CRYSTAL RIVER Bogan to Redstone

Put-in	Yule Quarry Bridge in Marble
Takeout	Bogan Flats Campground or Redstone
Length	5 miles
Difficulty	< 500 cfs	III
	500 to 1,200 cfs	III+
	> 1,200 cfs	IV

Special Beta: Colorado big water with roadside access!

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Bogan Canyon does not get very much attention these days for several reasons. For one, at the grade (III+/IV-) Bogan, like much of the Crystal, has stout consequences and therefore isn’t very intermediate friendly. It is not a good place to swim. Nasty log hazards often exist that can be hard to see in the turbulent, continuous whitewater that defines much of this river. By the time a boater is confident in their abilities enough to be able to deal with the objective hazards that this run presents, usually they will be off on Slaughterhouse or some other run of a higher quality.

Should you decide, whether for the scenery or just out of pure curiosity, that you want to tackle Bogan Canyon, expect a lot of indistinct class III whitewater with fast corners and occasional wood hazards. About

The Crystal River at the confluence of Hayes Creek

two-thirds of the way in you pass under a bridge (possible RIVER ACCESS) and enter Bogan Canyon proper. Here the road leaves the riverside for a while. If you are nervous about strainers, you may want to do a hike/pre-scout of this gorge before you put-in. Once in the canyon proper things move along fast and eddies become spaced, making scouting and/or portaging difficult in the event of a nasty log placement.

After a few swift, semi-challenging corners (III+/IV-) the river leaves this short canyon behind and starts to open up. The water remains fast, however, and the possibility for wood persists. You reach the Bogan Flats campground on the left. If you want to pay a day use fee you can park here or you can park up on the road and carry your stuff out at the end if you are a cheapskate. If you are looking for a developed place to camp, this is a good spot, though there is the usual BLM type fee.