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Kayaking Information <br />The East Fork of the San Juan is a creek -run that has a split personality. It is predominantly easy III, but one rapid at the top is difficult and has a <br />portage in it. Because of trees across the crux of this rapid, missing the small portage eddy is not an option. But this rapid is short. Thus expert boaters <br />who want adventure are going to enjoy it, but their thrills will be short lived. Intermediates not desiring a do -or -die situation will want to put in Lower, <br />and then the length of the run is decreased to the point of diminishing returns. One option is to create a longer run by boating down to the confluence <br />with the West Fork and continuing on the main San Juan. <br />If a party aims for starling at the top, they will find the crux rapid 2.5 miles up from the East Fork Campground. The bank on the far side of the creek <br />will be an eroded, multi - colored wall. Get out of the car and scout. This is a very geologically unstable zone. Actively moving earth has pinched the <br />canyon here and has also dropped a couple of trees making this drop a V; without them it would be a good IV. <br />In about 200 yards, the creek mellows considerably, but what follows is a fun and pretty float to the campground. If you continue past the campground, <br />be alert for wood and expect a slight increase in difficulty before the confluence. After this you're on your own, because we ain't boated it. I hear there's <br />some okay surfing at high water somewhere above Pagosa Springs. You'll have to scout your own take -out for this lower section. <br />Thanks to CRC for contributing this run. <br />Hen nosa Creek begins west of the Purgatory Ski Area, flowing southeast to the Animas River. Gorgeous run with tall spruce and aspen forests lining <br />the river banks. Plenty of wood to beware of on this run, however, the lower 6.5 miles of Hermosa Creek has far fewer trees to act as potential <br />hazards. <br />Getting to the Hermosa Creek put -in requires half driving and half hiking. The driving half is uphill, while the hiking half (approximately 3.5 miles) is <br />downhill. The reward for the effort is a beautiful and exciting Class IV whitewater run. <br />A diversion dam just above the take -out at the bridge across the creek on US Highway 550 requires a portage. <br />i,`sa ;a= e;_ <br />Mesa Canyon on the San Juan River is an easy beginner run consisting of mostly mellow class II - III- whitewater. The run begins with some technical <br />rocky sections that could cause the beginner to second guess this run. However, this is probably the most difflctult section. Shortly downstream things <br />mallow out. What remains are some fun, easy wave trains and 1 -2 foot drops created by man -made damns. Follow the tongue through and you should <br />be ok. This scenic stretch of river offers both mountain and dessert like terrain. <br />:ar3 <br />....._....... <br />The Piedra is a beautiful remote wilderness run through two main canyons the Upper and Lower canyons. <br />The Upper Canyon starts out mellow and passes under a huge rock overhang with water running over. Plenty mellow water, too much I'd say. Then <br />comes a few minor rapids, then onto two pushy rapids. The first rapid is a long and steep section. The second is a short and steep S -turn with a big <br />hole river left. <br />The Lower Canyon has three notable rapids. The first is steep cascade with a pour over river right and a fast tongue through a hole to a rock river left. <br />Next is the First Mudslide rapid that has two boulders that you should avoid. Then comes Second Mudslide Drop. The river constricts and pours head <br />on into a huge boulder in the center of the river followed by a technical section with a river wide strainer. Consider portaging the top of half of Second <br />Mudslide, ferry across to river left and run the technical boulder section to avoid the river wide strainer river right. Both Mudslide rapids can be scouted <br />from river right <br />The piedra usually flows early in the spring and the window is short. Usually peaking during the second half of May. <br />f ; f-- J 'r:,rlj;, <br />The Durango play park is located in the town of Durango and starts at the Santa Rita Park and goes to just behind Four Corners River Sprorts <br />This park consists of multiply holes and waves that change with water flows. The canoists above are at the top of the run. Just below this wave is the <br />Smelter Wave /hole which was changed and seems to be not as good as it used to be. The third wave /hole is Corner Pocket. Corner Pocket gets really <br />good at 2,200cfs and up. The flow in these pictures is around 1,800cfs. depending on water levels. The Animas River has a good size drainage and <br />can flow as high as 7,000 cfs. <br />r ,.:. " <br />?i)a <br />Twenty four miles of continuous class IV whitewater in the heart of the San Juan Mountains. This run has a definite wilderness character but the <br />railroad runs up the valley providing convenient access for those who get in over their heads or for bringing in overnight gear and beverages. <br />The run starts in the old mining town of Silverton and then gradually builds as you head downstream. You'll find long rollercoaster rides of wave trains <br />with many holes to avoid. Most of the rapids are straightforward class IV and free of obvious hazards. Due to the continuous nature of the run and <br />challenge of rescue along with the very cold water temperature, swims can be serious. <br />Keep your eyes open for three major rapids. Garfield Slide, No Name Falls, and Broken Bridge, all can be scouted from river right and the railroad <br />tracks provides a convenient portage. After Broken Bridge you have several more miles of excellent and continuous whitewater. Once you reach the <br />Tacoma Power plant and the railroad trestle overhead you have three basic options: Paddle the Rockwood Box, a stout, two mile stretch of challenging <br />whitewater, take the train out, or hike out along the tracks. <br />If you're heading to Durango or other southwest rivers via Wolf Creek Pass, it is worth checking out little known Wolf Creek on the west -side of the <br />divide. Heading west near the bottom of the pass, a sweeping, right -hand hairpin crosses the culverted Wolk Creek. Keep your eyes open because it's <br />easy to miss. If you pass the Treasure Falls turnout you will have gone about a mile too far. A large pullout below the hairpin is your staging area. <br />Scramble down the steep embankment and have a look at the falls immediately below the culvert. This sloping 15- footer has a short landing pool, so <br />setting up safety is a good idea. Hike back up, cross the highway and put -in just upstream of the culvert. The "tunnel of love" is a dark 100 -feet that <br />ends with the falls. It's a rush! <br />Wood usually prohibits paddling the bony drops down about 100 yards to the next falls, so hike on the left. A perfect 20 -foot spout awaits. Multiple runs <br />on this stretches downstream, but it's mighty woody. Hike out the steep embankment on the river -left and head for you next southwest adventure. <br />Thanks to CRC for contributing this run. <br />Add Rivur <br />Page 2 of 2 <br />http:// www. eddyflower. com /RegionDetail.aspx ?RegionId =1 2/13/2007 <br />