Boulder Creek, South, Colorado, US

02. Pinecliffe to Gross Mountain Reservoir (USB)

Pinecliffe view downstream

Pinecliffe view downstream
Photo of From HWY 72 bridge in Pinecliffe by Craig Irwin taken 05/09/05 @ 170 cfs

Gauge Information

River Description

Craig Irwin

The Upper South Boulder, an unforgiving, beautiful section of in-your-face bit of Colorado Class V.

The chill flat pace of the creek in Pinecliffe is not what awaits you around the corner downstream.

USB has an uncharacteristic section of water at put-in with a concrete channel piping you straight into the first snaking Class V rapid.

Trainspotting:  Entering this drop from the center and snaking your way left to stay off the sharp and blasted rock from the right wall proves about a 30' drop in as many feet downstream. 

(There was a 20 foot long steel ibeam pointing upriver in the middle drop, rumors say that Aaron W. talked to the boys at the railroad and had it removed, but I have not been able to visually clear this hazard. Word is that its gone... but...)

After Trainspotting, you get a brief chance to collect pieces and parts.  

In the area after Trainspotting, be sure that your crew is in good communication and in tight formation with a plan to catch the eddies on the right after the creek entrance on river right.

The run gets remote quickly after the water runs directly into a wall on river left at the Gash.

( P )* Portage river right.

While there, please pay respects to a fellow Colorado legendary boater, Paul Zirkelbach whom lost his life here. 

Do not attempt to run the Gash under any circumstances. 

Within one mile of put-in two Class V rapids with dire consequence keep your attention on the USB.

Keep your eyes open on this run, the Puma calls this turf home.

The run has a few eddies and some must make moves.

This not a run for anyone less than a seasoned Class V Colorado hair-boater.

The remainder of the run has more hair and loads of unique features, good beefy ledges and tight twisting Colorado creekin'.

The take out is a long haul across Gross Reservoir.

Expect a busy day on the river, and don't be surprised if somebody looses some gear on this run.

To Get There: The put-in is at Pinecliffe on Highway 72(Coal Creek Canyon). To get to the takeout take Hwy 72 from the metro area, at Crescent Village turn right. Take 77S Road down to the reservoir, and then follow signs to the "Inlet Parking".

For descriptions of Colorado runs, see Whitewater of the Southern Rockies by Stafford and McCutchen, or Colorado Rivers and Creeks by Banks and Eckert.

Lat/longitude coords are approximate, from TopoZone.

The various reaches of Boulder Creek,
Jasper Creek (Class V+/VI),
The Source (Class V),
Upper Boulder Canyon (Class V/V+),
Lower Boulder Canyon (Class IV),
Boulder Town Run (Class II/III),
North Fork Boulder (Class V+/VI),
Alto-Alto (Class IV),
Upper South Boulder (Class V+/VI),
Lower South Boulder (Class IV/V+/VI),
Eldorado Canyon (Class V+).