Riding the Rapids: Legendary Boats of the Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon has witnessed countless boats on their maiden voyages, lifelong careers, and final trips. Let’s look at a few of the most iconic boats that have floated the mighty Colorado River.

John Wesley Powell’s Boats

To kick things off, we turn to John Wesley Powell’s first expedition (1869) through the Grand Canyon. Powell’s team brought four boats on their historic journey, named Emma Dean, Maid of Cañon, No Name, and Kitty Clyde’s Sister. These boats were of a design known as Whitehalls, typically used for smooth, calm waters like lakes and harbors—not for the turbulent, rocky waters of the Colorado River! These wooden boats were equipped with three large watertight compartments—one in the bow, one in the stern, and one in the center—for storing supplies. Each boat was rowed by two crew members, one seated in front of the other, facing forward, while a third person sat in the stern, controlling the rudder to steer the boat.

Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon boat also has connections to the Ross Wheeler. It was built by Bert Loper, who had spent his life navigating the rivers of the Southwest but did not venture into the Grand Canyon until later in life. During his second trip through the canyon in 1949, just before his 80th birthday, Loper tragically passed away. The boat was later found by Georgie White during a trip, and she managed to pull it up to a high-water line. While the boat is no longer in one piece, pieces of the boat’s hull can still be seen today near mile 41 and a half of the canyon.

The Ross Wheeler

Built in 1914 by Bert Loper, the steel boat Ross Wheeler met its unfortunate end in the Grand Canyon. In 1915, Charles Russell led an expedition with the goal of filming a rafting journey through the canyon. After a series of mishaps, the group decided to hike out and abandoned the boat at the bottom of Bass Trail. The Ross Wheeler was never recovered, and it remains at the bottom of the canyon to this day. In 1983, the park service secured the boat with chains, and it now stands as a part of Grand Canyon history.

The Emerald Mile

This boat is likely familiar to many. The Emerald Mile became legendary for its record-breaking run through the Grand Canyon. In 1983, during a high-water flow of 70,000 cubic feet per second, river guide Kenton Grua attempted to make the fastest descent of the Colorado River through the canyon. Grua achieved the impossible, completing the 277-mile stretch in just over 36 hours, setting the record for the fastest rowed journey through the Grand Canyon. This boat is now retired and lives in Flagstaff Arizona. To read more about this incredible journey check out the book The Emerald Mile by Kevin Fedarko!