FRYINGPAN RIVER Lower Pan

Put-in	Seven Castles
Takeout	Basalt
Length	7 miles
Difficulty	250-500 cfs	IV-
	500-1,000 cfs	IV
	> 1,000 cfs	IV+

Special Beta: Good intro to creek boating, but beware of wood!

Fun Factor:
Fear Factor:

The Lower Pan is an excellent off-the-beaten path run with beautiful scenery, easy access, and surprising high-class whitewater. Though meager releases from Reudi Reservoir often choke the life right out of the Lower Pan, I rarely miss an opportunity to paddle this section when the water level rises.

Driving up from Basalt to the put-in you will be able to see much of this run. Beware, however, of spots where the river lies away from the road, as this run does have a way of accumulating some gnarly log placements. The crux rapid, just below a pull-out 2/3rds of the way through the run, is partially visible from the road, but you must use the pullout to see it all. This rapid is long and a bit technical and swimming anywhere on this creek is ill-advised. I have seen swamped kayaks lost here.

The slide just below the put-in

The usual put-in is just above an obvious slide that is clearly visible from the road. There is a good pull-off here to park your car and gear up. Though the slide looks big from the road, it paddles fairly easy. Dodge a hole at the top and stay upright and you will be fine (III+/IV-). A couple of quick, semi-technical rapids come in quick succession. Beware of log placements in these tight, bony drops. Not far downstream the river enters a zone where a large mudslide five-ten years ago completely re-channeled the river. Now the creek has been diverted into a grove of trees. Beware of strainers here until the stream is able to re-establish its channel.

A long stretch of II-III whitewater follows with fun turns and good eddies. Always be alert for possible strainers. After a couple of miles the river mellows out and you pass some very beautiful homes along the riverbanks. There is a possible river access on the right at a large right-hand meander. As you come out of this turn you enter the crux rapid.

You come around a right-hand turn and the rapid will come into view. It is a good idea to eddy out here. This rapid is probably best pre-scouted from the pullout as you run the shuttle, and might be worth a look for those uncomfortable with class IV. Though the rapid itself is only IV- (except possibly at high water when it is more difficult) the bony streambed makes for gnarly consequences in the event of catastrophe. The river drops down a straightforward chute with large waves then bends left and tumbles through a series of small ledges and holes. A pinrock here or there spices things further. Things taper slowly but remain vigorous for a few corners before mellowing. A sharp drop just as the canyon opens up and you start to enter Basalt, however, can spank you if you are off-guard. This rapid is particularly treacherous at high water (III+/IV).

The Pan mellows as it rolls through Basalt. The takeout at 7-11 in on river left just below the river empties into the Roaring Fork.

GETTING THERE

The takeout is in Basalt just off Highway 82 at a dirt boat ramp next to the 7-11 store. To reach the put-in, head upstream on the Fryingpan Road 4.2 miles from Basalt towards Reudi Reservoir at a dirt pullout next to an obvious slide rapid. The pull-out next to the crux rapid is found 1.8 miles up Fryingpan from the 4-way intersection with Two Rivers Road.