East River - Gothic Bridge to Stupid Falls

Description

Pass the Crested Butte ski resort and drive up Gothic Road.  The put in is where the bridge crosses the East River.  Use the road on river left for the takeout.  Either drive a car up the dirt road or walk the shuttle.  This is considered the easiest of the four common Crested Butte creek runs.  At normal flows this tends to be class IV-IV+ in difficulty, but the steep gradient will likely intimidate a class IV boater.  It helps to see the drops run to see how smoothly they go.

This section changes character significantly at higher flows.  A recirculating eddy forms at the bottom of Midget Wrestler, as well as a sticky hole midway down the drop that I had the pleasure of swimming out of during a high water run.  The rapids on this run are fantastic at any water level, but disappointingly short.  Be sure to scout your takeout above Stupid Falls or you'll be sorry.  Stupid Falls gets run, but it's a serious drop with the potential to invoke some serious damage.  Take out on river left.  You can get out on river right, but it's a much more difficult climb out of the gorge.