The Take-Out
From Rafting Grand Canyon
This chapter includes info on Diamond Creek open/closed times, take-out schedule, ramp etiquette, Pierce and South Cove take-outs, with info on Hoover Dam issues, and landfill info.
River runners can check to see who else is taking-out at Diamond Creek by viewing the on-line Recreational Launch Calendar and clicking on the appropriate launch month.
Once your river trip launches at Lee's Ferry at river mile 0, the next place you can take out that has vehicle access right to the Colorado River is Diamond Creek, at river mile 226. The 26 mile dirt road from Peach Springs AZ to the river is entirely on Hualapai Nation Land.
The Hualapai Nation no longer allows vehicles to be parked at Diamond Creek overnight. These vehicles will be towed at owner's expense. Also, the Hualapai Nation strongly requests that river runners schedule their Diamond Creek put-ins and take-outs before 7 AM or after 10 AM.
The Hualapai Diamond Creek road access fee is $60 per person (shuttle drivers and river runners) and $60 per vehicle. This fee applies whether arriving or departing from Diamond Creek. A Hualapai Tribal tax of 7% is now added to the $60 cost, for a total of $64.25 per person/driver. These fees are expected to continue to increase this year. For fee information contact the Hualapai Tribe River Running office at (928) 769-2219.
You can launch at Diamond Creek and take out downstream at Lake Mead, either at Pearce Ferry or South Cove. The Grand Canyon National Park permit required to run this section of grand Canyon is here. Grand canyon National Park's page on the Diamond to Lake Mead run is here.
The Grand Canyon does not end at Diamond Creek. That happens about river mile 279. If you keep on going below Diamond Creek, the next place you can take out is at Pearce Ferry. Pearce Ferry is in Lake Mead National Recreation Area (LMNRA), and if the reservoir is full, the Pearce Ferry take out is on lake water. The last ten year drought has forced river parties to travel to South Cove at river mile 297 to take out. Beginning in 2008, LMNRA started constructing a new road to the river at Pearce Ferry.
As of March 3, 2010, the new Pearce Ferry ramp has been constructed. Only signage, a bathroom and a dock for the river concessions jet boat remain to be installed before the ramp is open. There is a gate that is locked (March 3, 2010) and blocks all access in-out of the Pearce Ferry Ramp. This photo shows what the new ramp looks like as of March 3, 2010.
All river runners taking out at South Cove are required to use only the river runners take out ramp. The river runners take out area at South Cove is about 500-600 feet south of the concrete ramp, not at the concrete ramp or the gravel ramp adjacent to the concrete ramp. There is a 3000 foot long dirt road from the top of the main concrete ramp to the ramp area. River runners may drop folks off at the concrete ramp to retrieve their vehicles in the parking lot, but are required to move all boats and gear downlake to the river runners take out.
River runners are asked to be patient and understanding in the de-rig area as Hualapai, concessions and public rafters are all taking out in the same area. River runners are encouraged to maintain as small a take-out footprint as possible, and to de-rig as quickly as possible. Early morning take-outs are recommended in the high use seasons of late spring, summer and early fall, to beat the heat and crowds. Daytime temperatures in the heat of summer can reach 115 degrees.
Night Floats
Some river runners taking out at Pearce or South Cove will tie their boats all together and float at night.
The NPS is still suggesting river runners avoid night floats due to the existence of rapids, the potential for collision risk with other watercraft and or submerged trees. A new navigational hazard includes a cable exposed in the sediment bank at mile 266.85 on river left that runs at an angle down into the river at the Bat Towers. All night float trips, as per US Coast Guard regulations, must have a person on watch with a lantern or flashlight ready to warn oncoming boats. Any boats with a motor running at night (only four stroke motors allowed), whether tied together as a single craft or running as separate craft, must have navigation lights displayed red/green on the front and a white 360 degree light at the stern (back of the boat visible 360 degrees).
Cerbat Land Fill
River runner trash can be deposited at the Cerbat Landfill on the drive to Kingman on highway 93 from Pearce Ferry or South Cove. The landfill turnoff is at mile marker 60, and the landfill site is 2 miles north from 93 up the Mineral Park road. Landfill hours are M-F 7 to 3, Sat 8 to 3, closed Sunday. Landfill fees are $29.75/ton cash or local check only, with a minimum load fee of $5.85 for 300 pounds or less.
Hoover Dam
Until the new bypass bridge is open at Hoover Dam, for Homeland Security purposes, all trailers and box trucks are being inspected at Hoover Dam. Box trucks and trailers need a clear aisle down the middle of the load for visual inspections of 80% of the load.
Pearce Ferry and South Cover to Kingman Travel
For river runners traveling east, the Stockton Hill Road is now paved all the way to Kingman. The turnoff for the Stockton Hill Road is a quarter mile south the dirt and washboard Antares Road to Antares on Highway 66.
In Case of Emergency
For Pearce Ferry and South Cove take-outs, at Meadview, for Medical Emergencies contact Grapevine Mesa Fire District located in Meadview, which has an ambulance. They provide advanced life support (ALS) emergency ambulance service. They have a non-emergency phone number (928) 564-2777, and in Meadview respond to 911 calls.
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