Thunder River (Tapeats Creek tributary)

Thunder River
Thunder River in the Grand Canyon National Park
Location of the mouth of Thunder River in Arizona
Location
CountryUnited States
StateArizona
CountyCoconino
Physical characteristics
SourceThunder Springs
  locationGrand Canyon (North Rim)
  coordinates36°23′45″N 112°27′28″W / 36.3958°N 112.4578°W / 36.3958; -112.4578
MouthTapeats Creek
  location
Grand Canyon
  coordinates
36°23′31″N 112°27′05″W / 36.3919°N 112.4513°W / 36.3919; -112.4513
  elevation
2,549 feet (777 m)

Thunder River is a river entirely within the Grand Canyon National Park. It flows southeast from its source near the North Rim of the canyon to Tapeats Creek. The 0.5-mile-long (0.80 km) river is one of the shortest in the United States, and drops approximately 1,200 feet (370 m) over a series of waterfalls, making it the steepest river in the country. It is also a rare instance where a river is a tributary of a creek.