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Canyonlands National Park Dory on the Colorado River
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Canyonlands National Park
River Incident Reports
 
These reports have been posted in the hope that future visitors will learn from others' mistakes and avoid hardship on their trips.

Fatal Incidents

The table below lists a sample of fatal river incident reports:

Date Location

Flow
(CFS)

Age
Sex

Type of
Trip

08/30/67 Spanish Bottom 5,140
26
M
Comm
05/31/73 Big Drops 34,800
60
M
Private
08/07/74 Mile 206 6,740
56
M
Comm
06/20/75 Rapid 3 47,700
24
M
Private
06/12/79 Brown Betty Rapid 49,200
20
M
Private
05/25/80 The Slide 38,400
25
M
Private
11/10/82 Big Drop Three 12,480
32
F
Private
05/20/83 Big Drop Two or Three 32,600
48
M
Private
04/27/93 Big Drop Three 18,840
46
M
Private
05/29/93 Big Drop Two 69,900
70
M
Private
06/03/93 Mile Long to Big Drops 63,300
51
M
Private
05/17/95 Big Drop Two 33,900
41
M
Comm
09/27/97 Big Drop Two 16,890
40
M
Private
05/12/00 Big Drop Two 27,000
74
M
Comm

Injury/Illness Incidents

This is a representative sample of injury/illness river-related incidents:
Case Incident Report 830283
Case Incident Report 850181
Case Incident Report 90R007
Case Incident Report 927021
Case Incident Report 937001
Case Incident Report 955057
Case Incident Report 977022
Case Incident Report 9807000013
Case Incident Report 9807000021
Case Incident Report 9807000024
Case Incident Report 9807000026
Case Incident Report 9907000005
Case Incident Report 9907000006
Case Incident Report 9907000019

Non-Injury/Illness Incidents

A representative sample of other river-related incidents:
Case Incident Report 820165
Case Incident Report 977029
Case Incident Report 9807000016
Case Incident Report 9807000027
Case Incident Report 9905000096
Case Incident Report 0007000005
Case Incident Report 0107000013

photo: Canoeist on the Green River
Going on the River?
Additional regulations apply to all river trips.
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High Water Videos
High Water Videos
Witness high water in Cataract Canyon from the comfort of your home (or office).
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Rapids in Cataract Canyon

Did You Know?
The highest recently recorded flow in Cataract Canyon is 114,900 cfs in 1984. However, scientists dating driftwood piles estimate that in 1884, the river may have reached 225,000 cfs.
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Last Updated: June 17, 2011 at 10:12 MST