FRYINGPAN RIVER Upper Pan

Put-in	Norrie Colony
Takeout	Bridge
Length	3 miles (6 miles to Reudi)
Difficulty	<300 cfs	IV+
	300-600 cfs	V-
	> 600 cfs	V

Special Beta:            Long drive but high-quality IV+/V– creeking. Watch for logs.

Fun Factor:
Fear Factor:

Here is a personal favorite that lies high up in the beautiful valley above Reudi Reservoir. These upper reaches of the Fryingpan are nestled in a lush alpine setting of tall pines, rounded glacial boulders, and clear cold water. The whitewater is technical but not overly threatening, and you will almost surely have the river all to yourself.

There are some drawbacks, however, to this special Colorado whitewater experience. Getting to these waters requires a substantial bit of traveling. Even if you are holed up in Basalt, the nearest town to the Upper Pan, it will take nearly an hour of driving time just to get to the put-in. The other factor that really pulls this run’s teeth is the diversion that sucks Fryingpan River water over into the Arkansas basin for agricultural use. As part of the Hunter-Fryingpan Project, the Pan is partially de-watered much like the Upper Roaring Fork and boasts only a shadow of what must have been its former glory. Despite these drawbacks, the Upper Pan is an area classic at the grade and a run that is well worth its trouble.

Below the put-in bridge you enter a series of technical pool-drop rapids of a IV to IV+ nature. Quickly you discover the nature of this run: fast, technical, and loaded with potential pin spots. Though the rocks are generally rounded and forgiving, wood can manifest in particularly heinous ways. Careful boat scouting can help you avoid the worst of it, but beware of nasty, surprising placements.

About halfway down the upper section the North Fork of the Fryingpan comes in on the right, sometimes doubling the flow. The rapids become even more continuous below here. Though most of the drops are indistinct and run head on into the next, there is one particular spot on a left bend not far above the bridge that is probably the crux of the run.

Below this rapid the river goes down a straight stretch and bends right underneath a bridge (about three miles in the run). Most people nowadays takeout here. Some good class III-IV whitewater, however, still exists between here and the headwaters of the Reudi Reservoir where there is another excellent takeout. After all the driving, I would recommend either getting out at the bridge and driving back up to repeat on the cheddah, or continuing on down through more mellow boating to the lake and basking in the scene.

Getting There

 From Basalt take FR 105 27.5 miles past Reudi Reservoir on Fryingpan Road to the town of Norrie Colony. Pass the dam at mile 13.7 and the bridge at the inlet for the lake (possible takeout) at mile 21.8. Reach another bridge at mile 24.6. This is the takeout for the upper section only. Continue 2.7 miles further to Norrie Colony where you can park in a pull-out in a meadow. Hike to the creek and put-in anywhere downstream of a bridge.