Brown's Canyon

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Category: Whitewater

Class: usually Class III

Flow: Can be run anywhere from 300 cfs to 5000 cfs. It hasn't gotten to 5000 cfs since 1995 and the most I ever boated it was 4250. It is very boney below 800 cfs, almost like a creek run. At about 1000 cfs it becomes pretty fun and stays that way until about 2200 cfs. Above 2200 cfs it becomes a lot more challenging but still alot of fun. At about 4000 cfs it starts to push a class IV and becomes pretty pushy and difficult to swim out of, should the need arise. In 1995 there were a few casualties on this section due to people underestimating the power of the water. As with all of the rivers in Colorado you will be boating on snowmelt so Spring is the high water season. There is some additonal water in this river that has been diverted from the western slope to feed the needs of the cities on the front range. The flow used to be gauranteed to be 1250+ cfs until August 15 but that may have changed recently.

Location:

Directions: From Colorado Springs head west on highway 24 until you reach Johnson Village. Turn South on highway 285 and head to an outfitter called River Runners. Turn into there but pass the outfitter. The next right is the first put-in: Fisherman's bridge. The second right is a dirt road that goes to the second put-in: Ruby-Mountain. Some poor fool thought that the mountain was full of Rubys and spent a long time mining there before he found out that they were merely garnets. Fisherman's bridge is where most of the commericial rafting companies put in and is often crowded. The second put-in is all private boater and has camping available.

The take out is South on 285, continue on the highway that you drove in on, for about 15 miles. There is a small sign next to the turn-in that says 'Hecla Junction' and is very easy to miss. The turn is to the left and you must go down a dirt road for about four miles. There is also camping here. There is another take-out further South on 285 but you must turn towards Salida and continue until you see a large green bridge and turn left (I think that it is called Big Bend or Stone Bridge).

Put in: Several, see directions.

Access rights: All of the put-ins and take-outs require a Colorado State Parks pass. They are either $2.00/day or $40.00/year.

Approx length:

Major hazards:

Description: This is the most rafted section of river in the United States.

The run starts with an extremely relaxing float into the canyon. The first rapid is called either Upper Canyon Door or Screen Door and is really just something to alert you to the start of the run. Immediately after that is the next rapid: either Lower Canyon Door or Storm Door. This is just a big wave to throw you off course as you enter the next rapid: Pinball. I have forgotten the names of the rapids between there and the next one: Zoom Flume. I have read a book that catagorizes it as a class IV but I don't know of anyone who thinks that. It is just a run right down the middle above 1200 cfs. Below that there is a rock, Pinacle Rock, that pokes up a little left of center. The most popular line is just to the right of that, but it can be run to the left as well. 'Colorado Whitewater Photography' is on a rock on river right and will take your picture for you. Contact them to purchase your pic if you like. Zoom tends to wash out at high water. There are some other rapids but the next big one is called Big Drop and it tends to get huge as the water level passes 2500cfs. The river bends to the right and it will push you to the left. The rock that causes the big drop is about 15-20 feet of the left hand bank. The safe line is to the left or right of the rock. The fun line is over the top, but you need to have some speed so that you don't get sucked backwards and recirculated.

There are some other rapids before the Staircase. It is not a hard section but it is continous. There are seven stairs one right after the other with 5 and 7 being the big ones. The last rapid is called Raft Ripper and has been known to remove the floor of a raft if you go over the top of it. Enter to the right and be prepared to move left fairly quickly. After that, if you are in a raft, you can teach your friends how to guide as there is nothing of consequence left. The take-out, Hecla Junction is on river right about 30 minutes downstream (at 2000 cfs).

If you are going on down to Stone Bridge then the next rapid is also the biggest: Sidel's Suckhole. This rapid is affectionately named 'The Sideways F---hole' and its name is well earned. Do not get sideways in here. The rock on river left moved in 1995 so it is possible to run the left side but it is tight. If you bump into the left you will most likely get pushed into the hole sideways and have to recover your crew. That is not really a bad thing as the river is exceptionally calm right after the rapid but the hole itself recirculated me 4-5 times when I was just learning to paddle. The last rapid (on the lower stretch) is called Twin Falls and is just two quick drops, not hard but don't stop paddling. The Stone Bridge take-out is on river right quite a distance down stream (that is why not many people do the bottom half) and has an outhouse that can easily be seen from the river.

The land in the canyon is mostly BLM, but the land at the top and bottom of the canyon is private property, and the residents don't like trespassers. If you run this river with a commercial outfitter they usually take out at Hecla for their half day trips, and Stone Bridge for their full day trips. If the water is high and you don't feel comfortable then there are many other sections that can be run on the Arkansas River; don't try this if you are not comfortable with it. And by all means be honest with your guide! In 1995 there was an overweight diabetic man that had heart surgery about six weeks prior to his trip and didn't tell anybody about his medical history. He fell out in the Stairs and died from a heart attack; there was no water in his lungs. The guides are good down there, but you may have to swim for a way before they can affect a rescue so be prepared for it. Early season runs have the best water but are cold, later season trips aren't as exciting but they are a lot more pleasent for the occasional rafter/kayaker.

External links: Colorado state parks - Brown's Canyon description