Grand Canyon National Park Granite Rapids

Granite Rapids is an easy 45-minute hike down from Monument Creek and offers hikers a very nice beach to visit. There are a handful of sites just above the rapids that have good coverage from Tamarisk trees. There is a small eddy that shelters hikers from the very strong currents of the Colorado River. Down river from the rapids, there is a wide windswept beach with sparse vegetation. Rafters use the Granite Rapids Camp to scout the very large set of rapids and will sometimes camp above the rapids. Backpackers should be prepared to share the beach. When choosing a campsite, make sure to consider the erratic releases from the Glen Canyon Dam. River levels can fluctuate as much as three feet over night. Ringtail cats and squirrels are very aggressive here so hikers will need to be prepared by somehow storing food from their reach. Toilet facilities are not available at Granite Rapids.