Thunder River

Thunder River, Thunder River Trail, May, 2011

This photo of Thunder River Spring brings back incredible memories from a six-day backpacking adventure through the Grand Canyon with some great friends in the spring of 2011.

Thunder River emerges dramatically from a deep cave within the Muav Limestone, creating one of the shortest yet steepest rivers in the United States. In less than half a mile (about 0.8 km), it plunges nearly 1,200 feet (370 meters) down a stunning series of cascades and waterfalls before merging with Tapeats Creek. Interestingly, despite its strong flow, Thunder River is actually a tributary of Tapeats Creek—an unusual case where a river feeds into a creek simply because Tapeats is much longer.

This place is truly one of nature’s hidden gems, and experiencing it firsthand was nothing short of unforgettable.

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