Grand Falls of the Little Colorado River

Looks like the big melt is starting to happen in the White Mountains of Arizona, meaning that the Little Colorado River is picking up steam. The Grand Falls of the Little Colorado River was formed thousands of years ago when lava from nearby Merriam Crater blocked the river and forced it into a wide detour, after which it comes back into its channel by pouring over the limestone cliffs of the Kaibab Formation. At 185 ft., these 'chocolate' falls are higher than Niagara Falls, and are really a must see event in the Southwest during the small window of time when they occur.
You can monitor the river's discharge near Cameron, AZ with this handy USGS online gauge.

Posted this from last year just to tempt you.

John- I've been watching the water data quite closely as well. To add to the excitement, here's an excerpt from a local farming publication in the White Mountains: "On the Little Colorado River above Woodruff, streamflow is forecast at 429 percent of the 30-year median."

429 percent! Basically, there's going to be some SERIOUS flow over those falls this year

Thanks so much for your input, Joel!
Looks like a return visit is in order. See ya there?

John, I'm also trying to get a trip together to Grand Falls. I made a trip out there last year about this time but the falls wasn't looking too good and I really didn't come home with any shots. Do you camp or stay in a motel somewhere nearby?

One year I camped and one year I stayed at one of the cheap ($30/night) motels in Flagstaff.
I stayed at the motel the one year due to strong, gusty winds when I was at the falls.
Let's try and meet there. My calendar is wide open!

This weekend coming or the 27th?

John, I forgot to mention, I love your shot of Grand Falls.

Either one. Perhaps the weekend of the 27th may see more water?
Looking at last year's data on that chart, the river was running at about 800 CFS when I took this shot (thank you, Adam!). Right now we're at 200 CFS.

According to Joel, it looks like good times are comin'!

You're killing me... I want to get out there but I'm not sure if I can get away. It looks like it was up at 1000 cub. ft/sec on March 11 and is now down to 214 (though still above the median). But I'm guessing it will continue to fall off rather quickly, or does it tend to spike back up at the end of March?

John, lets keep an eye on the gauge, but I'm all for the 27th. My wife, Sally, will be coming along as well. We will probably get a room in Flagstaff or Winslow.

Hey Grant,
You can see peak flows from last year using last year's chart (I was there on March 7).
Bear in mind that S. CO/UT and N. AZ just got hammered with snow and rain this winter, and if Joel's statement holds true, then last week's high water was just a teaser.
It's been my experience that you only get one or two days notice when the waters really start to rise (again, using the online gauge). It's a bit of a crap shoot, but you struck me as a gamblin' man.

That looks like a pretty spectacular event. Gorgeous image as well.

I have always wanted to photograph this but the one and only time I made it out here the falls were bone dry. And there was a Navajo nearby with a shotgun who wasn't looking at us with friendly eyes so I got the hell out of there.

Man, that shot is epic!!!

Great shot, John! I've always wanted to get out there.Wish I could meet up with you folks this year. I'm taking advantage of the southwest snowpack to raft the Gila this weekend, though, and that'll be my big trip for spring.

Seriously sick shot! I am indeed tempted to make the trip out from San Diego.

Thanks, John. I'm going to keep an eye on the gauge and will try to make it out there if I can.

It only spiked because there was good rainfall in the area that week. The great flow comes when snow starts to melt, and with the repeated coldfronts that have hit AZ this spring I don't think much has melted yet. We're just starting to warm back up this week. Right now it's only around 300 cfs which is nothing impressive... I was there March 1st last year and it was at 1300 cfs in both Winslow and Cameron. Don't let the dates deceive you, though; we just warmed up really early last year. Fortunately, it takes a bit to really hit, so we've got a while to watch the water rise. Considering the snowpack this year, I wouldn't bother if it's below the 800 John saw last year, as I've heard reports of it being 2,000+ (and I'm guessing this year should hit that, at least).

I'm game for meeting up the weekend of the 27th!

p.s. That's an awesome shot, John.

Really like the warm color in the water.

Thanks, folks!

Hey Dan,
That's mud! One of the main attractions of this falls, actually.

See y'all on the 27th (tentatively).

Way cool, I've love to try to make it out there.

I'm heading to Tucson April 1st or 2nd, sure hope it will still be running then!

Neat shot, we just don't have waterfalls around here like that. Don' make me come down there .

Great image.

When I was by the Little Colorado/Winslow area on Feb 27 the water was very low. Loooks like conditions are about to get really nice.

Have fun!

Another place that is now on my "must see" list, but not this spring.

Great photo, John!

Is anyone heading out to Grand Falls this weekend?