Rivers and Streams - Grand Canyon National Park (U.S. National Park Service) Rivers and Streams Rivers and Streams Rivers and Streams Water is a vital natural resource, particularly in the arid southwest. Most of the flow of the Colorado River through Grand Canyon originates in the Rocky Mountain region. From its origin to its mouth in the Gulf of California, many hands have claimed the Colorado waters for such purposes as irrigation and water supply. The Colorado River within the boundaries of Grand Canyon National Park drains an area of approximately 41,070 square miles. The major perennial streams feeding into the Colorado (such as Kanab and Havasu creeks, the Little Colorado River and the Paria River) are related to large perennial spring systems on both the north and south sides of the Canyon. However, the majority of water sources are intermittent or ephemeral in nature. The availability of water in these individual systems is closely related to geologic structure, seasonality and annual precipitation. Knowledge of all water sources within Grand Canyon is incomplete.

A partial inventory was done in 1979 over a 1,881 square mile area of the park which found 57 perennial water sources, 21 of which are streams and 36 which are seeps. Specific geologic layers, such as the Muav limestone, are the most common sources for these perennial waters. River Running: Part 1 RIVER RUNNING THROUGH THE GRAND CANYON Part 1: Introduction Running the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon provides the excitement of roaring rapids and the tranquility of gliding in silent passages. It rates as one of the world's greatest adventures! A journey through the Canyon by river, with some side hikes, might be the single best way to see and appreciate the grandeur and beauty here. Many beautifully sculptured side canyons, some with lush vegetation, can be easily reached only from the river. Just being at the bottom of the Canyon is a delight, whether riding atop the waves, strolling past convoluted walls of an unnamed side canyon, or enjoying life at camp.

Although explorers of the 19th century feared this section of the river, rendering it in dark and gloomy drawings, boating the Canyon has become a safe and enjoyable experience. It opens up some of the most grand and remote corners of the Canyon. River parties make frequent stops to explore the twisting side canyons, old mining camps, and Indian ruins along the way. Within the Grand Canyon, the Colorado River flows 277 miles, drops 2,200 feet, and thunders through 70 major rapids. A river trip through the Grand Canyon requires a large commitment in time, whitewater experience, equipment, expense, and permit procedures. About one-third of river runners do it themselves with a noncommercial river trip permit from the park. The easier option, taken by most people, simply involves setting aside the time for the trip and paying a river company to handle the many details. Mark, Eric (at the oars), and Sherry enjoying a ride in the dory Virgin near Whitmore Wash. This 19-day trip in April from Lees Ferry to Lake Mead allowed plenty of time to explore, including two layover days for hiking.

YOUR OPTIONS Boats Both oar-powered and motorized craft run the river. Motor-powered rafts can zip through the entire Canyon in six days, or zoom from Lees Ferry to Phantom Ranch in two days. The oar- or paddle-boat trips take half again as much time but provide a quiet and more natural experience. On these smaller boats, passengers have the advantage of being able to talk easily with the crew and one another. Whether in a little or a big rig, you can be assured that the crew will work hard to provide a safe and enjoyable trip. All but two of the tour companies use rafts of various sizes; the exceptions are Grand Canyon Dories and Grand Canyon Expeditions, which employ sturdy, hard-shelled boats with upturned ends. The dories ride high in the water as they dance through the waves. They're small, 16-18 feet long, with one person at the oars and just four passengers. Only the most skilled boaters can handle a dory because, unlike rafts, they can't bounce off rocks without damage. Small rafts typically measure 18 feet and carry four or five passengers plus one crew member to do the rowing.

Some companies provide a paddle boat option—not a Mississippi-type paddle wheeler, but a small raft in which everyone has a paddle! The guide sits at the stern to steer and give instructions, but it's up to the passengers to succeed in running each rapid or not. The motorized rigs can be 30 feet long or more and have pontoon outriggers for extra stability. A small outboard motor near the stern provides steering and speed. Some people dislike the use of motors in a wilderness, but these boats do allow more people to run the Colorado than would be possible if everyone went in nonmotorized rigs. Routes Most tours put in at Lees Ferry, just upstream from the park, and end downstream at Diamond Creek or Pearce (also spelled Pierce) Ferry on Lake Mead. You can travel only half the distance by combining river travel with a hike between Phantom Ranch (at the bottom) and the rim. The lower section of river can be left or joined via a helicopter ride to Hualapai Indian land near Whitmore Wash. If you'd like just a taste of river-running, try a one-day smooth-water trip from Glen Canyon Dam to Lees Ferry, just above Grand Canyon National Park, with Wilderness River Adventures, based in Page.

Or you can visit the lowermost part of the Grand Canyon and a few rapids with Hualapai River Runners, based in Peach Springs. A typical commercial oar trip can be done in 12-16 days from Lees Ferry to Diamond Creek, covering 226 miles. The upper half takes five or six days from Lees Ferry to Phantom Ranch, 87.5 miles; the lower half needs eight or nine days from Phantom Ranch to Diamond Creek, 138.5 miles. Continuing to Pearce Ferry on Lake Mead adds just a day or two. Equivalent motorized trips typically run eight days from Lees Ferry to Diamond Creek or Pearce Ferry with three or four days from Lees Ferry to Phantom Ranch and five days from Phantom Ranch to Diamond Creek or Pearce Ferry. Whitmore Wash, at Mile 187 below Lava Falls, is another place to end a trip or to begin a two- or three-day run in the lowermost Grand Canyon. Although there's a trail from the North Rim here, river parties use helicopters between the river (on Hualapai Indian land) and the Bar 10 guest ranch, where small planes shuttle people to Las Vegas or other destinations.

Other combinations are available too. Extra days may be added to some trips for hiking or layovers, especially early or late in the season. Expect to pay $250 or more per day; discounts may be available for groups, children under 14, early booking, and off-season journeys. If you've children in tow, check for minimum age requirements; sometimes these are left up to the passenger, at other times operators require minimum ages of anywhere between 8 and 16 years. Trips usually include land transportation; most depart from Flagstaff, Page, St. George, or Las Vegas. Meals, camping gear, and waterproof bags are usually included in the price. Experienced kayakers can tag along with many tours, paying a lower rate. Seasons The river-running season normally lasts from April to October, with only nonmotorized craft departing mid-September to mid-December. When you choose to go makes a big difference in the river experience. Most people go during summer because that's when they take their vacation. The Canyon gets very hot then, but a little splash of river water will always be cooling. Hiking at this time is limited to shady side canyons with water.

Spring—April to early June—has many advantages. The redbud trees and many plants bloom in beautiful colors, hiking weather will be near perfect, days get long, trips often have a couple of extra days for long hikes or layovers, and it's much easier to get a reservation for a trip. The downside will be the possibility of cold weather, even sleet, which the author woke up to on one April morning in the upper Canyon! Some boaters think that early June offers the best weather for a boat trip, though hiking can get hot then. Autumn brings shorter days, along with cooler temperatures. The Canyon quietens after mid-Sept. when all the motorized rigs have left the river. Heavy-duty rain gear with sweaters underneath can keep spring and autumn boaters warm during cool spells. Pete on guitar A campfire gives off welcome warmth on this April evening; the fire pan ensures a clean beach after we leave. Rafting the Lower Grand Canyon This last section, beginning at Diamond Creek, offers beautiful Canyon scenery and some rapids. You can get on a trip here much more easily than in the upper Canyon, either with Hualapai River Runners or on your own.

The park's River Trips Office gives free permits for up to two private parties (16 people maximum in each) per day. River runners will need to pay for a Hualapai permit to use the Diamond Creek Road access or to hike or camp on the south shore. The lower canyon bakes in summer, so spring, autumn, or even winter offer better weather for exploring side canyons. Boating into the Lower Grand Canyon from Lake Mead Boats—but not personal watercraft—may go up as far as Separation Canyon (Mile 240 on the river) from Lake Mead National Recreation Area without a permit. You can even canoe or kayak in this section of the Grand Canyon by arranging a powerboat to carry the boats from Lake Mead to Separation Canyon. Primitive camping is allowed on the park's (north) shore in this section, though high lake levels can flood all the spots. Check with the River Trips Office to see if you need a permit for shore camping. To camp inland, you'll need a backcountry permit. The Hualapai require a permit to hike or camp on their lands—the south shore. Canoeing the Lower Grand Canyon Canoes in the Grand Canyon?

Yes indeed, in the last 40 miles within the park. A powerboat is needed to carry the canoes from Lake Mead to Separation Canyon (Mile 240 on the river). Most of the southern shore on this trip belongs to the Hualapai Indians; obtain tribal permits if you plan to camp or hike on their land. PRIVATE RIVER TRIPS Step One is to read Grand Canyon National Park's regulations and procedures! Obtain them from the River Trips Office (Box 129, Grand Canyon, AZ 86023, 928/638-7884 or 800/959-9164, ). The best time to reach someone in person is 8 a.m.–noon on weekdays. Step Two—getting the permit—will be the hard part. The River Permits Office has worked out a system for applications that's as fair as possible to everyone. RIVER COMPANIES The following companies offer a wide variety of trips through the Canyon, ranging from one-day introductions to adventurous 21-day expeditions.

For the latest list, ask at the visitor center or contact the River Trips Office (Box 129, Grand Canyon, AZ 86023, 928/638-7884 or 800/959-9164, ). The Internet works best because you get not only a list, but also links to the companies, which have colorful and informative sites. Try to make reservations six months to a year in advance. It's possible to get on a trip with short notice, especially if there are just a few in your group and you're going early or late in the season. Rivers and Oceans (12620 N. Copeland Lane, Flagstaff, AZ 86004, 928/526-4575 or 800/473-4576, ) specializes in river trips and will supply information about companies, make reservations, and let you know about last-minute openings.

All of the companies put in at Lees Ferry except for Wilderness River Adventure's day trips, which start from Glen Canyon Dam, and Hualapai River Runners trips, which begin at Diamond Creek in the lower Grand Canyon. Many of the other companies offer partial trips whereby you can start or leave from Phantom Ranch or Whitmore Wash. Arizona Raft Adventures (4050 E. Huntington Dr., Flagstaff, AZ 86004, 928/526-8200 or 800/786-7238, ) goes to Diamond Creek on 12- to 15-day oar ($2,700–3,000) and eight- or 10-day motorized trips ($1,950–2,300), most with the option of ending or starting at Phantom Ranch. Paddle raft trips go too, either in combination with oar-powered rafts or all by themselves.

Arizona River Runners (Box 47788, Phoenix, AZ 85068-7788, 602/867-4866 or 800/477-7238, ) offers a 13-day oar trip to Diamond Creek ($2,685) with an option to end or start at Phantom Ranch and an eight-day motorized run to Lake Mead ($1,910) with the option to leave or join at Whitmore Wash. Canyoneers (Box 2997, Flagstaff, AZ 86003, 928/526-0924 or 800/525-0924, ) rows 12-day oar trips ($2,700) and runs seven-day motorized trips ($1,770–1,800) to Lake Mead; both provide the option of ending or starting at Phantom Ranch.

Canyon Explorations/Expeditions (Box 310, Flagstaff, AZ 86002, 928/774-4559 or 800/654-0723, ) uses oar boats on runs to Diamond Creek of 13–16 days ($2,725–3,350). Paddleboats always come along too, and some trips are all paddle rafts. Inflatable kayaks accompany the oar boats as well. Some departures have a Phantom Ranch exit/entry option. Colorado River & Trail Expeditions (Box 57575, Salt Lake City, UT 84157-0575, 801/261-1789 or 800/253-7328, ) goes by oar-powered raft ($3,500) to Diamond Creek in 11 days and by motorized rafts ($2,740) to Lake Mead in eight or nine days; a paddle raft goes along with the oar trips.

You can leave or join at Phantom Ranch on the 9- and 11-day trips. Diamond River Adventures (Box 1316, Page, AZ 86040, 928/645-8866 or 800/343-3121, ) offers 12-day oar trips ($2,480) and eight-day motorized trips ($1,580) to Diamond Creek with options of leaving or joining at Phantom Ranch or Whitmore Wash. Grand Canyon Dories (Box 216, Altaville, CA 95221, 209/736-0811 or 800/877-3679, ) features dories on 16-day trips ($4,234–4,314) to Diamond Creek; 19- and 21-day dory trips ($4,314–4,934) run in spring and autumn to Lake Mead. You can join or leave the trips at Phantom Ranch or Whitmore Wash.

Grand Canyon Expeditions (Box O, Kanab, UT 84741, 435/644-2691 or 800/544-2691, ) runs dories on 14-day trips to Lake Mead ($2,995); motorized rafts do this run in eight days ($2,095). All trips go straight through without any passenger exchanges. Hatch River Expeditions (Box 1200, Vernal, UT 84078, 435/789-3813 or 800/433-8966, ) runs motorized rafts to Whitmore Wash in six and a half days ($1,850) with the option to leave or join at Phantom Ranch.

Holiday Expeditions (544 East 3900 South, Salt Lake City, Utah 84107, 801/266-2087 or 800/624-6323, ) offers oar raft trips on the upper 5/6 days ($1,610/$1,915) and lower 8/9 days (2,330/$2,710) sections. You can also join rafting journeys in Utah, Colorado, and Idaho. Hualapai River Runners (P.O. Box 246, Peach Springs, AZ 86434, 888/868-9378, ) will take you on a one-day motorized-raft trip down the lower Grand Canyon from Diamond Creek, lift you out by helicopter to the rim at Grand Canyon West, then return you by road to Peach Springs for $423. Two-day paddle rafting excursions run on weekends and must be booked at least one week in advance, $740. This is the only company to offer a day trip within the Grand Canyon.

Rates during the March–Oct. season cover food, waterproof bag for personal gear, and transportation from Peach Springs. Moki Mac River Expeditions (Box 71242, Salt Lake City, UT 84171, 801/268-6667 or 800/284-7280, ) heads down to Lake Mead on 14-day oar trips ($3,130), with an option to end or begin from Phantom Ranch, and eight-day motorized rafts ($2,083) without a passenger exchange. O.A.R.S.

(Box 67, Angels Camp, CA 95222, 209/736-4677 or 800/346-6277, ) offers oar rafts to Diamond Creek in 13 or 14 days ($3,607–3,827) and 15- and 17-day runs all the way to Lake Mead ($4,013–4,238) with options to leave or join at Phantom Ranch (and Whitmore Wash, for the Lake Mead trips). Outdoors Unlimited (6900 Townsend Winona Rd., Flagstaff, AZ 86004, 928/526-4511 or 800/637-7238, ) goes to Lake Mead on oar rafts in 13 days ($2,793) and 15 days (spring and autumn only, $3,129) with an option to leave or join at Phantom Ranch; a paddle raft comes along too, and some trips are all paddle rafts.

Tour West (Box 333, Orem, UT 84059, 801/225-0755 or 800/453-9107, ) runs oar rafts to Whitmore Wash in 12 days ($2,655) without any passenger exchanges; paddle rafts can be added on request. Motorized rafts go to Lake Mead ($2,100) with the option to join or leave at Whitmore Wash). Western River Expeditions (7258 Racquet Club Dr., Salt Lake City, UT 84121, 801/942-6669 or 800/453-7450, ) has motorized rafts going to Lake Mead in eight days ($3,000) with a passenger exchange at Whitmore Wash.

Wilderness River Adventures (Box 717, Page, AZ 86040, 928/645-3296 or 800/992-8022, ) heads for Whitmore Wash on 12-day oar trips ($2,980) with the option to end or start at Phantom Ranch. Motorized trips take 6–8 days to Whitmore Wash ($1,815–2,370) and can be joined or left at Phantom Ranch. The company also offers a half-day trip from Glen Canyon Dam to Lees Ferry on smooth water. Bronco, of Grand Canyon Dories, lived up to his name—giving us some great rides through the rapids. What is the major river that flows through the Grand Canyon? | Reference.com What is the major river that flows through the Grand Canyon? A: Quick Answer The Colorado River is the major body of water that flows through the Grand Canyon. Two dams affect the flow of the river through the canyon: the Hoover Dam at the lower end of the canyon and the Glen Canyon Dam at the upper end, according to Arizona State University.

Colorado River Map -- National Geographic Learn More » Green River The heavily silted waters of the longest tributary flow 730 miles from the Wind River Range of Wyoming to its confluence with the Colorado River. In 1869, John Wesley Powell first ran the Green for 1,000 miles, taking out below the Grand Canyon. At that time, the waterway above the Colorado-Green confluence was named the Grand River. In 1921, the U.S. Congress renamed it the Colorado River. Colorado Big Thompson Trans-Basin Diversion After the disastrous 1930s Dust Bowl hit Colorado's eastern plains, this Bureau of Reclamation project diverted the Colorado River headwaters under the Rocky Mountains through the Adams Tunnel, dropping several thousand feet to the plains. The water is stored in 12 reservoirs and supplies 650,000 farm acres, 800,000 people in 35 eastern slope towns and cities, and a variety of industries. Adams is one of 12 tunnels that divert Colorado River water to two million more people living in Colorado.

These diversions provide 510,000 acre-feet of water to farmers on the plains as well as homes and businesses in Denver, Colorado Springs, Aurora, and other Front Range cities. Gunnison River Three dams provide hydroelectric power and agricultural/municipal storage water along the length of this 180-mile river, which includes one of the deepest gorges in the world, the Black Canyon of the Gunnison. One of only a few fish ladders found throughout the river basin is at Redlands Dam near Grand Junction, allowing native fish to navigate much of the lower Gunnison River. San Juan River The most saline of the major Colorado River tributaries, the San Juan was named by the Spanish priests Dominguez and Escalante in 1776 as they circled the Colorado River Basin in search of a route to California. The San Juan River Basin drains 25,000 square miles and flows 350 miles from the snowy San Juan Mountains to Lake Powell. In addition to farming use in the San Juan Basin, a portion of the river is diverted south into the Rio Grande Basin to supply the city of Albuquerque and New Mexico farmland.

Reservoirs The Colorado River Basin has been engineered to store four times the river's annual capacity, or 60 million acre-feet per year, to accommodate droughts. From south to north, the major reservoirs include: Havasu, Mohave, Mead, Powell, Navajo, Blue Mesa, Granby, Flaming Gorge, and Fontenelle. Native Americans Indigenous people throughout the basin have historical legacies—hunting, fishing, and unique cultural identities—based upon the river. Tribes—the Paiute, Hopi, Ute, Uintah, Navajo, Havasupai, Hualapai, Apache, Pueblo, Kaibab, Zuni, Ouray, Ak-Chin, Chemehuevi, Apache, Pima, Papagos, Mohave, Quechan, and Kwapa—benefit economically from river-based casinos, tourism operations, land leases, and agricultural or grazing lands irrigated by the river. The rights of Native Americans are not limited to the prior appropriation. Southern Nevada In the 1920s, the sparsely populated train stop at Las Vegas springs received an equally small allocation of Colorado River water.

Since then, the city and its surrounding suburbs have grown exponentially. With a mere four inches of rainfall each year, water managers are watching Las Vegas stretch the limits of its water supply, providing a preview of the issues that may be faced by other fast-growing and similarly arid cities in the Southwest. Central Arizona Project (CAP) The CAP canal—recently averaging around 1.58 million acre-feet of Colorado River diversions each year—is an example of the intricately engineered, outgoing diversions that support distant cities and farms throughout the Southwest. In addition to providing water for many municipal and agricultural users, CAP water is also used for aquifer recharge, replacing groundwater used by development and providing for underground storage of water to help protect water users from the future impacts of climate change and drought. Groundwater management laws that apply to most of Arizona's urban areas have also resulted in a reduced reliance on unsustainable groundwater pumping, and in many areas, have controlled or reversed declining aquifer levels. Salt River Project (SRP) The SRP began in 1903 as the nation's first multipurpose reclamation project authorized under the National Reclamation Act of 1902.

In 1911, the year before Arizona achieved statehood, President Theodore Roosevelt personally dedicated the dam that bears his name. Today, the SRP delivers nearly 1 million acre-feet of water annually to a service area in central Arizona, through an extensive water delivery system of reservoirs, wells, canals and irrigation laterals. Southern California This is the most highly populated region diverting water from the Colorado River Basin. Eighteen million people from Ventura to San Diego receive a fifth of their water from Colorado River water trapped in Lake Havasu. This represents 12.5 percent of California's total allocation of Colorado River water (4.4 million acre-feet), which is used primarily for agriculture. Salton Sea The current 365-square-mile lake was created in 1905 when the river broke through a faulty canal head gate. Similar natural lakes have been created here throughout the millennia during Colorado River floods. The lake, 230 feet below sea level, is saltier than the ocean, but the large expanse of open water provides vital habitat for birds utilizing the Pacific Flyway.

Supplied mostly by agricultural drainage from Imperial and Coachella Valley farmlands, along with intermittent flows from Mexico's Alamo and New Rivers, the lake's surface has been falling at the rate of a half foot per year, increasing the salinity, killing fish, and putting 400 species of birds at risk. The Ciénega De Santa Clara This 40,000-acre marsh is sustained by a 48-mile bypass canal that carries 108,000 acre-feet per year of brackish, agricultural drain water from Arizona's Wellton-Mohawk Drainage and Irrigation District. As the largest wetland remaining in the delta, the Ciénega supports many of the 360 bird species found throughout the delta. Yuma clapper rail, least tern, yellow-billed cuckoo, and summer tanager are examples of endangered species that breed in the delta. Concerted efforts are being made by both Mexico and the U.S. to maintain flows to this marsh. Colorado River Delta In recent years, the Colorado River has rarely flowed through its delta and into the Gulf of California.

One-tenth of the river's former flow (1.5 million acre-feet per year) is sent into Mexico each year but this water is diverted west by the Morelos Dam for agricultural and urban use. To restore the delta and its estuary, and sustain a number of marshes and small forests, Mexican and American conservationists are seeking to purchase and create a small, sustained flow of water through the delta, supplemented by a larger, periodic "pulse flow." Balancing Limited Supply With Increasing Demand The Colorado River Basin is a critical component of North American water supply, providing H2O to 30 million people and thousands of acres of farmland. When Colorado River withdrawals were first allocated among the river basin’s seven states, in 1922, the river held 17.5 million acre-feet (5.7 trillion gallons) of water. However, new science has shown that 1922 was part of an especially wet period. The river now averages about 14.7 million acre-feet per year and is allocated among seven states and Mexico. Water managers are trying to address growing challenges associated with over-allocation, rapidly increasing urban populations, development of unused water rights, and expected climate change.

The water levels of the river’s two largest reservoirs—Lake Mead and Lake Powell, stored by Hoover and Glen Canyon Dams—have dropped significantly in recent years, threatening supplies for major cities. In addition, the trapping of silt behind dams also limits the quality and extent of river habitats. More About Rivers Hydrologic Activity - Grand Canyon National Park (U.S. National Park Service) Hydrologic Activity Hydrologic Activity Hydrologic Activity In 1963 the diversion tunnels around Glen Canyon Dam were closed and water began backing up to form Lake Powell. With that act the Colorado River that had flowed through Grand Canyon for millions of years was radically changed. The new river that runs in the same riverbed bears little resemblance to its predecessor. The old Colorado River carried a heavy load of sand and soil particles, which was why it was named "Colorado," Spanish for red. Now upstream sediments are trapped in Lake Powell and the river water flowing from the dam is clear. The volume of flow of the old river varied tremendously over a yearly cycle, from late spring floods that frequently topped 100,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) to late summer flows of only a few thousand cfs.

Today Colorado River flows typically range from 8,000 to 25,000 cfs with greatly reduced seasonal variation in flows. Water temperature that once ranged from near freezing to 80 degrees F (27 C) now runs year-round within a few degrees of 46 F (8 C), because water for power generation is drawn from well below the surface of Lake Powell. These changes in the characteristics of the river have had a dramatic impact on the ecology of the river corridor through Grand Canyon. Without the seasonal variations in river flow and temperature, native fish are not stimulated to spawn. The clear water favors non-native fish species, including predators that feed on the native species. Of the original eight species of native fish, three are no longer found in Grand Canyon, and two of those remaining are now endangered. Vegetation along the original river was sparse due to the scouring effect of annual floods. With more constant flows vegetation grows nearer the waterline, although little reproduction of cottonwood trees is occurring, since they depended on floods to stimulate their seeds to sprout. Tamarisk, also called salt cedar, an exotic tree that crowds out native species, has become established.

The physical characteristics of the river corridor were changed, too. Beaches dependent on annual replenishment during spring floods are eroded away. Rocks and boulders washed into the mainstream from side canyons are not redistributed during high water, making some rapids more hazardous. With fluctuating flows, rafters and anglers could be affected by sudden changes in river flows. Glen Canyon Dam was operated first for water storage and delivery, and secondarily for power generation. When the people of the West needed more electricity, water flow from the dam increased. When demand decreased, water flows dropped. A raft tied at the water's edge in the evening might be high and dry the next morning. An angler who waded onto a mid-river gravel bar in the morning might find himself precariously stranded a few hours later. Some of the changes are more subtle. Archaeological sites are being exposed or damaged, as the annual replenishment of beach sand is now limited to tributary inputs, a small fraction of pre-dam levels. The potential loss of 10,000 years of history continues to be of great concern to park managers.

Colorado River Headwaters Scenic Byway Kawuneechee Visitor Center Colorado River Headwaters Scenic Byway The mighty Colorado River that carved the Grand Canyon has its headwaters on the west side of the Continental Divide in Rocky Mountain National Park. The route begins at Grand Lake, western gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park - a resort on the shores of Colorado's largest natural Lake. It ends on a gravel road through spectacular Gore Canyon. This scenic byway follows the magnificent Colorado River through Colorado as it begins its journey west through the Grand Canyon and flows to the Pacific. The byway passes mountain valleys, canyons, lakes, historical ranchlands and high-country communities. Wildlife, river rafting, hunting and year-round recreation is plentiful with easy access to thousands of acres of public land. In the Park about 9.5 miles north of Grand Lake, you can get closer to the source by hiking from the Colorado River Headwaters trailhead. Lulu City, an 1880s gold mining camp sited along the banks of the Colorado, is now just a green meadow next to a stream in the Park. You can hike or backpack to the site of Lulu City (see photo). Take Hwy.

34 from Grand Lake to Granby, Hwy. 40 to Kremmling, County Road 1 (gravel road) to State Bridge. Avoid travel on gravel portion after rain or snow. Map of Scenic Byway . Elevation: 6,500-9,000 feet Realtime Water Flows for Grand Canyon - Rafting Grand Canyon Realtime Water Flows for Grand Canyon From Rafting Grand Canyon Jump to: navigation , search The United States Geological Survey (USGS) provides realtime water flow data for the Colorado River in Grand Canyon. This data is typically recorded at 15 minute intervals and transmitted on-line every 1 to 4 hours, depending on the data relay technique used. You can see the USGS realtime water flow at Phantom Ranch Arizona by clicking here. Click here to return to Resources page. Grand Canyon Dory Adventures | O.A.R.S. Grand Canyon Dory Adventures Adventures Colorado River Trips by Dory – A Grand Tradition For a truly exceptional boating experience, a dory boat trip through Grand Canyon on Arizona’s Colorado River provides a unique and exciting alternative to an inflatable raft.

Grand Canyon Dories are small, traditional and charmingly elegant, rigid boats designed to carry four people and a tremendous amount of gear. At 16′ 9″ stern to bow, with six hatches, passenger benches and hardwood rails and trim, dories are able to run a river much more quickly than a raft. However, a Grand Canyon dory boat trip is not about speed, but about your own intimate, some might say organic experience of the river. As in life, the point is not whether you’ve just been to a place, but how you experience it once you get there. With a high crew-to-passenger ratio, our Grand Canyon dory trips provide better access to a more relaxed and energetic crew while they provide you with a quality of service unmatched in the industry. We pay respect to Arizona’s Colorado River, its surrounding environment and your river experience by setting a slower, more relaxed pace without sacrificing the thrill and excitement of your whitewater adventure in Grand Canyon. With professional guides born to row and boats designed with every consideration in mind, your only concern will be taking in the amazing scenery that sets the background for your truly fantastic Grand Canyon river trip.

The evolution of the dory experience has long been in the hands of the boatmen, many of whom have been a part of it for over thirty years. It is their professionalism, their creativity and above all their dedication to doing it right, that make a dory trip the sincerely unique and spectacular experience that it is. So whether you’re a veteran river runner or a curious novice, let our staff and our guides assist you in creating your own personalized dory boat adventure. The Dory Story Our dory boats are descendants of the original Portuguese fishing dory—a flat bottomed, splay-sided rowboat with high upturned ends. How we came to use this stable seagoing boat on the wild rivers of the West is rather a roundabout tale: our favorite kind to tell… Let’s start back in 1869, when Major John Wesley Powell first explored the uncharted canyons of the Colorado. The art of whitewater rowing had yet to be born and Powell’s boats bore little resemblance to dories. His were keeled cutwater boats with two men rowing hard downstream. Another man in the back attempted to steer with a long sweep oar.

With bravery, luck, persistence and much portaging, Powell and the expeditions that followed him were able to navigate the Colorado in these heavy, unwieldy boats. In the 1890’s, a Utah trapper named Nathaniel Galloway revolutionized whitewater boating. By going to a light, flat bottomed boat and rowing upstream, against the current, to increase maneuverability, Galloway was able to navigate rapids previously thought unrunnable. Both his style of boat and his stern-first rowing technique proved far more successful than Powell’s and predominated during the early part of the 20th century. In the late 1930’s, Norman Nevills took the next step by creating a far broader craft called a Cataract boat. Rowing Galloway-style, he used these boats on the first commercial Grand Canyon river trip in 1938. Though the Cataract boats were run in the Canyon for more than thirty years, their poor carrying capacity forced them to succumb to the new competition: inflatables.

Introduced the same year as the Cataract boat, the raft was hard to argue with—it bounced off rocks, held more people and gear and rolled up into a bundle for easy transport. And with a motor on a huge raft, why you could take twenty people or more through the Canyon in a week! In the Pacific Northwest, the evolution of watercraft went a bit differently. From the time of Powell onward, the boat of choice on the Salmon River had been the old Mississippi River sweep scow. These gigantic wooden barges were guided down the river by one or two stout men using ponderous 28-foot sweep-oars, one on each end of the boat. By standing mid-ship and heaving on the huge sweeps, the men could pry the boat laterally in the current, snaking between the rocks. It was over in Oregon on the McKenzie River that the river dory began to evolve. In the 1920’s, Torkel Kaarhus, a Norwegian boat builder, began to modify the awkward flat plank boats then in use. He bent the ends up, giving the boats “rocker” and making them easier to spin. He raised the low square stern to help ward off the waves.

A few years later, Woodie Hindman, who got his start with Kaarhus, began to modify the design. After running a trip on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River with its bigger rapids, he returned to Oregon determined to design a better whitewater dory. First, he converted the high square stern into a higher, pointed stern to better cut through the waves. Next, he squared off the low pointed bow to accommodate a motor. In a sense, he turned the boat around backwards. Lastly, he lengthened the boat for better handling. This became the McKenzie-style dory, or “drift boat,” which is now common on rivers throughout the Northwest. In the Grand Canyon of the 1960’s, two veteran rowers of the old Cataract boats, Martin Litton , and P.T. Reilly, saw the need for a more practical craft, but wanted to preserve the dignity and grace of the wooden boat. Why not the dory? They worked with boat builders Keith Steele, and later, Jerry Briggs, developing larger, decked-over versions of the McKenzie dory. They found them to be perfectly adapted to the rigors of Grand Canyon.

Moreover, it could carry four passengers and, below the decks, plenty of gear. Early in the 1970’s, Martin Litton began rowing them commercially, founding Grand Canyon Dories. Before long he had brought them full circle, back to the Northwest on the rivers of Idaho . Few can resist their charm. As Martin says, “They are, in a word, beautiful.” The Ride Only a dory can give you the subtle feel of the currents and a frisky ride in riffles that the inflatables wallow over; and then power up a wave the size of Nebraska and rocket off the crest in an explosion of glistening spray that leaves you impossibly, miraculously—occasionally—dry. On calm stretches they are floating lounge chairs, with everything you need easily accessible inside the hatches. In the rapids, all gear is stowed beneath and the decks are bare of extraneous debris—a streamlined bullet blasting through the waves. Aside from the incredible places these dory boats will take you; aside from the wonderful experiences you will have there; aside from the dories’ heritage and elegance; these boats, more than any other on the river, are just plain fun.

The Experience You can probably envision it already—the perfect Grand Canyon river trip: exciting rides in the rapids, a few good hikes and some first-rate photo opportunities, camping out and chowing down on some great outdoor cooking. You may have read about it on other websites. But that’s not what we’re talking about here. We’re talking about what really goes on down there on the river. We’re talking about a feeling, a change, a connection. We’re talking about… …noticing on day ten that Jim has finally taken off his watch and is sitting quietly by himself watching a lizard. …seeing Ed get to know, for the first time in his life, his teenage daughter, Mary Ann. …explaining to a wide-eyed, eager Barbara, who never cared beans about rocks, the mechanics of a thrust fault. …seeing Mary’s beaming 84-year-old face after, with the aid of five boatmen, she made the tough climb into Travertine Grotto. …turning the oars over to fifteen-year-old Kathy, only to discover she must have been a boatman in a past life.

…silently signaling the rest of the dories into the eddy to see a grazing family of bighorn sheep, the only sound the click, click, pok, bzdzik of a dozen cameras. …joining twenty people who should know better, running around in the pouring rain to get a better view of the dozen brick-red waterfalls exploding over the rim. …floating out of Lava Falls right-side-up one more time, water still spilling out over the gunwales, as four people who had been nervous as hell thirty seconds ago erupt into unchecked jubilation. …for the ninth time that late October night, though no one’s spoken for nearly an hour, putting one more log on the fire. What we’re offering, really, isn’t so much a trip as an experience. To most folks, the scenery, the thrills and the camp life are only a part of it. The rest of it comes from within. We’ve found the rule to be, without exception, that however much you want to put into these places, that’s how much you’ll get back. And then some. O.A.R.S. Grand Canyon, Inc. is an authorized concessioner of Grand Canyon National Park.

Snake River, Idaho, Oregon Snake River, Idaho, Oregon U.S. Forest Service, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest Designated Reach: December 1, 1975. The segment from Hells Canyon Dam downstream to an eastward extension of the north boundary of section 1, T5N, R47E, Willamette meridian. Classification/Mileage: Wild — 32.5 miles; Scenic — 34.4 miles; Total — 66.9 miles. RELATED LINKS Photo Credit: Tim Palmer Is Hells Canyon The Deepest? It's often claimed that Hells Canyon is the deepest canyon in the United States. But is it? It all depends on how you define a canyon and where you measure it. The highest point above the Snake River is He Devil Mountain in Idaho, a bit less than 7,900 feet above the water and 6 miles away. The other side of the Snake River is Bear Mountain in Oregon, which is only around 5,400 feet. By comparison, Spanish Mountain rises 8,240 feet above the Kings River in California and is only 4 miles away.

The highest point on the other side of the river, coincidentally, is also around 5,400 feet. And again, depending on where you measure and how you define a canyon, several sections of the Middle and South Forks of the Kings River have an average rise of 6,500 to 7,700 feet. So why is there a dispute over whether Kings Canyon or Hells Canyon is deeper? Kings Canyon is a much more open landscape; Hells Canyon 'feels' like a canyon. But as someone pointed out, hey, the National Park Service calls it Kings Canyon National Park for a reason. By the way, the Grand Canyon—which no one would dispute as a canyon—"only" reaches a depth of 6,093 feet from the river to the North Rim. Snake River The Snake River likely got its name from the first European explorers who misinterpreted the sign made by the Shoshone people who identified themselves in sign language by moving the hand in a swimming motion which appeared to these explorers to be a "snake." It actually signified that they lived near the river with many fish.

In the 1950's, the name "Hells Canyon" was borrowed from Hells Canyon Creek, which enters the river near what is now Hells Canyon Dam. The Hells Canyon area was once home to Shoshone and Nez Perce tribes. According to the Nez Perce tribe, Coyote dug the Snake River Canyon in a day to protect the people on the west side of the river from the Seven Devils, a band of evil spirits living in the mountain range to the east. In the late nineteenth century, the military drove the Native Americans out and settlers began ranching and mining in the canyon. Today, boaters can explore archaeological sites and old homesteads, all part of the canyon's rich, colorful history. Hells Canyon is one of the most imposing river gorges in the West. Until a million years ago, the Owyhee Mountains acted as a dam between the Snake River and its current confluence with the Columbia River, creating a vast lake in what is now southwestern Idaho. When the mountains were finally breached, the Snake roared northward, cutting a giant chasm through the volcanic rock. The resulting canyon, roughly ten miles across, is not as dramatic as the Grand Canyon.

However, when the surrounding peaks are visible from the river, the sense of depth is tremendous. The adjacent ridges average 5,500' above the river. He Devil Mountain, tallest of the Seven Devils (9,393') towers almost 8,000' above the river, creating the deepest gorge in the United States. The river is as big as the landscape. Below Hells Canyon Dam, the Snake usually carries more water than the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. Below the confluence with the Salmon River, flows average 35,000 cfs and often peak over 100,000 when the Salmon is high. Further downstream, the Clearwater and other rivers dump their flows into the Snake River, creating the Columbia River's largest tributary. (The total drainage area is approximately the size of Oregon.) The outstandingly remarkable values of the Wild and Scenic Snake River are scenery, recreation, geology, wildlife, fisheries, cultural resources, vegetation/botany and ecology. River recreational use is limited for all user groups (private float and power boat; commercial float and power boats) for each segment of river and within primary and secondary use seasons.

Permits are required yearlong for use on the river by float or power boats and are available through Choose a river Choose a river Seen as barren by the first explorers to today's first-time visitors, the rivers of the high desert simply hide their treasures well. 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

Question: Which river runs through the Grand Canyon?
Answer: The Colorado