers to sail farther upstream. Throughout the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a variety of maps showing the river were drawn but they all had different names and courses for it. The first map using the name Colorado appeared in 1743. Throughout the late 1800s and into the 1900s, several expeditions to explore and accurately map the Colorado River took place. In addition from 1836 to 1921, the Colorado River was called the Grand River from its source in Rocky Mountain National Park to its confluence with the Green River in Utah. In 1859 a U.S. Army topographic expedition led by John Macomb occurred, during which he precisely located the confluence of the Green and Grand Rivers and declared it the source of the Colorado River. In 1921, the Grand River was renamed the Colorado River and since then the river has included all of its present-day area. Dams of the Colorado River The modern history of the Colorado River consists mainly of managing its water for municipal uses and to prevent flooding.

This came as a result of a flood in 1904. In that year, the river's water broke through a diversion canal near Yuma, Arizona. This created the New and Alamo Rivers and eventually flooded the Salton Sink, forming the Coachella Valley's Salton Sea . In 1907 however, a dam was built to return the river to its natural course. Since 1907, several more dams have been constructed along the Colorado River and it has grown into a major source of water for irrigation and municipal uses. In 1922, the states in the Colorado River basin signed the Colorado River Compact which governed each state's rights to the river's water and set specific annual allotments of what could be taken. Shortly after the signing of the Colorado River Compact, the Hoover Dam was constructed to provide water for irrigation, manage flooding and generate electricity. Other large dams along the Colorado River include the Glen Canyon Dam as well as the Parker, Davis, Palo Verde and Imperial Dams. In addition to these large dams, some cities have aqueducts running to the Colorado River to further aid in maintaining their water supplies.

These cities include Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona, Las Vegas, Nevada , and Los Angeles, San Bernardino and San Diego California. To learn more about the Colorado River, visit DesertUSA.com and the Lower Colorado River Authority . References Wikipedia.com. (20 September 2010). Colorado River - Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved from: Wikipedia.com. (14 September 2010). Colorado River Compact - Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved from: River Trips / Permits - Grand Canyon National Park (U.S. National Park Service) 1 Day Commercial River Trips - Half-day and full-day smooth water trips on the Colorado River. 2 to 5 Day Noncommercial River Trips - Noncommercial trips that launch from Diamond Creek and takeout at Lake Mead typically are 2 to 5 days in length. Permits for these whitewater trips are available to the public starting one year in advance and are distributed on a first-come first-served basis. Lees Ferry to Diamond Creek River Trips (commercial and noncommercial) - Motorized and non-motorized whitewater rafting trips which launch from Lees Ferry and take-out at Diamond Creek vary greatly in length.

Motor trips usually take a minimum of 7 days to reach Diamond Creek, but half trip options are available for those who wish to hike in or out at Phantom Ranch. Individuals can choose between commercial and noncommercial trips. 3 to 18 Day Commercial River Trips . These are professionally guided raft trips, available to the public and often reserved a year or two in advance. 12 to 25 Day Noncommercial River Trips . These are self-guided raft trips, sometimes referred to as private river trips. Permits for these trips are made available to the public through a WEIGHTED LOTTERY.

Question: Which river flows the length of the Grand Canyon?
Answer: Colorado