There’s only one place in Grand Canyon National Park where you can drive right to the edge of the Colorado River–Diamond Creek. The road begins in Peach Springs, AZ., on the Hualapai Indian Reservation. The Hualapai charge a fee for driving the road. I think at the time we were there it was $20 per vehicle. However, that Sunday, there wasn’t anyone around to take our money.

The dirt road is about 20 miles long and fairly well graded. It crosses Diamond Creek several times. Usually, the creek is dry or has just a trickle of water. However, before setting out it’s well-advised to check the weather. A thunderstorm could turn it into a raging river, becoming impassable. There was even an instance in the past where a vehicle washed into the Colorado River.

There’s not really anything special at the end. A couple of primitive shelters over picnic tables were off to the side. It was blazingly hot the day we were there.

There’s a series of small rapids just below Diamond Creek. Therefore, rafting parties regularly put-in here to end their trips from Lees Ferry or Phantom Ranch.