[Chief Niwot]

A few us are looking for a class III run for Saturday.

I understand that you can put in right below lake Estes and paddle 5 miles or so to the handicap access before the Big T Gnarr section? In never seeing this and not wanting to drive there for nothing, can anyone tell me about this section? Class rating, hazards, and would it be worth or is it doable at 250cfs?

Thanks,

 

[Buckrodgers]

A few us are looking for a class III run for Saturday.

I understand that you can put in right below lake Estes and paddle 5 miles or so to the handicap access before the Big T Gnarr section? In never seeing this and not wanting to drive there for nothing, can anyone tell me about this section? Class rating, hazards, and would it be worth or is it doable at 250cfs?

Thanks,

I haven't done that section, but I have been running down to Drake lately, and would say the minimum would probably be 280. 280 is pretty bony though, so I'm guessing it is too low now.

 

[Buckrodgers]

Run The Blue

If I were you and looking for class III saturday, head up to the Lower Blue:

Lower Blue

They are releasing water through Saturday (at least), so that is a good late season class III run, with good water right now...I think I saw a thread with some other folks heading up there too...

 

[dvanhouten]

250 would be kinda scrappy through some of this section, used to boat it alot when I lived in Estes, though it has been a few years since I've run it. I recall one or 2 III+/IV- sections/rapids, the rest II/III.

 

[cemartin]

It was a while back, but I remember that there were a couple river wide strainers (logs) in this section. You might want to road scout first.

 

[Chief Niwot]

Well, with the encourgement of a fellow paddler, we ran this section on Monday at 265cfs.

For my ability, it was pretty boney/technical, but very doable. If your a canoest, bring your short plastic boat, as it was hard on the Royalex open boats at that level.

We met a local named Paul at the put in and he showed us his lines. We were glad we did, as I am sure we would have had more rock bashing, running it for the first time at this level.

I liked this run a lot and look forward to doing it again. It seemed similiar to the North Saint Vrain III+ section, but a lot longer, 7 miles or so. I am sure it would be much better with another 75 cfs or so.

We did encounter some unhappy fishermen that gave us the evil eye. Not sure what you can do about that as it is a tight small river bed and you need to be where the water is.

If you like mere mortal creeking like North Saint Vrain, you would probably like this run too.