The Story of Evel Knievel’s Ill-Fated Snake River Canyon Jump in 1974, Told in 23 Photos

The imagery of a man clad in red white and blue, strapping himself into a rocket and shooting himself over a canyon is essential to the American life blood.

By Daniel Bonfiglio

Published 3 months ago in Wow

50 years and two months ago, the “King of the Stuntmen” Evel Knievel tried to leap over Idaho’s Snake River Canyon in a steam powered rocket. While his attempt ultimately proved unsuccessful, it went on to be Knievel’s most famous endeavor.

The imagery of a man clad in red white and blue, strapping himself into a rocket and shooting himself over a canyon is about as American as you can get, and it's worth remembering.

Here is the story of Evel Knievel’s Snake River Canyon jump, as told in 23 photos.

1
In 1968, Evel Knievel, aka Robert Craig Knievel, was looking for a way to follow up his 1967 attempt to leap over the fountains at Caesar's Palace. Initially planning to leap the Grand Canyon, Evel was denied permission by the American government.

2
In its place, he elected to leap over Idaho's Snake River Canyon, which had fewer land restrictions.

3
Promoting his snake river canyon jump.

The stunt was managed by boxing promoter Bob Arum, and funded in part by future WWE CEO Vince McMahon. On September 8th, 1974, 15,000 spectators were paid $25 each to watch the jump, which was broadcast on Wide World of Sports for $10 on pay-per-view closed circuit television.
4
Knievel hired former U.S. Navy rocket scientist Robert Truax to build the machine he would eventually use, the stem-powered X2 Skycycle. Instead of an ejector seat, the rocket itself was fitted with a parachute to simplify engineering. Two test rockets each failed their launches before Evel attempted the stunt.

11
12
When the rocket was launched, it initially appeared that everything was going well.
13

17
18
19
However, the rocket’s parachute deployed prematurely.

20
The rocket drifted short, and bounced off the canyon’s side wall.
21
Truax claimed Knievel pulled the parachute early, however it was eventually revealed that the parachute deployed early because of a design flaw.
22
Eventually, Professional stuntman Eddie Braun completed the stunt successfully in 2016, nine years after Evel’s death.