Thunder River

Dropping in from the North Rim, looking out over the Esplanade

The Esplanade

Sandstone formations on The Esplanade

Jacob hiking on the Esplanade with the North Rim on the horizon

Water on the Esplanade.  There was rain a few days before we got to the Canyon, so some of the rock pockets were filled with water.  Usually there is no water on The Esplanade.  We carried down a few liters of water and cached them so we had water on the last night when we camped on The Esplanade.  Water is often scarce in the Canyon so this area is a little unique to have 2 creeks (Thunder River-Tapeats Creek and Deer Creek) in the same are just a night apart.

The Esplanade with the North Rim on the horizon.  The days were cool in the upper Canyon, but warm as we got close to the river.

The River

Cottonwoods and foliage growing around Thunder River.  To the right of the main clump of cottonwoods are cottonwoods lining Tapeats Creek.  Thunder River is one of the shortest rivers in the world at only half a mile long.  It is the steepest in the USA as it drops 1200 feet in 0.5 miles.  It flow into Tapeats Creek so is a rare instance when a river flows into a creek.

Looking down the Tapeats Creek drainage toward the Colorado River.

Thunder River with Mom and Dad hiking down the river ahead of me.

Maddy with Thunder River in the background

Looking down Tapeats Creek canyon on the way down to Thunder River.  We hiked down to Thunder River on the afternoon of the first day in the Canyon as a day hike.  We filled up bottles them headed back to the rim above the river where we camped.  We camped along the river the first time we went to Thunder River, but it was very damp along the creek so we have opted to stay on the plateau above Tapeats Creek drainage since then.

Thunder River

Maddy in the greenery around Thunder River

Thunder River on the morning the second day.  After spending the night above Thunder River, we hiked down to the Thunder River again, then along Tapeats Creek to the Colorado.  We followed the Colorado River downstream to Deer Creek.

Maddy with Thunder River in the background

Maddy and Thunder River

Cottonwoods along Tapeats Creek

Tapeats Creek

Tapeats Creek

Maddy hiking along the trail above Tapeats Creek.  There are two trails through this section, one will cross to the east side of the creek, then cross back, one will stay on the west side of the creek.  We stayed on the west side.  We have done this trip several times and have only crossed the creek once.

Cottonwoods lining Tapeats Creek.

Mom and Maddy

There are a couple rugged sections along Tapeats Creek.  This is largely because the trail needs to cross cliff bands and there is not always an easy break in the rock.

The Colorado

Green water in The River

Maddy and Jacob along the Colorado

An arch made of sand.  You can see the arch in the photo, two photos earlier.

Sandstone walls on the South side.

Just left of center on the horizon are two caves in the top layer of white rock.  These are known as the Owl Eyes.

Hiking along The River

Climbing above the Colorado on our way to Deer Creek.

Jacob hiking along the plateau above Deer Creek.  After a short climb up from the river, the trail follows winds in and out of small drainages before one final short climb to crest a ridge before descending to Deer Creek.

Mom and Dad along the trail to Deer Creek.

Maddy heading toward Deer Creek

The trail leading to Deer Creek.  There is an upper trail and lower trail option through this section.  We have always taken the upper trail because there is some exposure on the lower trail.  The lower trail follows much closer to The River before climbing up.

Maddy and Jacob

Deer Creek lined with Cottonwoods

Rocks shifting

Deer Creek.  We hiked down Deer Creek to the Colorado River.  There first quarter mile is down a slot canyon so the trail is quite narrow with some drop-offs.  After that, the next half miles switchbacks down to The River.

Me along Deer Creek

Cactus on the skyline

Maddy along Deer Creek

The end of the slot canyon ahead

Deer Creek Falls

Mom at the foot of Deer Creek Falls

Deer Creek Falls

Jacob heading up the slot canyon leading to Deer Creek

The Dry Lake above Deer Creek.  We saw a bighorn sheep on the rock pile on the left side of the horizon. I was not quick enough to get a photo, but Jacob got some good ones.

The dry lakebed.

Cactus

The "Throne Room" on the way climb out of Deer Creek

Jacob relaxing in the Throne Room

Jacob and Maddy in the Throne Room

Ice on the puddles on the Esplanade

Maddy hiking along the Esplanade.  It was cool in the shade after the warm climb up to the Esplanade.  It is impressive how much the temperature fluctuates between the sun and the shade.

The rock wall on the left side of the horizon is how we climb out of the canyon.  We climb to the latter or greenery just below the highest cliff band.  Then the trail contours to the right and heads around the corner out of sight.  This is still left of the red notch in the middle of the horizon.

Sunset in The Canyon