Grand Canyon Serenade

The Story

The adventure starts on the South Rim of Grand Canyon with some of the most breathtaking views on the planet. Time-lapse photography helps tell the story. Moving clouds wash a landscape created by wind, water, and time. The Colorado River runs through it. A white water adventure takes viewers on a tour of another world. The trip starts at Lee's Ferry where the dusty red Paria River flows into the blue-green Colorado. White water dories slide through azure waters surrounded by the majesty of Marble Canyon and soon come to Badger Rapid; one of the most scenic rapids in the canyon.

Around a bend in the river, Vasey's Paradise comes into view. Fountains of white water spring from the canyon wall surrounded by lush ferns. Powell named it for the botanist on his second expedition. A giant cavern appears on river left. Powell called it Redwall Cavern. He thought a thousand people could fit in its shelter.

Some of the most stunning views along the river occur from the Nankoweap delta. High upon the redwall sit preserved ancient Puebloan granaries bearing witness to the passage of time. The white water adventure continues with Hance Rapid, so-named for an early explorer to the canyon. Crystal Rapid is one of the largest in Grand Canyon. It didn't exist in the day of John Wesley Powell. Crystal was created by a flash flood, which sent boulders crashing into the river. The resulting swirling eddy continues to create fear among river runners.

The Little Colorado River joins the main river. The Little Colorado is a striking aquamarine color in sharp contrast to the Colorado. White water dories are rowed into paradise. On river right, Deer Creeks Falls tumbles from the redrock. Torrents splash pools below resulting in a fine mist punctuated by sunlight. A short hike on river left brings one to Elves Chasm, a green grotto in the desert. A sometimes precarious trail leads to one of the best swimming holes in Grand Canyon.

The journey continues on to Phantom Ranch and the scenic Bright Angel Trail and Creek.

The triumvirate of Horn Creek, Hermit, and Grapevine rapids is extremely challenging and scenic. They exemplify the type of rapid which made Grand Canyon famous. A slight crack in the canyon wall on river left leads to one of the crown jewels in Grand Canyon. Havasu Creek starts slowly leading away from the main canyon. Gradually, the canyon walls open, revealing a Shangri-La of travertine pools. Havasu is warm and inviting unlike the cold, deep Colorado. More hiking leads to green foliage and pools of blue water.

The Colorado River travels on to destiny. Black volcanic rock makes its appearance leading to the most difficult rapid in Grand Canyon: Lava Falls. John Wesley Powell wrote about torrents of steam rising to the heavens when molten lava spilled in the river. White water dories are catapulted over an unseen waterfall to raging water below. The river leads on to the end of Grand Canyon and the great expanse of seemingly endless desert.

The story ends from the North Rim of Grand Canyon. Elevation brings elegant scenery including Ponderosa pine trees and the exquisite Kaibab gray squirrel. The Kaibab squirrel is gray with a white underbelly and tufted ears. The scenic wonder that is Grand Canyon is unique in the world. GRAND CANYON SERENADE will paint a vivid portrait of the beauty and spiritual nature of Grand Canyon poetically inspired by the world's best music and most famous composers.

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