Diamond Creek, at river mile 226, has long been the preferred take-out point for Grand Canyon raft trips. There are benefits to taking out at Diamond rather than continuing to Pearce Ferry and PRO supports your choice to use Diamond Creek, yet we want you to be aware of the ramifications of that decision
PRO schedules early morning takeouts in the summer to avoid traffic congestion, heat, and the risk of afternoon thunderstorms that can flood the road. The tribe does not permit takeouts between 7 and 10am because they are rigging their Diamond Down trips, so the usual pickup times are either 6:30am or 11:00am. Please confirm your takeout time with PRO before launching.
Hualapai Land Crossing Fees
The Hualapai tribe owns the Diamond Creek Road and charges a fee for each person (including drivers) and each vehicle traveling on the road. The Hualapai will bill the permit-holder prior to the trip. If PRO is doing your takeout shuttle, no response is needed at that time – we will pay the fees for you. If you pay for them yourself, have your receipt ready when you reach Diamond Creek or you may be charged double fees.
The Hualapai ranger will take a count of the number of people and vehicles involved in your Diamond Creek takeout, including any private vehicles. Please verify that the number of people (including drivers) and vehicles is correct before signing the Hualapai permit. Once signed, the billing is final, and the tribe will not re-negotiate. Your final billing from PRO will match the number that you signed for on the Hualapai permit, rather than any predicted numbers.
For the 2023 season, the Hualapai land use fees are $64.20 per vehicle and per person, which includes 7% tribal tax. For a full Grand Canyon trip of 16 people, with two vehicles (and two drivers) picking them up, 20 fees will be collected for a total of $ . This fee is subject to change.
Reaching the Diamond Creek Takeout
This day is a long one, no matter how good you are. Plan an easy breakfast and get on the water early so that you can float unhurried to the takeout.
Most groups camp the last night at one of the numerous camps between river miles 220 and 224, and from there to the takeout is a few swift miles with several small rapids. Diamond Creek is easy to spot from the river. At mile 225 you will see a cable across the river and on the river right there is a gauging station. As you round a sweeping left bend below the cable you will see a large side canyon ahead on the left; just below a small riffle is the Diamond Creek access. Immediately below the rocky “ramp” is Diamond Creek rapid. Along with some sunshades (ramadas) and picnic tables there is usually a flotilla of boats and vehicles visible from the water.
On approaching Diamond Creek, the appearance of a sizeable eddy is deceiving; there is current going downstream at the landing spot! Get close to the left bank early and have someone on board ready to jump with the rope. Above the pebble beach where you can plan to make short, there is a wide pool with a vein of current down the center of it. Don’t wait until the last minute to get your rafts out of the current. Pull over to the left side early and float slowly down the bank. The water accelerates into Diamond Creek Rapid at the takeout beach, so be prepared. Designate an agile person to leap ashore and hold each boat. One person can stand on shore, ready with a throw bag in case a raft is missing the beach.
The landing spot is narrow and heavily used. If the beach is congested with other craft, it is easier to wait in the tamarisk above the beach than it is to pull boats ashore in the fast boulder mess downstream. When you do make shore de-rig immediately and pile your gear in an area where it does not block traffic.
You are on and Indian Reservation (the Hualapai tribe) please be respectful of the tribal members you encounter – you are on their land. It is illegal to possess or consume alcohol. Out of respect for the tribe, please do not urinate in the river – use the porta-potties.
Diamond Creek Road
Diamond Creek Road runs from Route 66 at Peach Springs, Arizona down to the Colorado River in Grand Canyon. It is a heavily used, bulldozed path through river cobbles and sand, and crosses the creek repeatedly. The last mile of the road runs in the streambed of Diamond Creek. The off-pavement distance is only 21 miles, but in its best condition takes an hour to negotiate.
A heavy rain in the headwaters of either Diamond Creek or Peach Springs may make the road impassable for days. The summer monsoon (typically July through September) is usually responsible for the damage, but floods can occur at any time of year. Most (98%) Diamond Creek shuttles are completed without incident; the remaining 2% are substantially impacted by adverse road conditions.
When the road is damaged, the Hualapai Tribe closes it. Once floodwaters have receded, they bring in heavy equipment to repair the road. Diamond Creek floods more frequently than Peach Springs Creek. Since Diamond Creek affects only the last mile of the road, repairs can usually be made within a day. If Peach Springs Canyon floods, it may demolish the entire road and require multiple days to repair. Please read, fill out and return the Diamond Creek Questionnaire to let us know what your trip will do if Diamond Creek is washed out.
What to do if Diamond Creek is Washed out
If Diamond Creek flash floods prior to your takeout or while you are there. PRO vehicles may be delayed. Diamond Creek running red or PRO vehicles not being there at the pre-determined time are clues that the road may be out. Initially, we might not be able to drive all the way to the river until the Hualapais reconstruct parts of the road. Our drivers will get down as far as they can, find a safe parking place, and walk down to make contact with your group, assess the road and recommend a plan. We will get our vehicles down to the river as soon as possible. All that extra food may come in handy. Continue to de-rig. Refer to De-Rig Checklist in your Menu Plan.
Please contact the PRO office as soon as you can by satellite phone – either the one on your trip or from one on other trips in the area. If you have a satellite phone, please check your messages (or messages on the phone number indicated on your Diamond Creek Questionnaire as the message line). We will leave a message for you and let you know what we know on the progress of road repair. If you do not have a satellite phone on your trip or you are unable to get a signal, please rest assured that we will get to you or at least get word to you as soon as we can.
Until we at PRO hear from you – we’ll check your Diamond Creek Questionnaire and assume that you’re executing the plan that you indicated (if a copy was emailed to us prior to your trip, a copy of your completed Diamond Creek Questionnaire will be in your menu plan). If/when we know you’ll be delayed a day or more, we’ll call the numbers you gave on the form, and cancel/change any motel reservations if necessary.
Hiking up the road should be considered extremely dangerous. Additionally, floods may be on their way, regardless of how clear the sky may be. Hikers must pass through a section of a narrow, sheer-walled canyon with limited possibilities for escape from subsequent floods. Agility and climbing ability should be considered prerequisites.
Please keep in mind that PRO has a fixed number of vehicles and drivers at any one time. We work with rental companies and other outfitters, but these assets are often utilized to capacity during the high season. We do our best to accommodate each situation, but your patience will be required.