North Canyon Rapids

North Canyon Rapid offered a quick jolt of excitement tucked into a beautiful stretch of the canyon. As we approached the mouth of North Canyon, a clear side stream joined the Colorado, feeding energy into the flow and setting up a short, spirited wave train. The dory glided into the rapid and immediately lifted over a set of crisp, breaking waves that smacked the bow and sent cool sheets of water across the deck. The current moved fast here, but the lines were clean and intuitive. We stayed centered as the boat danced through the standing waves, the oars biting into the water with crisp, controlled strokes. The sound of churning water echoed through the narrowing walls, while sunlight reflected off the ripples in flashes of gold and green. It was over almost as quickly as it began, but the burst of movement and splash made it a memorable blip in the day’s float. North Canyon was a perfect example of how even the smaller rapids in the Grand Canyon can surprise you with their energy.