Raft or Kayak Grand Canyon (Colorado River), Arizona

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The sandstone, shale and limestone walls of the canyon tower as much as 1600 meters above the Colorado River which began carving the Grand Canyon in the U.S.A.’s state of Arizonan early 17 million years ago. The river runs 446 km in length and at times is as wide as 29 km. National Park Service’s selection of 16 companies to provide guided interpretive multi-day whitewater trips on the Colorado River in the park. These trips last from three to eighteen days, starting at Lees Ferry in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, continuing through Grand Canyon National Park, and ending at Pearce Ferry within Lake Mead National Recreation Area. The 16 selectees are: Arizona Raft Adventures, LLC; Arizona River Runners, Inc.; Canyoneers, Inc.; Colorado River & Trail Expeditions, Inc.; Grand Canyon Expeditions Co.; Canyon Expeditions, Inc.; Grand Canyon Whitewater, LLC; Hatch River Expeditions, Inc.; Grand Canyon Raft Adventures; O.A.R.S. Grand Canyon, Inc.; Outdoors Unlimited River Trips; Wilderness River Adventures, LLC; Tour West, Inc.; Western River Expeditions, Inc.; Canyon Explorations, Inc.; and Grand Canyon Discovery, LLC. These Concession Contracts will continue providing guided river trip services under new contract(s), which will be effective for ten years from January 1, 2024, to December 31, 2033. Wildlife abounds along the rocky outcroppings including the sought after Big Horn Sheep. Native American historical sites, such as The Grainery, a grain storage facility carved out of centuries old rock are observable from the water or by hiking from the shore during breaks from rafting or when camping for the night. Climbing through crevices and tunnels in the rock are highlights of trekking marked trails that are part of the over 1 million acres of the Grand Canyon’s preserve. Exploring side streams, seeking out the many waterfalls, gazing upon the famous overlooks and outcroppings with an on-water perspective, shooting rapids and peacefully floating along with the rhythm of the Colorado Riverall contribute to making a trip down the River through the most famous canyon in the world an experience of a lifetime. Trips ranging from 3 to 18 days are offered by a number of commercial providers utilizing watercraft that ranges from large, motorized rafts to paddle rafts. Lees Ferry to Diamond Creek is 226 river miles (364 km). Commercial operators also offer half-day and full-day trips on the River with the choice of white water and smooth water adventures available for these shorter runs. Non-commercial permits for trips lasting from 2 to 5 days, launching from Diamond Creek, are managed by the National Parks Service (NPS) through a permit process. Diamond Creek (river mile 225) to Pearce Ferry (river mile 277) or South Cove takes 2 to 5 days. This unique section of the Colorado River is located at the west end of Grand Canyon National Park and is often referred to as the Lower Gorge. It includes 52 river miles of smooth and white water, with many dramatic and colorful views. A noncommercial river permit is required. Self-guided trips of a longer duration are also available through a lottery system managed by the NPS. These self-guided excursions are designed to last from 12 to 25 days. The best time to raft the Grand Canyon is from April through October, although the weather can be chilly at either end of this time spectrum. Motorized craft allow for the greatest amount of water to be covered in the shortest period of time. The non-motorized trips provide those that wish to bask in the canyon’s beauty while the rafts glide along at the water’s pace although significant whiter water runs are sure to quicken the riders’ heart rates. A trip down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon takes some planning and forethought due to the many available options and the popularity of the adventure during peak seasons. Add this trip to your list today to start the process, insuring that you cross this adventure off your list after you have experienced the splendor and the drama of a trip down river. Mile 0.0 - Lee's Ferry Mile 0.2 - Paria River Riffle Mile 2.8 - Cathedral Wash (2) Mile 4.2 - Navajo Bridges Mile 8.0 - Badger Creek Rapid (4-6)- First significant rapid in Marble Canyon with a large pour over in the center right. Mile 11.4 - Soap Creek Rapid (5-6) Mile 12.1 - Brown's Riffle (2) On July 9, 1889, the President of the Denver, Colorado Canyon and Pacific Railroad, Frank Mason Brown, drowned at this point when the boat he was in capsized. He was not wearing a life jacket. Mile 14.5 - Sheer Wall Rapid (2-3) Mile 17.1 - House Rock Rapid (4-7)- The second large rapid in the Canyon. A large hole on the left side of the river forms at most water levels, necessitating a right run. Mile 17.7 - Redneck Rapid (3) Mile 20.7 - North Canyon Rapid (4-5) (beginning of the "Roaring 20's") Mile 21.4 - 21 Mile Rapid (4-5) Mile 23.2 - 23 Mile Rapid (4) A sharp lateral on the right has flipped many a raft here. Mile 23.5 - 23.5 Mile Rapid (4) Mile 24.4 - 24 Mile (Georgie) Rapid (3-7) Mile 24.7 - 24.5 Mile Rapid (5-6) On July 8, 1949, 89-year-old Albert "Bert" Loper had a heart attack and died in this rapid while rowing his boat Grand Canyon. Mile 25.1 - 25 Mile (Hansbrough-Richards) Rapid (6) This rapid is named for two more men of the Brown Stanton expedition, Peter Hansbrough and Henry Richards, also not wearing life jackets, who drowned at this rapid on Monday, July 15, 1889. Mile 25.7 - Cave Springs Rapid (5) Mile 26.8 - 27 Mile (Tiger Wash) Rapid (5) Mile 29.4 - 29 Mile Rapid (3), Silver Grotto, and Shinumo Wash Camp Mile 32.0 - Stanton's Cave Mile 32.2 - Vasey's Paradise Mile 33.2 - No rapid - site of the proposed Redwall Dam Mile 33.3 - Redwall Cavern - A very large alcove in the Redwall Sandstone at river level. Very popular stop for river trips. Mile 35.0 - Nautiloid Canyon Mile 36.0 - The Bridge of Sighs; this is one of the few Grand Canyon arches visible from the river. Mile 36.3 - 36 Mile Rapid (4) Mile 39.7 - No rapid - site of the proposed Marble Canyon Damsite. Mile 43.3 - Anasazi Bridge Mile 44.0 - President Harding Rapid (4)- The river splits around a large rock in the middle of the river. Mile 52.4 - Nankoweap Rapid (1-3) Mile 56.3 - Kwagunt Rapid (4-6) Mile 60.1 - 60 Mile Rapid (4) Mile 61.7 - Little Colorado River Confluence. Mile 65.1 - Carbon Creek Mile 65.9 - Lava Canyon (Chuar) Rapid (2-4) Mile 69.0 - Tanner Rapid (2-4), terminus of the Tanner Trail Mile 69.9 - Basalt Rapid (2) This rapid has a sharp pour-over on the left at low water. Mile 72.9 - Unkar Rapid (4-7) Mile 73.6 - 73.6 Mile Riffle (2) This rapid has some exposed boulders on the left. Mile 75.8 - 75 Mile (Nevills) Rapid (4-7) Mile 77.1 - Hance Rapid (7-8) - Multiple large rocks constrict the channel and form powerful hydraulics; terminus of the Hance Trail. Mile 79.1 - Sockdolager Rapid (5-7) - (Sockdolager is an archaic slang word for knockout blow.) Mile 82.1 - Grapevine Rapid (6-7) Mile 84.1 - 83 Mile Rapid (3-6) Mile 85.3 - Zoroaster Rapid (4-5) Mile 85.8 - 85 Mile Rapid (3) Mile 88.1 - Kaibab Bridge and Phantom Ranch boat beach, where the South Kaibab Trail crosses the river Mile 88.3 - Bright Angel Rapid (3), Bright Angel Creek and Bright Angel Bridge, where the River Trail begins Mile 89.5 - Pipe Creek Rapid (3), where the River Trail ends and continues towards the South Rim as the Bright Angel Trail Mile 90.8 - Horn Creek Rapid (7-9) - At lower water, forms very large waves and hydraulics and is one of the most difficult rapids in the canyon requiring a right to left downstream pull to miss the rocky right shore. Mile 93.1 - Salt Creek Rapid (3) Mile 93.9 - Granite Rapid (7-8) - One of the more difficult rapids with a strong push of hydraulics to the wall on river right. Mile 95.5 - Hermit Rapid (7-8) - Perhaps the strongest hydraulics and biggest waves in the canyon; terminus of the Hermit Trail Mile 97.1 - Boucher Rapid (4-5) Mile 98.2 - Crystal Rapid (7-10) - Several very large holes followed by a dangerous rock garden at bottom of rapids on river left. Formed in 1966 when a flash flood of Crystal Canyon washed debris into the river. The beginning of a series of rapids called "the gems." Mile 99.7 - Tuna Creek Rapid (5-7) Mile 100.0 - Lower Tuna (Willie's Necktie) Rapid (4) Mile 101.1 - Agate Rapid (3) Mile 101.8 - Sapphire Rapid (6) Mile 102.6 - Turquoise Rapid (2-4) Mile 104.5 - 104 Mile (Emerald) Rapid (5) Mile 105.2 - Ruby Rapid (4-5) Mile 106.5 - Serpentine Rapid (6-7) Mile 108.3 - Beach and trailhead for the South Bass Trail. Mile 108.4 - Bass Rapid (3) Mile 109.3 - Shinumo Rapid (2-3) Mile 109.6 - 109 Mile Rapid (2) This sleeper of a rapid has sharp schist fins on river right. Mile 110.0 - 110 Mile Rapid (2-3) Mile 111.4 - Hakatai Rapid (2-3) Mile 112.8 - Walthenberg Rapid (3-6) Mile 113.6 - 113 Mile Rock (2) Mile 117.2 - Elves Chasm- A popular side canyon with a small clear-flowing stream with waterfalls and multiple pools. Mile 119.3 - 119 Mile Rapid (2) Mile 120.6 - Blacktail Rapid (3) Mile 122.2 - Mile 122 Rapid (4) Mile 123.3 - Forster Rapid (3-6) Mile 125.5 - Fossil Rapid (3-6) Mile 127.5 - 127 Mile Rapid (3) Mile 129.2 - 128 Mile Rapid (4) Mile 129.7 - Specter Rapid (6) Mile 131.1 - Bedrock Rapid (6-8) - The river splits around a very large rock outcropping. Going left of the rock is not recommended. Mile 132.3 - Deubendorff Rapid (5-8) - Has multiple large holes and pourovers on the left and center Mile 134.3 - Tapeats Creek - A large creek entering at river right. A popular hike up Tapeats Creek leads to Thunder River. Mile 134.3 - Tapeats Rapid (4-5) Mile 135.4 - 135 Mile (Helicopter Eddy) Rapid (3) Mile 135.6 - Granite Narrows. This is the narrowest location of the river at 76 feet. Mile 136.9 - Deer Creek Falls - A popular stop, both for the falls themselves and for hikes up to the "narrows" and the "throne room." Mile 138.4 - Doris Rapid (4) Mile 139.2 - 138.5 Mile Rapid (3) Mile 139.7 - Fishtail Rapid (4) Mile 141.7 - 141 Mile Rapid (2) Mile 144.0 - Kanab Rapid (2-5) Mile 148.4 - Matkatamiba Rapid (2) Mile 150.2 - Upset Rapid (7-8) Mile 154.0 - Sinyala Rapid (1-2) Mile 157.3 - Havasu Canyon is a beautiful turquoise-watered side canyon. Havasu Canyon Rapid (2-4) follows shortly downstream. Mile 165.0 - 164 Mile Rapid (2) Mile 167.0 - National Rapid (2) Mile 168.5 - Fern Glen Rapid (2) Mile 171.9 - Gateway Rapid (3) Mile 179.7 - Lava Falls Rapid (8-10) - Also known as Vulcan Rapid, is perhaps the most difficult, if short, run in the entire canyon.[4] Mile 180.1 - Lower Lava Rapid (3-4) Mile 186.0 - 185 Mile Rapid (2) Mile 187.4 - Whitmore Helipad is where most concessions passengers end their trip by helicopter take-out. Mile 188.3 - Whitmore Rapid (2-3) Mile 205.6 - 205 Mile (Kolb) Rapid (3-6) Mile 209.2 - 209 Mile Rapid (3) This rapid has a large hole in the middle of the rapid. Mile 212.5 - Little Bastard (LB) Rapid (3) Mile 213.3 - Pumpkin Spring Mile 216.0 - Three Springs Rapid (2) Mile 217.8 - 217 Mile Rapid (4-5) Mile 219.6 - Trail Canyon (Ducky Eater) Rapid (2) Cross-river hydraulics can flip small inflatable kayaks here. Mile 220.7 - Granite Spring Rapid (2) Mile 223.7 - 224 Mile Rapid (3) Mile 225.9 - Diamond Creek Take-out. This is the first location downriver from Lee's Ferry where a road reaches the Colorado River. The road is prone to flash flood by Diamond Creek in monsoon season. This is the only takeout for Grand Canyon boating trips above Lake Mead when the lake is high, however, recently the lake has been lower, giving boaters an easy rider with current all the way to Pearce Ferry. Mile 225.9 - Diamond Creek Rapid (3-4) Mile 229.3 - Travertine Rapid (2) Mile 231.2 - 231 Mile Rapid (5) Mile 232.5 - 232 Mile (Killer Fang Falls) Rapid (4-7) - It has been speculated that this is where Glen and Bessie Hyde met their fate. Mile 233.9 - 234 Mile Rapid (3-6) Mile 235.3 - Bridge Canyon Rapid (3-5) Mile 236.0 - Gneiss Canyon Rapid (5) Mile 280.5 - Pearce Ferry Take-out is the first take-out point for river trips traveling through the entire Grand Canyon. Mile 280.7 - Pearce Ferry (Pierce Ferry) Take-Out (on Lake Mead) has been recently renovated, making it operational at all lake levels. With the appearance of Pearce Ferry Rapid, this take-out has become preferred, as the rapid just below is often considered unrunnable, though this is always changing. Mile 280.8 - Pearce Ferry Rapid (unrunnable; class VI on the International Scale of River Difficulty) This rapid was created in 2007 when the level of Lake Mead went below 1138 feet. Lake Mead was over 70 feet deep here in 2000. This rapid is formed by the Colorado River running full force into a hillside. It is a must-scout for any river runners continuing to the next take-out on Lake Mead at South Cove. It is currently considered to be unrunnable. Mile 297 - South Cove Take-Out (in Lake Mead)

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