Pearce Ferry Rapid on the Colorado River

In December of 2018, Bryan Brown and I, along with our pal, Dan Baldwin, visited what was once the location of Pearce Ferry on the Colorado River. Bryan and I were writing a paper for the history of the ferry for the 2019 Grand Canyon History Symposium. (Our paper won the 2019 Lee Albertson Award at that symposium.)
While the ferry is no longer there, (we figure it is under 200+ feet of Lake Mead silt), the rapid (once called Superimposition Rapid) just downriver from the Pearce Ferry takeout near River Mile 280 is quite impressive.

[@coldsmokinable]

I've been a video/photoboater(commercial rafting customers) for 39 years. These are great shots, you should be proud! We saw it at 42,000(Separation Canyon Canyon gauge) Nov 2018 so it's great to see the erosion from that. Thank you!

[@pauljones7913]

Wow this hydraulic is incredible. I haven’t heard it mentioned in the few books on Powell that I have read. Would Powell have portaged this and thus it doesn’t get much attention or did the river change at some point after his time?

[@LateNiteGrafix]

This page gives a good description of this rapid. The bottom line is it was not there during Powell's trip. Check this out…gorafting.com/united-states/arizona/grand-canyon/pearce-ferry-rapid/

[@Sailor376also]

That is a wicked beast. Certain Class VI. I see only a single line,, and impossible to spot the line until you are over the tongue,,, at which point,, ya pays your money and takes your chances. And then,, no way to get off Lake Mead for 50 miles?

[@LateNiteGrafix]

We studied it for a long time trying to find a line that would work and every one seemed to end in a bad way, although I have seen videos of people running this.

[@Sailor376also]

@@LateNiteGrafix The only possible line I can see would be for a kayak,,, and the paddler would almost certainly have to flip back to vertical at least once. Right, inside,, just barely stay clear of the right hand rocks. The curl will probably flip you, but with a secure roll you should be okay. I see no line for a raft. I see only the tiniest thread for my canoe,,, very iffy. Just barely left of center, on top of the rooster crest, however,, I see no way to line up from above. A few feet left or right the canoe will get rolled in the lateral curl. (Uh,,, been there and done that. Not on Pierce. Indian Joe? Including the swim afterward.) I portaged from the Pierce Ferry takeout over to the South boat ramp. 7 miles on the road,, 30 miles on the lake? Annnnnd 2016 was a very different rapid and I would not do it then. (Wimp.) I want to do the Grand again,,, got a powerful urge. (Have to wait until I get my heart fixed.)