Looking for alternatives to Shoshone?

[cstork]

My wife and son were planning on doing Shoshone in a ducky next Tuesday. They are fine in class III waves, but not with the big water class IV that's happening now in Shoshone with the high flows of 5000 cfs.

What are the nearby alternatives? Does Grizzly Creek-Two Rivers Park become class III?

How about the Pinball to Cottonwood section on the Colorado above Dotsero? It's running at 3000 cfs. Does that become class III? How's the Burns Rodeo Rapid?

Or, how about the lower Eagle at 1500?

Thanks.

[zhensley]

try state bridge. I haven't done that in a while but I think that is pretty good class III. I would verify that but I remember taking some intermediates down that and they were fine. check it out.

Zach

[WhiteLightning]

Griz to the Park will be probably a class II+ run with some class IIIish waves in a couple of spots. Lower Eagle is running at a decent level. There are some solid IIIs in there. You would probably want to make sure if you float down to Eagle to take out at the park above the rodeo. There is a monster river-wide hole that will eat your family and the duckies down there by the rodeo then spit you out into some fast-moving tricky waves and holes. At least check it out from the big gravel parking area between the welcome center and the rodeo when you shuttle.

Edwards to Wolcott is a III- ish run but maybe scout trestle rapid west of Wolcott which is a III or III+.

The Upper Colorado is another alternative. It is at a good level now, and is a well traveled beginner run. It will be the mellowist of the options mentioned. There are lots of options between Pumphouse and State Bridge.

[mcandy]

grizzly to two rivers is 2+ to 3--- in spots. Quick run at 5K...could take it down to tibbits or new castle.

Also try parkdale above the royal gorge (put in below three rocks), milk run on the arkansas (Johnson village (285 bridge right at AAE) to ruby mtn campground), stone bridge to salida on the arkansas, Deckers, Lower Blue (above 1k there is solid 3 boating a few spots), cemetary run on the roaring fork.

you can find good info in Colorado Rivers and Creeks! Have fun

[peterB]

cemetery is a blast at high water. Big waves. Way more interesting than Griz.

peter

[thogan]

Second that on cemetary, a longer run would be to put in at carbondale. The upper C has a lot of flat water but the canyon section is really pretty{hotsprings near radium} Crystal river avalanche to BRB is also fun( straightforward and is running at a good flow.

[bingo]

I ran Cemetery with a few class III-ish ducky paddlers last weekend and they had a blast.