Cataract Canyon — June 2023

Four-day Cataract Canyon run at 33,790 CFS with Lake Powell at 3,557 ft. Motored from Potash to Spanish Bottoms overnight, ran Big Drops on a stern-assist rig that the crew called a missile. Got a taste of the Claw on Big Drop 2 and muscled right of the Gut for a clean Big Drop 3 run.

4 days 32,890 cfs 5 people raft

Conditions

33,790 CFS — big water, Claw beginning to flush out

4 days

32,890 cfs

16 ft/mi

1 boats

10 photos

Day 1 6-26-2023

Launch & Motor to Spanish Bottoms

33,800 cfs (USGS daily mean), water 64°F | Moab, UT: 60–95°F

Launched by 3 PM from Potash. Motored through the flatwater at roughly 5 MPH, arriving at Spanish Bottoms around 1 AM. Long overnight push to get into position for the rapids.

Day 2 6-27-2023

Spanish Bottoms to Dark Canyon

33,310 cfs (USGS daily mean), water 64°F | Moab, UT: 60–94°F

Ran the Big Drops at 33,790 CFS. The Claw appeared to be flushing out. Had the left-to-right ferry angle locked on Big Drop 2 but decided to drop in before catching the eddy — got a piece of the right side of the Claw. In hindsight the Claw looked awesome and runnable, but unclear whether there would have been time to get right of the Gut afterward. Even taking just a bite of the right side, still had to muscle hard right of the Gut. Made the eddy, which set up a clean Big Drop 3 run. The stern assist rig was amazing — no moments of feeling compromised. Paul, Katie, and Alex all said paddling felt very secure, they could lock one leg under the table, and the rig was stout, secure, like a missile. Camped at Dark Canyon — big sandy beach clogged at the mouth, dry and muddy walk back to the bedrock.

Day 3 6-28-2023

Dark Canyon to Lake Powell

33,230 cfs (USGS daily mean), water 63°F | Moab, UT: 57–94°F

Day 4 6-29-2023

Take Out

29,980 cfs (USGS daily mean), water 63°F | Moab, UT: 55–96°F

Lessons

The Claw at flush stage looks runnable but commits you — unclear if there's time to then get right of the Gut
Dropping in before the eddy on Big Drop 2 still requires muscling right of the Gut
Stern assist paddling rig gives crew confidence and security in big water — locked legs under table, stout platform
Dark Canyon bench camp: sandy beach clogged at mouth, expect a dry/muddy walk back to bedrock

Gear

Stern assist paddling rig — crew commented it felt very secure, locked legs under table, stout and missile-like. Bring on bigger water.

Data

Colorado at Potash: 23,100–24,300 cfs (avg 23,525)

Green at Mineral Bottom: 7,920–10,800 cfs (avg 9,365)

Combined: 31,220–33,900 cfs (avg 32,890)

Lake Powell: 3582.26 ft at launch (3582.26–3583.47 ft during trip). USBR RISE API — Lake Powell at Glen Canyon Dam

Weather: Moab, UT, 55–96°F. NOAA GHCN-Daily

Field Sources

Evidence behind the claims on this page — agency rules, maps, gauges, books, and field notes.

Rapids

book-excerpt Cataract Canyon (Webb / Belnap / Weisheit) — Selected Pages — University of Utah Press (2007)
book RiverMaps Guide to the Colorado & Green Rivers in the Canyonlands of Utah & Colorado — Tom Martin, Duwain Whitis (2016)