From Salida:
Silver Heels Class II
The current pushes you towards a very large rock on the river right, pull around it
on the left into a popular fishing eddy, then down a chute into Bear Creek Rapid.
Bear Creek Class III
A long rocky rapid, first one of note after leaving Salida. Near highway 50 mile
marker 225. You enter the rapid near the overpass where Bear Creek enters, on
river right. Move amongst various medium sized rocks, or holes depending on
level, down to the left. At the end of a short wave train is a descent size hole - it's
exact location varies with flow. Then the river curves immediately right
demanding a move left around a large rock on the right and then a possible move
back right around a rocky bar on river left, again dependent on flow.
County Line Rapid Class II+
.5 miles below Bear Creek, you enter on a left curve. Two places where wave
trains push you into a left hand wall or river center hole, there is adequate room
at most flows to avoid both on the right.
Spider Rapid Class II+
The river curves left then back right. Avoid various holes during the left hand turn,
then stay in the main channel as you funnel down a wave train on the right curve.
Just past highway mile 228.
Gunbarrel Class IIIJust before highway mile 230 you make a left hand curve and pass a couple of
fine play spots, and the river tries to push you into a wall on the left and into a
hole. Shortly after the river gets rocky again for about 1/4 mile around a river right
curve. About here the river enters an area of red-bed sediments that washed off
the ancestral rockies and make for fun boating.
Rincon Squirt Spot Class IIIA red-bed bar comes in at an angle from the river left creating one of the best
squirt spots on the entire river.
Rincon Seam Class II+
Just above the takeout, where the currents converge just below the multiple
islands is a legendary seam where the Rincon Rendevous happens seasonaly.
Mystery move heaven.
Take out/ Put in: Rincon
Badger Creek Class II+
Less than a 1/2 mile past Rincon. A mild class II rapid at most water levels, the
only things to watch out for are the big hole mid-right created by a big rock- when
water pours over, it just drops off the back side and gets bigger as the water
does- and when Badger Creek flashes, it usually brings alot of Mud/Rock with it
that can change the rapid a bit, or a bunch (12000 CFS poured down this trickle
of a creek in 1940's!)... and there is a huge strainer bottom right most years.
Tin Cup Class IIIAbout 4-5 Miles of flat water past Badger Creek...Very often this rapid is just a
big wave train, from left bank to mid river. As the water gets above 2000 CFS,
the pourover on the right creates a good drop and a huge hole. Most of the water
runs into a rock wall river left as the river makes a sharp right then jogs back to
the left... a nice beach cove is just below the waves on the right.
Rock Gardens Class II
About 5 more miles of flat and a couple small class II waves after Tincup, about 1
mile past Valley Bridge putin/takeout, and as you start to come into Coaldale... at
low water it has a bunch of Rocks at the top left, and on the right, creating a bit of
a slalom course thru rocks... at high water these rocks make some fun holes...
Bighorn Park Private put in/Take out
Cottonwood Class III
about 1 1/2 miles after the rock garden as you leave Coaldale and enter
Bighornsheep Canyon... this is always a fun rapid, as the river squeezes into the
canyon, it starts with a large rock in the middle, followed by a fast wave train that
leads into a rock or hole at mid-bottom... As the water rises, the rock at the top
will disappear and the wave train and hole at the bottom just get bigger/faster.
Black Hole (Little Cottonwood) Class IIIless than 1/4 mile after Cottonwood and thru an easy boulder garden the river
starts to turn back to the left... the bend squeezes the river left and into a big
Black Rock which is the Hole... water pours over this rock around 1200 CFS, and
the Hole gets bigger as the water does... around 4500 CFS it starts to wash out...
followed by some easy Class II waves and Boulder dodging- some of these
boulders make for fun surfs depending on the water level.
Trading Post Take out