While it serves as a "glorified orientation film" for the Grand Canyon, is largely remembered as a flawed effort that fails to capture the true peril of Powell's journey.

Released in 1960, is a live-action Disney movie that dramatizes the 1869 expedition of Major John Wesley Powell, the first to map the Grand Canyon by traveling down the Colorado River. Despite its historic subject matter, the film is widely considered one of the weakest entries in the Disney live-action catalog. Movie Overview Director: William Beaudine.

For a modern look at the rugged Utah landscapes where the film was shot, check out this freeride footage:

Despite the high stakes of the real expedition, the film is often criticized as "dull" and "lackluster," failing to deliver the excitement one would expect from a river-running adventure.