ROARING FORK RIVER Slaughterhouse

Put-in	Cemetery Lane
Takeout	Jaffey Park
Length	4.5 miles
Difficulty	< 700 cfs	IV-
	700-1,500 cfs	IV
	1,500 cfs-3,000 cfs	IV+
	> 3,000 cfs	V

Special Beta: Classic class IV

Fun Factor:
Fear Factor:

The Slaughterhouse Run on the Upper Roaring Fork is one of the best runs in Roaring Fork Valley and the entire state. The scenery combined with pleasant class IV whitewater weaving through rounded, glacial boulders make this one of the best stretches for the grade around.

First timers may want to pre-scout the first rapid, Entrance Exam (IV/V-), which comes quick upon putting in. This technical rapid is one of the run’s cruxes and has a long runout. Weave through some entrance boulders to a slot river left. A small two-boat eddy exists on the left at the top of this slot. Move right through this slot to avoid a punchy hole. The river widens and becomes shallow before plunging around a tight corner with some holes at Lower Entrance (III+/IV). The river winds through some high-quality boogie water for the next half-mile (III/IV-).

After an exciting corner, the river mellows briefly and bends to the right. At the end of a brief straight stretch alongside some crusty, shale cliffs on river left, the river turns abruptly left and disappears over a steep horizon line. You have arrived at Slaughterhouse Falls (IV/V-).

Slaughterhouse Falls, often called simply “The Falls,” is usually the psychological crux of the run and is one of the few places where you can really get whooped. Since this is a semi-regular occurrence, the Falls has a certain reputation amongst skill-advancing boaters.

In essence there is three ways to run the Falls: boofing far left, find a plume left of center, or far right at medium/high water. The far left boof is usually only done at low water. As the flow rises an eddy in the landing zone pulls with increasing vigor back towards the falls. Improper landing angle can quickly lead to an unpleasant thrashing in a sticky seam. The center “jet” line is most common between about 600 cfs and 1,300 cfs. Here, a weakness in the ledge offers a safe, albeit thin, ramp between the eddy far left and the sticky hole backed up by rock in the middle. As the flow rises, a far right line opens up. The right line uses a ramp to skirt a wicked hole/rooster tail over a steep double-drop to the eddy below. It looks impossible from upstream but proves surprisingly easy. Don’t over-paddle and go too far right or risk smashing into several ugly concrete blocks dumped along shore here.

Just below the Falls, the river widens and gets shallow. Sometimes detritus from the less-than-successful gets beached here. Maroon Creek enters on the left and the river drops over a short, steep weir with some possible pin spots. It’s not hard but hard to see over. Usually the better lines are fairly far left or right.

Below the weir it’s boogie time. The next few corners boast a series of fun III+/IV- rapids. The sequence directly upstream and beneath a low bridge can be exciting at high water. Gradually, the whitewater tapers off to a calm section as the river bends around the wastewater treatment facility. Some big homes can be seen up on the canyon rim above you.

The whitewater resumes after a big, left bend, and you negotiate a series of swooshing s-curves with big haystacks. After this initial rapid you enter a swift straight stretch. A good eddy and a low-water playspot make an enticing spot to break on river right in this area. Here kayakers can sidesurf, cartwheel, and loop or just rest before launching into the crux of the lower section which is not far below.

The next significant rapid is S-Turn, also called Hell’s Half Mile by some raft companies. In my opinion S-Turn is the technical crux of the entire run, especially at high water. I find it longer and more involved than Entrance Exam and far more sustained than Triple Drop. While there is nothing as singularly dangerous as Slaughterhouse Falls, it is a finesse rapid with a zigzagging line and no real way to sneak the crux moves and plenty of opportunities for punishment. It also has a long, bruising runout. In fact, S-Turn has no distinct beginning or end; it is really just an amplification in the midst of a long, continuous section. The rapids gradually stiffen and draw you into the crux before you realize what is happening. At medium and high water, it reminds me somewhat of Kirschbaum’s on Gore Canyon in terms of length and character.

Below S-Turn the river remains swift and passes through several IV- and IV corners and rapids. Two distinctly treacherous drops back to back, which are troublesome and even named in some circles, followed by big turn and huge eddy river left signal the last major rapid, Triple Drop (IV/IV+).

Triple Drop is technical and difficult to see over. The best line is not always apparent from the eddy above. I scouted it once (river left) at high water when I was alone after a buddy to a gnarly beating in S-Turn and lost his boat. At low to medium levels the line is right of center moving quickly left, hooking in behind a roostertail to avid a series of crunchy holes. One can vaguely guess what might constitute the three parts to Triple Drop. The usual line is a tight, class IV move, and while the consequences of failure are not dire they are…uncomfortable.

Below Triple Drop the river continues to roll with many indistinct III+ to IV- rapids. Gradually the difficulty tapers off. About half a mile above the takeout the river bends right and passes Hawaii Five-O, a shallow surf wave river left backed up by the last taste of IV-ish whitewater. The corner on river left just downstream of the surf wave is particularly deceptive and treacherous at higher flows. Surfs up!

The river mellows to class II/II+ below here. Rafts usually use the boatramp at the upstream end of Jaffey Park. For kayakers, however, it is easier to continue around the corner to a small eddy on the right within sight of the Upper Woody Creek Bridge. There is a good, short trail here directly to the vehicles. 

LINKS
Slaughterhouse Helmet Cam Guide- check out this helmet cam guide for a detailed look at the major rapids of this run from a kayaker's perspective.