The Best Grand Canyon Books

18 Must-Read Grand Canyon Books

The Grand Canyon is a source of inspiration for all river runners. It’s the ultimate bucket list trip, and as such, it has spawned more great books than any other rafting destination in the world. From the early explorations of John Wesley Powell to the daring speed record of Kenton Grua, the literature of the Grand Canyon is a genre unto itself. Here we’ve collected the best of the best. If you’re planning a trip to the canyon or looking for an armchair adventure, you’ll want to put a few of these captivating and informative Grand Canyon books on your must-read list.

Epic Tales of Adventure & Colorado River Legends

1) The Emerald Mile | By Kevin Fedarko

The Emerald Mile is that rare book where you learn a lot during a page-turning adventure. The story follows veteran Grand Canyon Dories guide Kenton Grua who attempts the fastest time through the canyon during a record-setting flood in the spring of 1983. Along the way you gain interesting insight about Glen Canyon Dam, the rapids of the mighty Colorado River, the conservation movement taking hold, and the colorful lives of characters who make the river their home. If you’re going to read one book about the Grand Canyon before your trip, this is it.

2) The Exploration of the Colorado River and its Canyons | By John Wesley Powell

In 1869, a one-armed Major John Wesley Powell set out to map the Grand Canyon. No one had ever floated the Colorado River through Grand Canyon before, and Powell’s journal of discovery is an absolute classic of adventure literature. He writes with military precision about the progress and difficulties of his expedition, but the canyon also instills a sense of timeless wonder that he presents with artistic flourishes. If you are looking for an adventure, and want to travel into the unknown, then The Exploration of the Colorado River and its Canyons is the book for you.

Of course, there’s also some debate about the accuracy of Powell’s journals and other writers have woven together multiple points of view to tell the “true story” of what really happened on that historic first descent of Grand Canyon. So if you just can’t get enough of this real-life adventure story, you can also check out Down the Great Unknown by Edward Dolnick and First Through Grand Canyon by Michael Ghiglieri.

3) There’s This River…Grand Canyon Boatman Stories | By Christa Sadler

Take a seat alongside some of the best storytellers in Grand Canyon—the guides. A colorful cast of characters tell the tales of their often hilarious, sometimes dangerous, and always entertaining adventures. No one knows the river better, and this book is your insider’s guide to the tight-knit community of river runners. It’s like sitting around the campfire, watching shadows dance upon the canyon wall, while you listen to some of the best stories from the river. There’s This River is a must-read for those who enjoy the old-fashion art of storytelling.

4) Breaking Into the Current: Boatwomen of the Grand Canyon | By Louise Teal

Written by an early Grand Canyon rafting guide, Breaking Into the Current tells the stories of the phenomenal group of ladies who were among the first generation of women to work in the canyon as commercial river guides. Hear from women like Marilyn Sayre, Ellen Tibbets, and Martha Clark, who share their love for the canyon, passion for guiding and their experiences working in a profession dominated by men at the time.

5) Sunk Without a Sound | By Brad Dimock

In 1928, Glen and Bessie Hyde embarked on a honeymoon trip through the Grand Canyon. When they failed to return, an investigation into their whereabouts discovered their boat upright, fully loaded with supplies. Sunk Without a Sound looks into their mysterious disappearance. Part adventure story, part murder mystery, the twists and turns keep you on edge as you try to decipher fact from fiction. If you enjoyed Into the Wild, you’ll love this book. It has the same sense of idealistic youth embarking on a wild adventure through natural beauty with a tragic ending that’s shrouded in mystery.

6) The Hidden Canyon | By John Blaustein

In The Hidden Canyon, the incredible photographs of John Blaustein are paired with Edward Abbey’s iconic prose to give you an intimate sense of the Grand Canyon from the river (a view that most people never see). Through Abbey’s journal entries, we travel down the river together in wry, awestruck moments. It’s a memorable trip, and perhaps no book better captures the awe, beauty, and sheer wonder of a Grand Canyon river trip.

7) The Man Who Walked Through Time | By Colin Fletcher

Colin Fletcher was the first man to ever walk the length of Grand Canyon below the rim. First published in 1967, The Man Who Walked Through Time is the grueling personal account of Fletcher’s remarkable two-month odyssey and spiritual journey through the canyon.

8) A Walk in the Park: The True Story of a Spectacular Misadventure in the Grand Canyon | By Kevin Fedarko

A Walk in the Park follows the epic journey of friends Kevin Fedarko and Pete McBride as they embark on a 750-mile trek through the heart of the Grand Canyon, with little preparation but a big dream. Facing perilous cliffs, scarce water, and the absence of trails, their year-long odyssey unveils the canyon’s true wilderness, its hidden wonders, and the threats posed by commercial tourism. Through encounters with Native American tribes, insights from seasoned hikers, and poignant personal reflections, the book paints a vivid portrait of the canyon’s magnificence and advocates passionately for its preservation as America’s greatest natural treasure.

9) No Barriers: A Blind Man’s Journey to Kayak the Grand Canyon | By Buddy Levy and Erik Weihenmayer

Erik Weihenmayer was first recognized as being the only blind person to summit Mt. Everest, but since then, he’s added kayaking the Grand Canyon to his list of astonishing achievements. No Barriers is not only a harrowing adventure tale that chronicles his journey through the canyon, but it’s an inspiring read about the possibilities of the human spirit.

10) The Colorado River: Chasing Water | By Pete McBride

The Colorado River is a visually stunning exploration of one of America’s most vital waterways, presented through the lens of acclaimed photographer Pete McBride. Teaming up with essays on climate change and river overuse, the book serves as both a celebration of the river’s beauty and a poignant warning about its vulnerability. With striking imagery and insightful commentary, McBride sheds light on the challenges facing the Colorado River, highlighting its importance as a critical resource for millions of Americans while advocating for its conservation and preservation.

Books About the Natural & Human History of Grand Canyon

11) Canyon | By Michael Ghiglieri

In Canyon, you’ll travel downstream from Lees Ferry to Diamond Creek in the company of an experienced OARS guide and ecologist. Ghiglieri mixes a travel account with high adventure, drama and a good deal of information on the history, geology and ecology of the Colorado. Ghiglieri is also the author of the wildly interesting and engrossing read, Over the Edge: Death in Grand Canyon, which chronicles the region’s many fatal mishaps.

12) River to Rim | By Nancy Brian

River to Rim offers an in-depth exploration of the origins and stories behind over 600 points of interest along 300 miles of the Colorado River. Drawing from her extensive experience as a longtime Grand Canyon river guide, Brian provides historical insights, quotations from explorers, and anecdotes that reveal the rich tapestry of the Grand Canyon’s landmarks, camps and rapids. Whether you’re navigating the river, hiking the trails, or simply intrigued by the canyon’s history, this meticulously researched guide serves as an invaluable companion for understanding the narratives etched into this natural wonder.

13) Running Dry | By Jonathan Waterman

Weaving history and tall tales, adventures on the river and conservation, Running Dry is an absorbing account of a trip on the Colorado River from Lake Powell to the Gulf of California. The book also explores the many demands and threats to the river’s fragile ecosystem through snapshots of local farmers, boatmen, park rangers and engineers.

14) Brave the Wild River: The Untold Story of Two Women Who Mapped the Botany of the Grand Canyon | By Melissa L. Sevigny

Brave the Wild River chronicles the daring 1938 expedition of botanists Elzada Clover and Lois Jotter as they navigate the Colorado River through Grand Canyon. With an eclectic team, they brave the river’s dangers to conduct the first botanical survey of the canyon, facing challenges like runaway boats and fearsome rapids. Through their vivid letters and journals, author Melissa L. Sevigny captures their remarkable journey, showcasing their determination to catalog the unique plant life of this iconic landscape despite the odds stacked against them.

15) I Am the Grand Canyon: The Story of the Havasupai People | By Stephen and Lois Hurst

I Am the Grand Canyon chronicles the Havasupai people’s struggle against government appropriation of their ancestral lands. From the initial reservation set in 1882 to the pivotal moment in 1971 when Tribal Chairman Lee Marshall’s impassioned speech catalyzed the return of thousands of acres, the book reveals the enduring fight for their cultural heritage and survival in modern times.

Grand Canyon Guide Books & Field Guides

16) Grand Canyon: The Complete Guide | By James Kaiser

If you’re going to get one Grand Canyon guide book, make it this one. As a photographer and national park guide book author, James Kaiser, has spent months of his life exploring Grand Canyon from rim to river. Through stunning photography, insider tips and detailed maps, Grand Canyon: The Complete Guide helps visitors have an unforgettable experience in the park.

17) Belknap’s Waterproof Grand Canyon River Guide | By Buzz Belknap and Lori Belknap Evans

If you are more the literal type, and don’t need a story to whisk you away beyond the story of the canyon itself, then Belknap’s Waterproof Grand Canyon River Guide is the book for you. It’s also the best book to bring while on your Grand Canyon adventure. There are sections to help you understand the geology, wildlife, rapids, and cultural history. Make notes in it as you go about the camps you stay at, favorite side hikes, or other noteworthy events and it’ll become an annotated guide to your trip. It’s a must-have that will enhance your journey through the canyon.

18) A Field Guide to the Grand Canyon | By Stephen Whitney

For the aspiring naturalist, this compact field guide—the only one dedicated solely to Grand Canyon—includes detailed information on more than 480 species of plants and animals found within the canyon, geologic history of the region, handsome full-page color plates, illustrations, maps and more.

*An earlier version of this post written by Tim Gibbins first appeared on the blog in 2017 and has since been updated.

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