| Put-in | South Canyon | |
| Takeout | New Castle | |
| Length | 6 miles | |
| Difficulty | < 2,500 cfs | II+ |
| 2,500-5,000 cfs | III- | |
| 5,000-10,000 cfs | III | |
| > 10,000 cfs | III+ |
Fun Factor:
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This novice/intermediate section of river is even less
frequently paddled than Two Rivers to South Canyon above it. Despite this,
however, it is a worthy run for the advanced beginner or intermediate paddler. Mellow
water peppered with several stiffer corners define this run.
Below the boatramp at South Canyon you enter a long, calm stretch good for warming up. The canyon is tight here and you are still in the burned-out remnants of two major forest fires (the 2002 Coal Seam and the 1994 Storm King). After the calm straightaway the river bends right into a long, mellow riffle (II-/II) with some big rocks along the right bank. The river calms below this drop and bends left. A horizon line emerges in front of you marking a short, steep drop sometimes called Landslide (II+/III-) Mudslides after the Storm King Fire added rocks to the river here, making the rapid significantly harder. A chute on the right is obstructed by large crashing waves at high water and the left is steep and hard to see over. Several possible chutes exist as well as several holes that could munch an offline kayaker or tuber.
The action is short-lived and the river mellows below this point. A dangerous railroad bridge, however, just above the confluence of Canyon Creek is treacherous at highwater. The best way is not always obvious from above, but most boaters split the two pylons.
Below the bridge Canyon Creek
enters on the right (possible river access). Two mellow but interesting rapids
follow, one with a surprising hole at low water that seems to draw
inexperienced boaters like a magnet (II+). After this the river calms as it
passes under the former site of a pipe bridge long used by local high school
kids for jumping. A few years back the old pipe bridge fell into the river. The
river bends right below here into a stout riffle we used to call “Jurassic
Park” for its proximity to Dinosaur Hole (II/II+).
Said Dinosaur Hole is a short ways downstream next to a fenced-in Dinosaur Quarry. The quarry contains a stegosaurus but was fenced off due to the presence of low-grad radioactive material. The rapid is short but contains a monstrous hole in the center above ~10,000 cfs. Most boaters skirt the hole to the right where big waves form at high water (II/III). Tibbets Landing, a popular river access, is just downstream on the right.
Below Tibbets, the river becomes even more mellow. While much of this section is highly visible from I-70, this stretch is even less-frequently paddled. The river bends right below Tibbets and enters a long riffle with some basement rock ledges about midway down that form some ledgy waves at medium levels (II/II+). A long calm stretch follows.
After going underneath a bridge in New Castle, the river enters one last rapid immediately above the takeout. This tricky drop has some medium-sized hole in the main channel and some sneaky rocks to avoid (II+). The takeout is at a boat ramp just downstream.
Below the boatramp at South Canyon you enter a long, calm stretch good for warming up. The canyon is tight here and you are still in the burned-out remnants of two major forest fires (the 2002 Coal Seam and the 1994 Storm King). After the calm straightaway the river bends right into a long, mellow riffle (II-/II) with some big rocks along the right bank. The river calms below this drop and bends left. A horizon line emerges in front of you marking a short, steep drop sometimes called Landslide (II+/III-) Mudslides after the Storm King Fire added rocks to the river here, making the rapid significantly harder. A chute on the right is obstructed by large crashing waves at high water and the left is steep and hard to see over. Several possible chutes exist as well as several holes that could munch an offline kayaker or tuber.
The action is short-lived and the river mellows below this point. A dangerous railroad bridge, however, just above the confluence of Canyon Creek is treacherous at highwater. The best way is not always obvious from above, but most boaters split the two pylons.
|
| Surfing South Canyon circa 2004 |
Said Dinosaur Hole is a short ways downstream next to a fenced-in Dinosaur Quarry. The quarry contains a stegosaurus but was fenced off due to the presence of low-grad radioactive material. The rapid is short but contains a monstrous hole in the center above ~10,000 cfs. Most boaters skirt the hole to the right where big waves form at high water (II/III). Tibbets Landing, a popular river access, is just downstream on the right.
Below Tibbets, the river becomes even more mellow. While much of this section is highly visible from I-70, this stretch is even less-frequently paddled. The river bends right below Tibbets and enters a long riffle with some basement rock ledges about midway down that form some ledgy waves at medium levels (II/II+). A long calm stretch follows.
After going underneath a bridge in New Castle, the river enters one last rapid immediately above the takeout. This tricky drop has some medium-sized hole in the main channel and some sneaky rocks to avoid (II+). The takeout is at a boat ramp just downstream.
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