South Platte River - Elevenmile

Description

Fun, generally easy Class IV run (if portaging the top and bottom Class V rapids) with rapids separated by calm stretches. AW claims 8 miles but may be a bit shorter, especially if skipping the big ones. Roadside the entire run so scouting is easy. Fee area to get into the canyon.

The bottom class V rapid is seen almost immediately after entering the canyon. The top Class V rapid has a fun Class IV lead in, and the whole rapid is quite long in length. At high water, the lack of eddies and long chaotic water makes flush drowning a very real possibility. Scout and set safety carefully. The rest of the run is road scoutable, read and run Class IV, with the only other spot deserving of a scout being a large, riverwide hole formed by a rock wall on river left and large boulders on river right forcing the river to constrict to a narrow slot. The hole is around a mile downstream if putting in below the top Class V rapid. It is easy to recognize and eddy out river right in the flatwater above. Below has a decent recovery pool and large river right eddy. At high water the line is enter left, drive right and boof avoiding the meat in the center and center-left. At low water the best line may be far left. Rumored to have come close to drowning several people. Another common put in is right below this hole if you're not feeling lucky. As often is the case, it boats easier than it looks.

Put in: Either put in above the top Class V or immediately below it. There are various pullouts, and a hiking trail down to the river just up the road of a tunnel you pass through. Or if skipping the hole, put in directly below in the large river right eddy.

Take out: Large meadow with parking area on left of road a short drive after passing the first Class V rapid. Scout the takout (obvious geological change from inside a gorge to being in a meadow) so you don't unexpectedly float into the bottom rapid as that would not end well for the unprepared paddler.