The narrator recounts a day‑long adventure on the Colorado River below Horseshoe Bend, beginning with a surprise discovery of a natural spring flowing from the canyon wall and paddling past vivid petroglyphs, blooming cacti, and abundant fish. Along the way they marvel at the river’s scale, the towering 1,000‑foot cliffs, and the quiet, almost solitary feeling of being deep inside the bend, contrasting it with the crowded overlook above. The trip includes a hearty freeze‑dried chicken tikka masala lunch, a brief hike to a historic homestead and petroglyph‑studded ridge, and sightings of wild horses, all underscoring the river’s managed flow from Glen Canyon Dam and its timeless, awe‑inspiring landscape. The experience leaves the narrator eager to return for a longer, multi‑day journey, cherishing the peace, wildlife, and sense of stepping back in time that the canyon offers.
1. Millions of people visit Horseshoe Bend each year.
2. Visitors stand at the edge of Horseshoe Bend to take photos and then leave.
3. The group’s plan was to float down the Colorado River for 12 miles.
4. Brian was fishing with a fly rod.
5. The group brought fly rods in case they wanted to fish.
6. The bag limit for rainbow trout is two; brown trout have no limit.
7. The first river stop is called Petroglyph Beach.
8. Petroglyphs are present on the canyon wall at Petroglyph Beach.
9. The walk to view the petroglyphs is about five minutes.
10. A petroglyph labeled “Ehart N.” was observed at the site.
11. The petroglyphs at Petroglyph Beach are clearly visible.
12. Additional petroglyphs are located at the bottom of the canyon wall.
13. The group entered Horseshoe Bend.
14. The previous day they had been on top of Horseshoe Bend.
15. On the day of the recording they were inside Horseshoe Bend.
16. The group was directly underneath the Horseshoe Bend overlook.
17. The Horseshoe Bend overlook is situated directly above the river.
18. The group heard running water and discovered a freshwater spring in the canyon.
19. The rocks near the spring are slick and the group was barefoot.
20. The spring flows directly out of the ground.
21. Prior information claimed there were no springs on this river stretch, but a spring exists.
22. Standing at the Horseshoe Bend overlook, a natural spring is located directly below.
23. The group skipped a rock that traveled some distance and became airborne.
24. The group took a cold dip in the spring water.
25. The spring water felt very cold.
26. People talking above the canyon could be heard, but their voices were not audible below.
27. The cliff wall at the Horseshoe Bend overlook is about 1,000 feet tall.
28. Surrounding cliffs in Glen Canyon average 500 to 700 feet tall.
29. The group had previously seen boats from the top of the canyon looking down.
30. The Colorado River water in this section is managed by Glen Canyon Dam, which creates Lake Powell.
31. The dam maintains a constant flow rate and water level in this river segment.
32. Before the dam was built in the early 1900s, the river flowed freely.
33. Over thousands of years the free‑flowing river carved the Grand Canyon, which begins at this location.
34. Prior to the dam, the river’s flow varied greatly and could dry up or become only a foot deep in places.
35. After the dam, the river’s flow is altered by human control.
36. The average flow rate of the river in this section is about 2 miles per hour.
37. Lunch consisted of spaghetti with beef marinara and chicken tikka masala.
38. The group ate chicken tikka masala while on the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon.
39. The group took a short detour that resembled a slot canyon.
40. While paddling, the group maintained the same view of a cliff for an hour or more.
41. A side canyon was observed off the main river.
42. Wild horses were present in the area.
43. The takeout point is located just around the bend from where they were.
44. The remaining distance to the takeout is less than one mile.
45. Brian caught a fish later in the day.
46. The canyon contains historical sites besides the Colorado River.
47. The group walked the Perea River Canyon.
48. An orchard is present in the canyon.
49. Old homesteads exist in the canyon.
50. The original homestead was built by John D. Lee while he operated a ferry on the river; the site is known as Lee’s Ferry.
51. The original house at Lee’s Ferry burned down in a kitchen fire.
52. Survivors reused the stone from the burned house to build other structures and fencing.
53. An old cellar remains at the Lee’s Ferry homestead.
54. Lonely Dell Ranch is situated beneath towering canyon walls beside the river.
55. The Perea River Trail follows the Perea River and is about 38 miles long, extending into Utah.
56. People backpack the entire length of the Perea River Trail.
57. A log book is located at the start of the Perea River (or Vermilion Cliff) Wilderness.
58. In April alone, many people have hiked the Perea River Trail.
59. The Perea River carves narrow walls and quiet pathways through the desert.
60. Compared to Horseshoe Bend, the Perea River area is slower, quieter, and less disturbed.
61. A roadside attraction features massive boulders that Native Americans used to build houses.
62. Modern visitors would use a single‑burner stove for cooking in those boulder houses.
63. The boulder houses contain a fireplace and a chimney.
64. The boulder houses include sleeping platforms (beds).
65. The Navajo Bridge, which the group crossed, was built in the 1920s.