COLORADO RIVER Shoshone

Put-in	Shoshone Powerplant
Takeout	Grizzly Creek
Length	1.6 miles
Difficulty	< 2,000 cfs	III
	2,000-5,000 cfs	III+
	5,000-10,000 cfs	IV
	> 10,000 cfs	IV+

Special Beta: Colorado big water with roadside access!

Fun Factor:
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At regular levels Shoshone is one of Colorado’s benchmark class III runs. Seen by millions and paddled by many, Shoshone is one of the busiest stretches of river in the state. Very few, however, would likely call Shoshone their favorite.

         
As a long-time local paddler who has paddle Shoshone more times that I could ever count and at almost every level between 400 and 10,000 cfs, I have a certain fondness for this run; it is where I honed many of my skills. Shoshone does, however, have a few detractors that keep it from being a classic. First, length. At just over a mile and half, Shoshone is simply too short. Second, visibility. With a bikepath, train tracks, and a four-lane interstate, it is often hard to remember how amazing and beautiful Glenwood Canyon is. The noise pollution is tremendous. Third, this run is busy. Hoards of boats do Shoshone and the sheer volume of rafts and kayaks can change the nature of your day. Shoshone does have some things going for it, however, that make up for some of its shortcomings. It has deep, quality class III whitewater with ample opportunities for play (though none too amazing). It has consistent flows that keep it running when all else has gone dry. It is a great place for the skill-advancing intermediate to sharpen their kayaking teeth and learn skills necessary for more technical whitewater. These factors alone will always guarantee this run’s

The All Day Wave on Shoshone

popularity.

After putting in at the boat ramp below Shoshone Powerplant, you paddle a short riffle (II) to a huge eddy on river right above the first rapid, Baptism (III-/III+). Before I get into describing the rapids themselves, it is worth noting a fact or two about said rapids’ names.

The name game in Shoshone is a complete mess. While each of the rapids, and even some of the individual holes, rocks and even eddies, have been named, there seems to be a great deal of confusion about these names. Kayakers might call a rapid one thing and rafters might call the same drop by yet another moniker. Certain rapids might have two or more differing names depending on who you talk to. This first rapid, for example, is usually called Baptism (III-/III+), but I have also heard it called Upper Superstition in certain guidebooks. Oh well, I will try to note this discrepancies as I go along.

Baptism is a straightforward rapid with a large wave train at the top that widens into runnout that is peppered by holes or rocks depending on the level. This rapid merges into the next at medium and high levels.

The river bends hard right below Baptism and enters Tuttle’s Tumble (III/IV), which I have also heard called Lower Superstition. Tuttle’s features a large table rock in the center of the river that forms a big and trashy hole above 4,500 cfs or so. A river-right chute is the usual route around this obstacle. Move either left or right below Tuttle’s to avoid two off-set rocks at low water (the Olsen Twins) which turn into a huge, trashy hole at higher levels (Marty’s Diner). Immediately below Marty’s is a rocky runnout called Pinball Alley (II+/III) with a few sharp moves around small but troublesome rocks/holes. A big eddy on the left below provides a good place to stop before the next rapid.

Next up is The Wall (III/IV) one of the more distinct and fun rapids of the run. While almost everyone agrees that this rapid is called The Wall (named for a retaining wall on river left) I have seen it listed as China Wall in several publications. The river bends right through The Wall and crashed through a series of big waves and holes. Most boats enter left to miss two ledgy holes and pull right to miss a rock/hole at bottom-left of the drop. The slot between the two holes at the top is also a common gate for entry and shortens the pull right, making it especially popular for heavy rafts. Many rafts have flipped, however, flubbing this entry move and dropping into either of the two holes. Above 4,000 cfs these holes are powerful. Above 8,000 cfs they are basically washed out.

Below The Wall is a large eddy on river left followed by a short drop that forms a surf wave at lower levels. This drop is often called the All-Day Wave by kayakers, a named from a different era that seems almost comical now. In the days of the 8-foot playboat we used to front surf/flat spin here for hours. Nowadays it’s probably only good for a carve or two before moving on. I have heard this rapid called Bonehead and even, ugh, Upper Superstition in certain circles. This short class II is washed out above 3,000 cfs.

Below the All-Day Wave the river constricts and bends slightly left through a short rapid sometimes called Lower Superstition. I prefer to think of this rapid as the first part of Tombstone, as problems here often lead to problems in Tombstone immediately downstream. At higher water the two drops are intimately connected. A huge crashing wave forms here above 4,000 cfs or so and the undercut formed by the bikepath at high water on the right is a particularly dangerous place for swimmers.

In my opinion, Tombstone (III+/IV) is the crux rapid of the run, and the only one where everyone seems to agree on the name. A tall, sharp rock left of center distinguishes the hardest move. This rock combine with a steep pourover/hole to its right barrs easy passage. At low water rafts generals go right of the hole and cut back left to miss a pesky pinspot. Kayakers, on the other hand, usually take a whooshing slot between the tombstone and the hole and avoid the pinspot completely. At high water you must wiggle between two very large holes. The pointed rock starts to go under at about 6,000 cfs.

After Tombstone the river calms in a large pool sometimes called Cottonmouth Alley by raft guides. At highwater the river remains fast through here. The last rapid, Maneater (III/IV) has a reputation as the run’s hardest, but in truth it's straightforward. This reputation comes from the fact that some of the biggest waves of the run are found here. Maneater is straightforward to run, however, and flushy. A flip here should deposit you in calmer water downstream, making this one of the better places to experience carnage. Busting a big wave 2/3rds of the way down keeps the commercial rafters wet and smiling. A large ledge hole far left above 5,000 cfs is probably this rapid's most dangerous hazard. Unfortunately, Maneater was listed as Superstition Rapid in Dave Eckhardt and Gordon Banks 2^nd edition of Colorado Rivers and Creeks.

Below Maneater a half mile of easier water (II-) brings you to the popular Grizzly Creek boatramp.