River Rafts at Lees Ferry

Lees Ferry, Colorado River, Arizona

Professional river guides for Canyoneers finish rigging their river rafts at Lees Ferry on the Colorado River in northern Arizona. In the morning they will take passengers on another run down the river through Grand Canyon.


Lees Ferry is one of the most scenic locations in the American Southwest. As sunset time nears, the light gets even better, the colors more saturated. 

Almost Ready to Launch, Lees Ferry

[Photo: River rafters and morning light, Lees Ferry, Colorado River, Arizona]

A private river rafting party finishes breakfast and whatever other last minute preparations at its camp on the banks of the Colorado River at Lees Ferry in northern Arizona. 

Historic Lees Ferry is the put-in point for all boats that are going to run Grand Canyon.

In the background are the Vermilion Cliffs, glowing orange in the morning sunlight, and reflected off the river's surface.

You might also be interested in my Grand Canyon Photography blog.

Grand Canyon River Rafters at Pearce Ferry, Colorado River

[Photo: Canyoneers river rafting company boats at the end of another two week run through the length of Grand Canyon.]

For most commercial Grand Canyon river running trips, the end point is the Pearce Ferry Landing on the Colorado River at upper Lake Mead, near Meadview, Arizona. In the background are the Grand Wash Cliffs, considered to be the geological end of Grand Canyon.

In this photo, front and center is one of the smallest wooden boats running Grand Canyon. It's also one of the most historic, being the last one built by legendary Norman Nevills, the first commercial river running in Grand Canyon. It's the Sandra, built in 1947, and named after Nevills' younger daughter Sandy. Today it is a fully restored cataract boat, as Nevills called his design. It is owned by Greg Reiff of Flagstaff, Arizona, who is Nevills' grandson and Sandy Nevills Reiff's son. (Click on the image to see a larger version).

You might also be interested in my Grand Canyon Photography blog.

See more of my photography at www.NaturalMoment.com

See my videos (including one of our amazing monsoon rains) on my YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/naturalmoment