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Lava Falls is a formidable and famous rapid in Grand Canyon National Park. It is known for its highly technical layout and steep drops. Lava Falls Rapid has a Class 10 rating, the highest under the old Grand Canyon classification system.
Lava Falls are in the Lower Grand Canyon at Colorado River mile 179. They are not accessible to tourists visiting a rim-side observation center. To experience the thunderous roar and spraying wave train, you must see for yourself by trekking the Lava Falls Trail or rafting rapid Lava Falls on the Colorado River.
Lava Falls is on the Colorado River, 179 miles from Lees Ferry. It has a difficulty of Class 10 on the Grand Canyon scale of one to ten. It is considered a Class V level of difficulty on the international scale. It is arguably the world's most famous white water rapid.
The Guinness Book of World Records listed it as the fastest navigable river in North America. Lava Falls travels at 20 miles per hour. Runners typically spend about 20 seconds in Lava. The rapid drops 37 feet within 100 yards.
Approaching rafters see the water mist spurting from hidden features below the horizon line. The thunderous roar is heard hundreds of yards upstream. Carrying the raft on the left side is possible, but more than 20,000 people run the river annually.
The notorious Lava Rapid Fall system intersects with full Grand Canyon rafting trips and the Lower Grand Canyon. Understanding how they were formed initially is essential to know why Rapid Falls is famous.
They are at the foot of Prospect Canyon. Lava Falls Rapids developed because of a triangular-shaped accumulation of sediment known as an alluvial fan, the second-largest fan in the Grand Canyon. Alluvial fans on the Grand Canyon floor are responsible for unevenness and rock shifting in the river bed, leading to constricting water and a turbulent rapid system.
The Lava Falls' alluvial fan formed when Lava flowed into the Grand Canyon, temporarily damming the Colorado River. The Lava flows were dramatic. At its highest, the river was dammed from river mile 0 to river mile 179 (Lees Ferry to Lava Falls).
There are many exciting features surrounding Lava Falls. They include:
The V-Wave - two laterals come together
Big Kahuna - tallest wave in the wave train beneath the V-wave
Corner Pocket - a wrong place to end up
Hump Wave, also known as the Lateral Wave - when rafters hit, it is called the Dory Line
Lava Springs - thinking about this means you likely made it through Lava Falls Rapid
Pour Over - large and to be avoided
Saddle Rock, also known as Black Rock, - has many other names. Do not get too close
The Ledge Hole - the largest hole on the river
A rafting trip on the Colorado River is among the best opportunities to experience the mighty Lava Falls rapid system. Because of its intensity and complexity, amateur and experienced rafters are encouraged to scout conditions before running the rapid system.
On your rafting trip, your guide typically goes ahead of the group to scout for obstructions and choose a path through the rapids. It may be necessary to wait for a water surge in the Colorado River before tackling Lava Falls.
Groups approach the rolling Lava Falls to rush when water levels are safe. After gliding across agitated riffles, the raft plunges into the channels of a V-wave, and the ten-foot-tall Big Kahuna rush. Muddy tail waves will spin and buffet the raft when crossing through the Big Kahuna. You pitch and careen through the last leg of the rapid.
If you make a clean pass through Lava Falls, the run takes ten to 12 seconds. If you cannot maneuver the raft into the sheltered channels on the left and right side, you may hit the Lava Ledge Hole.
The run can last longer than 20 seconds. If you miss the left or right side, you will hit the Ledge Hole, which is capable of massive carnage. Besides taking ten seconds longer, the run-through Ledge Hole exposes you to exhilarating overhead waves and lateral white water.
No matter your trip, a tour group has one or more successful runs through Lava Falls. Stopping and celebrating the achievement at Tequila Beach is a tradition for the group.
If you are ready to tackle Lava Falls Rapid, book a Full Grand Canyon trip or a Lower Grand Canyon trip with Advantage Grand Canyon.
With Advantage Grand Canyon, a full Grand Canyon includes Lava Falss and starts at Lees Ferry and ends at either Lake Mead, Diamond Creek, or Whitmore Wash. Depending on the exit, a full canyon trip covers 188, 225. or 288 miles on the Colorado River.
A full canyon trip traverses the length and breadth of the Grand Canyon, allowing you to experience 38 to 45 five-plus-rated rapid systems. The number depends on the projected flow rate of the Colorada River, which the Glen Canyon Dam regulates.
Trip availability depends on the desired trip length. Full Grand Canyon tours run with dory rafts, paddles, oars, or motors.
Experienced rafters may want a non-motorized raft trip to ramp up the excitement. You have more control when going through the rapids, and the trip brings you closer to the river's level, giving you a more intimate appreciation of rafting in the Grand Canyon.
A motorized rafting trip is among the best ways to gain confidence for those new to high-intensity rapids.
Similar to the last leg of the full canyon boat trip, the Lower Lava Rapid trip starts at river mile 88 (Phantom Ranch) and ends at Lake Mead, Diamond Creek, or Whitmore Wash. The rapids on the Lower Grand Canyon route are among the region's best rapid systems.
When you embark from Phantom Ranch, you test your skills on a range of five-plus-rated rapids before getting to Lava Falls. Before reaching Lava Falls, you have the opportunity to run Crystal Rapid. It is another Class 10 rapid competing for the most fearsome Grand Canyon rapid.
Advantage Grand Canyon's Lava Rapid Grand Canyon trips are available in motorized or non-motorized rafts. The three to five or six to nine-day trips offer an itinerary packed with geological sightseeing, canyon hiking, and rapid rafting.
Before booking a Lower Grand Canyon tour, know that the journey starts with a mandatory, strenuous hike. You hike from the canyon's South Rim through the Bright Angel Trail.
When you see Vulcan's Anvil, you have about a mile of flatwater before you arrive at Lava Falls. Rafters usually scout from the right shore of the river. During the peak of daily flows, the left side opens up during the high water.
Rafters who want to run the left shore must get to the falls early before the water level drops. Scouting Lava Falls Rapid is like a carnival —there are many parties.
Most scouting occurs high on a hill over the right side of the river. Scouting may be more challenging than rafting. There are sharp rocks and full heat for kayakers and rafters to endure when selecting the line through the rapid.
Scouting the right is usually done when the river is below 15,000 cubic feet per second. Guides look for a bubble line at the rapid top that takes them to the Ledge and leads into the V-wave train. They also check to see how hard the Big Kahuna breaks and if there is a softer spot on the V-waves.
When the river is over 15,000 cubic feet per second, rafters usually run the left side. It is easier to scout from the left shore when you run left. There is a high scout area upstream on a bluff over the rapid. Many boaters walk downstream to the Lava entrance for a low scout.
The smaller features make the left line easier to navigate in high water. The entrance is more challenging and requires careful scouting. Because of the tides, the water is deeper in the morning. Trips who want to run left try to get to the rapid before a drop in the water. If taking a dory trip, many get up before dawn and push down to the rapid.
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Yes, Lava Falls Rapid is among the highest-rated systems in Grand Canyon National Park. Some motorized rafting trips target the more sheltered outer limits of the Lava Falls Rapid channel to avoid turbulent sections such as Big Kahuna and the Ledge Hole. Those who need more confidence in tackling Lava Falls Rapid may have the option to carry their raft along the shoreline—after walking past Lava Falls Rapid, they are free to re-enter the river and continue the trip.
Class 10 rapids like Lava Falls have a high volume of fast-moving water, partially obstructed ledge channels, and capricious undercurrents. Rafters must be mindful of potential danger. Severe injuries are rare on the Colorado River. River guides are trained in first aid and have access to satellite phones to contact Grand Canyon National Park Services.
