Cataract CanyonSeptember 2020
Low-water Cataract Canyon dory trip at 4,692 CFS with Lake Powell at 3,597 ft. Five days from Potash with Greg and Charlie Madsen. Big Drop 3 proved unavoidable at this level — rock hit damaged the chime front right regardless of line. Rapid 5 hesitation resulted in a high side. Conclusion: avoid Cataract in the dory at flows this low.
Day 1
4,870 cfs (USGS daily mean) | Moab, UT: 48–92°F
Day 2
4,720 cfs (USGS daily mean) | Moab, UT: 50–91°F
Day 3 — Big Drops
4,580 cfs (USGS daily mean) | Moab, UT: 62–91°F
Ran the Big Drops at low water. Normal run in Big Drop 3 results in a rock hit no matter what — damaged chime front right. Rapid 5 hesitation resulted in a high side. Better to avoid this level in the dory; not sure you could clean BD3 without a rock hit.
Day 4
4,600 cfs (USGS daily mean) | Moab, UT: 76–91°F
Day 5 — Take-Out
4,570 cfs (USGS daily mean) | Moab, UT: 55–91°F
- Big Drop 3 at ~4,700 CFS: cannot clean this rapid in the dory without a rock hit. The normal run results in rock contact regardless of line choice.
- Rapid 5: hesitation leads to a high side. Commit to the line.
- Avoid Cataract Canyon in the dory at flows below ~5,000 CFS. Not enough water to clear Big Drop 3 without hull damage.
Dory sustained chime damage front right in Big Drop 3. Repair needed post-trip.
Colorado at Potash: 2,630–2,900 cfs (avg 2,708)
Green at Mineral Bottom: 1,940–2,000 cfs (avg 1,960)
Combined: 4,570–4,870 cfs (avg 4,668)
Lake Powell: 3597.72 ft at launch (3597.27–3597.72 ft during trip). USBR RISE API — Lake Powell at Glen Canyon Dam
Weather: Moab, UT, 48–92°F. NOAA GHCN-Daily
Evidence behind the claims on this page — agency rules, maps, gauges, books, and field notes.
Permits
Hydrology
All 14 field sources
Access
Rapids
- book-excerpt Cataract Canyon (Webb / Belnap / Weisheit) — Selected Pages
- book RiverMaps Guide to the Colorado & Green Rivers in the Canyonlands of Utah & Colorado
Management
Books
Safety
- book-excerpt Cataract Canyon (Webb / Belnap / Weisheit) — Selected Pages
Cataract Canyon — June 2023
Cataract Canyon — May 2022
Westwater Canyon — November 2023
Green River — May 2026 (Spillway Full Release, 9,800 CFS)
Desolation Canyon — March 2026
Cataract Canyon — May 2015 (~20,000 cfs)
Cataract Canyon — December 2016
Snake River — June 2024 (Alpine Canyon x3, Dory)
On this trip
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