Grand Canyon
Lees Ferry to Diamond Creek: 226 miles, two to three weeks, one weighted lottery. The river trip every other one is measured against.
The Grand Canyon journey is the noncommercial run from Lees Ferry to Diamond Creek, 226 miles of the Colorado through a mile of rock, and the trip every other river in the West is measured against. The National Park Service issues launch dates through a weighted lottery run once a year and permits the run at twelve to twenty-five days; private oar groups mostly take sixteen to eighteen. Class III–V pool-drop whitewater with the consequential ones, Hance, Horn Creek, Hermit, Crystal, Lava Falls, spread across the length of it. Spring and fall are the seasons; the inner gorge passes 110°F in summer.
Lees Ferry to Diamond Creek
The standard 226-mile Grand Canyon private permit trip from Lees Ferry (mile 0) to Diamond Creek (mile 226). Class III–V whitewater through a mile-deep canyon. NPS weighted lottery required. The defining whitewater river expedition in North America — remote, consequential, and unforgettable.
- Distance
- 226 miles
- Typical days
- 16
The journey
What the water is doing
Bands keyed to Colorado River at Lees Ferry, AZ
-
6,000–10,000 cfs
Low — some rapids washed out, shallow in upper flats
current
Runnable but some hydraulics are reduced. Generally safer for swimmers but Lava Falls remains serious at any flow.
-
10,000–20,000 cfs
Standard operating range — all rapids active
current
Most private trips run in this window. All major rapids are fully formed and consequential.
-
20,000–25,000 cfs
High releases — Lava and Crystal transform
current
Powerful hydraulics throughout. Lava Falls and Crystal develop recirculating features. Expert teams with rescue capability.
-
25,000+ cfs
Extreme — rare high-release events
current
Lava Falls becomes one of the most dangerous commercially run rapids in North America. Limited recovery, massive laterals.
Flow knowledge is owned by the Grand Canyon section record — full flow spectrum and history there.
Permit
- Grand Canyon National Park Noncommercial River Permits — National Park Service — Grand Canyon National Park · lottery
Access
- Put-in
- Lees Ferry
- Take-out
- Diamond Creek