Hoover Dam holds back the Colorado River at the southern tip of Nevada, creating the 290 square mile Lake Mead. The river's swift currents are finally quelled near the Arizona / Nevada border, ending a 200 mile stretch of canyonland rapids. The Grand Canyon area is a land of extremes. The impressive mile high canyon walls and the staggering 277 mile long canyon first come to mind. Temperatures soar deep within the canyon, well over 100 degrees, with contrasting springtime water temperature at a bone chilling 40 degrees. The river also drops over 1,600 feet through the canyon to Lake Mead, creating 160 unique rapids, while Mead appears as a calm reservoir.
This canyonland view shows the last of the Colorado's swift flow and a river trip full of adventure. The Hualapai River Runners offer a pontoon style boat trip from Diamond Creek and down through the Caldera, a boulder-choked chute of boiling white-water. From here on out, it's a 25 mile smooth ride to Lake Mead, with enough time to collect your composure.