MAIN ELK CREEK Main Elk Canyon

Put-in	Calm water above five-foot waterfall
Takeout	bridge (watch for private property)
Length	2 miles
Difficulty	Low water	IV (P)
	High water	V+

Special Beta: Colorado big water with roadside access!

Fun Factor:
Fear Factor:

Here is an exploratory run that I was curious about for a long time and finally paddled in 2003. For years, I eyed the Main Elk as it coursed through New Castle, wondering if somewhere along its length there was potential for kayaking. Certainly the Elk has more then enough water, almost a thousand cfs in a big year, it seemed reasonable that some runnable whitewater might exist. Then, in 2003, I discovered this stretch while on a hike and was intrigued by the scenery, and the suprisingly good whitewater within.

Mushroom Rapid

All things consdiered, the Main Elk would be a viable run if it weren't for one crucial problem: access. The best whitewater is on public land but requires a hike of about a mile to get to. Since the private land surrounding the run is very exposed, and littered with fences and wood to portage, it is unlikely that you would be able to secretly descend. Were it not for such strictly guarded access, many other options would be available for paddling along this creek.

The riverbed itself is surprisingly clean (in 2008 no portages were necessary though a few trees needed to be be snuck or ducked) and consists of up to a mile and half of continuous class IV/V. If the juicy section were just a little longer or a little steeper, this run would be well worth the trouble.

Your day begins with a hike up Hadley Gulch Trail, around the private property, and into the canyon section on public land. Make sure to take a left when the trail forks off. About half a mile into your hike, the trail returns to creekside and the canyon walls close in. At high water, a stretch of the trail where it nears some cliffs will be well under water. If the water is knee deep here than it is probably too high. Scout as you hike to check for logs and see the tight, twisting, lines that you will need to negotiate. It is quality single-track creekin' in a beautiful alpine setting. Just passed the narrow portion of the trail near the cliffs, you will ascend a somewhat strenuous hill. Not far above this is the beginning of the meat. Scout this first series of rapids carefully! Put-in above the crux, where the river is calm and flat, and get warmed up. Once the rapids begin, they never slow down again!

The Triangle

The first drop is The Triangle, a small vert somewhat reminscent of Water Slide on Escalante Creek. Boof this five foot drop vigorously in the center to avoid ugly pinspots on both sides. Due to the consequences, and difficulty to execute the boof properly, this might be a class V drop. Eyeing the undercut pinspot suspiciously, we chose to portage. Just downstream is a sweeping, fun set of rapids and corners (beware of wood). At high water this section is a shotgun blast. The first ledge drops into a powerful hole and sneaks on either side lead to more problems. At these levels the whole stretch is probably class V+. Before long, the canyon walls close in, and you paddle through one of the more scenic parts of the river. A few swift corners later and you will land in the eddy above the crux rapid, Mushroom Rock (look for the huge mushroom shaped rock mid-channel). Mushy is a short, technical plunge with some potentially ugly lines. At high water a potential sneak opens up on the left though getting there is not as easy as it looks. The main line down the right picks its way through some sharp rocks and drops over an angled five-foot ledge that pushes you towards a cliff. At high water this ledge is shorter but the hole is really trashy. Just downstream is a small, runnable weir with a diversion intake and a potential pinspot.

Below Mushroom and the diversion drop, you are entering private land and are faced with a tough decision. You haven't been in your boat long and hiked a long way to get here, so getting out already is not an attractive option. But if you proceed any further, you will be entering private property with no legal option for exit until much further downstream (about seven miles). It is another half mile with some more decent III/IV whitewater to get down to the bridge where your car awaits, but the further you go, the deeper into private property you get. It is unclear how the landowners feel about kayakers, but judging by the numerous signs, they are serious about keeping their land private. We chose to paddle a short ways into the private property zone and discreetly portage our way back to the takeout. As you hike out you will catch glimpses of some interesting looking whitewater below, but are forbidden from further exploration by the private property.

There it is. Why write such a long description for such a mediocore run? Well, after all the work we put in to explore this drainage, I almost felt obligated to write it up. This will never be a good run. The access issues, unfortunately, are the big spoiler here. Were things different (perhaps with permission from the landowner?) this little creek would be well worth the effort. But it is there, and for those with an adventurous spirit, a taste for masochism, and a desire to see something far off the beaten track, the Main Elk might be for you.