Colorado’s Famous River Hides These 5 Fascinating Secrets

Just when you think you’ve got the Colorado River all figured out, you realize there’s even more strange and surprising stuff waiting to be uncovered upstream.

The Colorado River helped shape the great American West, outdoor recreation in the Centennial State, and impacts the water supply of seven U.S. states. Let’s check out five facts many locals don’t know about our state's most famous river that goes right through Grand Junction.

Colorado River Fact 1: Opposite Flow

The Colorado River Once Flowed in the Opposite Direction: Millions of years ago, the Colorado River flowed eastward to the Gulf of America. The Rocky Mountains were still rising, and the tilt of the land sent the water in the opposite direction. As the mountains and Colorado Plateau lifted, the river began to carve its way West.

Colorado River Fact 2: The Pacific Ocean

The River Rarely Reaches the Sea Anymore: Sadly, the Colorado River rarely reaches the Pacific Ocean these days, due to overuse, diversions, and decades of drought throughout the American Southwest. Locals throughout Colorado often do not realize how low the water level is in places like Glenwood Springs or even Grand Junction. Today, the Colorado River loses most of its momentum at Yuma, Arizona.

Colorado River Fact 3: The Steepest Descent

It Has Carved One of the Deepest Canyons in North America: The work done by the Colorado River to carve out the Grand Canyon over millions of years has resulted in one of the steepest river descents in North America. From the headwaters in the Never Summer Mountains to the Gulf of California, the river descends more than 12,000 feet.

Colorado River Fact 4: Endangered Fish

 It’s Home to a Critically Endangered Fish with Bizarre Features: The Colorado River is home to the Colorado pikeminnow (also known as the Colorado white salmon). It is a top predator in the Colorado River system and can grow up to six feet in length. Many locals have no idea it’s a native and endangered fish.

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Colorado River Fact 5: A 'Colorado' River

Read More: What Makes the Colorado River Brown in Grand Junction?

The River’s Color Isn’t Always “Colorado” (Red): While the headwaters start as a clear blue mountain stream, the river’s color changes as if it flows through snowmelt, algae, and sediment throughout the state. From green to brown to red, distinct silt runoff changes the river’s appearance from Glenwood Canyon to Grand Junction to Moab and beyond.