The Colorado River has always been a favorite of those who love water bodies and outdoor sports. If you are dying to try adventurous outdoor activities, plan your next trip to the Colorado River with your group.
But before you start planning and ask for a trip meeting, there are some vital things that you need to know about your trip to the Colorado River. In this article, I will provide you with all that information.
Colorado River
In northern Mexico and the Southwestern United States, the Colorado River is one of the principal rivers. This 1,450-mile or 2,330-kilometer-long river encompasses parts of 2 Mexican states and 7 U.S. States.
The river started its journey from the central rocky mountains of Colorado, flowing to the southwest across the Colorado Plateau and, obviously, through the famous Grand Canyon.
After that, it reaches Lake Mead in Arizona. At the Arizona—Nevada border, the river turns south towards the international border.
Weather Report
When you plan to visit the Colorado River, it is better to plan for any kind of weather. Especially if you are planning to experience its geographical beauty through the Grand Canyon, the place is already ready to surprise you.
The weather of the Grand Canyon or Colorado River is usually sunny and warm, but you can experience cooler temperatures and a renewed rainstorm anytime. Most visitors prefer to make a trip between March and October.
Here is a chart that will show you the average temperature and precipitation of this region.
| Months | Precipitation | Mean Minimum Temperature | Mean Maximum Temperature |
| March | .79″ | 48° | 71° |
| April | .47″ | 56° | 82° |
| May | .36″ | 63° | 92° |
| June | .30″ | 71° | 101° |
| July | .84″ | 79° | 106° |
| August | 1.4″ | 75° | 103° |
| September | .97″ | 70° | 96° |
| October | .65″ | 58° | 84° |
Lodging: Best Places To Stay
When you are planning to visit the Colorado River, you do not need to worry about the places where you can actually stay. This river stretches over a wide area. And among all the places, the Grand Canyon is the most famous.
The Grand Canyon National Park is the best place to experience the most mesmerizing view of the Colorado River. If you are willing to stay inside the park, you will find pretty places along the south rim.
It is always advised to book your stay in advance, especially if you are visiting during spring break, fall weekends, or summer months. All the lodges are open throughout the year.
Here is a list of some well-maintained and well-equipped stayings.
- Bright Angel Lodge.
- Yavapai Lodge.
- Maswik Lodge.
- Thunderbird Lodge.
- Kachina Lodge.
- El Tovar Hotel.
- Valle.
- Red Lake.
- Flagstaff.
- Williams.
Map: Geographical Location
This 1,450-mile-long Colorado River has headwaters in Wyoming and Colorado. Eventually, it flows across the international border of Mexico. The total drainage basin area of this river is around 246,000 square miles.
The Colorado River map includes Wyoming, Utah, Nevada, New Mexico, Colorado, and California. The most famous tourist spot related to this river is the Grand Canyon, which is in the southwest portion of the Colorado Plateau.
Grand Canyon is the northwest part of Arizona, which is also really close to the borders of Nevada and Utah. As I have already told you, the Colorado River drains water from 7 states in total, but the geographical location that is known as the Grand Canyon is entirely in Arizona.
A large part of this Grand Canyon is within the Grand Canyon National Park, which is totally managed by the National Park Services (NPS). However, the waterfalls of Havasupai and the Grand Canyon Skywalk are located outside the national park on tribal islands.
The south rim of this canyon is open throughout the year and is situated on the Arizona side of the canyon. It has both a real service and an airport, and it only takes around a one-hour drive from Interstate 40 and the town of Williams, Arizona.
It will take only 90 minutes from Flagstaff. If you are searching for the nearest large city that also has a major airport, let me tell you it is Phoenix, Arizona, which is located at a driving distance of 4 hours from this place.
Things To Do In Colorado River
As I have already mentioned, the Colorado River offers a wide range of adventurous and outdoor water activities. This is why most people rush to this river during the season between March and October.
Here is a list of Colorado River adventures that you can try when you visit the Colorado River.
- Boating.
- Fishing.
- Rafting.
- Kayaking.
- Stand-up paddleboarding.
- Hiking.
- Skiing.
- Snowmobiling.
- Horse riding
- Balloon flights
- Biking through the places.
Apart from all these adventurous activities, you can also explore the geographical beauty and biological diversity of this place. The Colorado River Toad is quite famous worldwide.
Best Time To Visit the Colorado River
Most people consider outdoor activities while they are planning their Colorado River trip. For this reason, the best time to visit the Colorado River varies from person to person. For example, whitewater river rafting depends on the amount of water used.
And the amount of water in the river changes constantly. When it comes to river rafting, high water is the most exciting time. Between the 3rd week of May and the 3rd week of June, the high water level is perfect for this purpose.
The water level is usually medium from late June through the middle of August, which is perfect for young families. Visitors will experience low water levels from early April until the middle of May.
What Makes This Place To At Least Visit Once In Your Lifetime?
The Colorado River covers a wide range of areas. It drains water from seven states and the Grand Canyon, which is world-famous for its geographical importance and structure.
The Colorado River is perfect for trying adventurous outdoor activities like river rafting. So, a trip that you will make here will be worth cherishing your entire life.
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