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Daisy Creek - 01. 40' Waterfall to confluence with Slate River
Daisy Creek, Colorado, US |
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01. 40' Waterfall to confluence with Slate River
| Usual Difficulty | V (for normal flows) |
|---|---|
| Length | 1 Miles |
| Avg. Gradient | 290 fpm |
| Max Gradient | 290 fpm |
Canoe on Big Wood Falls
Canoe on Big Wood Falls
Photo by unknown taken 02/17/11
Gauge Information
| Name | Range | Difficulty | Updated | Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SLATE RIVER NEAR CRESTED BUTTE, CO | ||||
| usgs-09111500 | 400 - 2000 cfs | V | cfs | |
River Description
Easier that OBJ, but steeper than the Slate or East rivers, Daisy Creek is fun as hell!
Ed Hanson's Web Gallery has some great shots of Big Wood Falls and Rip Your Head Off.
To get there: Take a left and cross the Slate before reaching Pittsburg. This crossing is much shallower than at the OBJ; I've seen a Subaru AWD and an Audi Quattro make it across, but the same risks apply. Make sure it isn't deep enough to suck water into your engine. There is some private property near the creek so please respect no trespassing signs. About a mile up the road you may notice a faint trail leading to the left, or a rock ledge that continues level. Take this to get to the put-in. Hike down to the base of the 40' waterfall, the drop just below it is clogged with wood so you may want to put in below it too. Take out before the confluence with the Slate if you don't plan on running it also.
The Quadruple Crown: Because of the short length and proximity of the Crested Butte creeks, all four of them can be run in the same day. The East River is the best to start out with; it has the largest flow and the least gradient of the four. Next in line is Daisy Creek. Just continue downstream after Daisy to the confluence with the Slate River; there will be about 1/2 mile of slack water until the first rapid. The takeout for the Slate River is the same as Oh Be Joyful Creek, so just walk or drive up to the OBJ put-in from there.
Rapid Summary
| Mile | Rapid Name | Class | Features (Legend) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | First series of slides | 5.0 |    |
| 0.5 | Big Wood Falls | 5.0 |  |
| 0.8 | Rip Your Head Off | 5.0 |  |
Rapid Descriptions
Put-in below the 40' waterfall and the logjam just below it. This is an easy series of slides, but be aware that a one has a bad piton and strainers are everywhere.
Canoe on Big Wood Falls
Canoe on Big Wood FallsThis is the big signature drop of the run. It's an easy 15' waterfall, but the landing zone is shallow and there is a log jam that extends 3/4 across the river.
Rip Your Head Off
Rip Your Head OffThis one sneaks up on you. After Big Wood Falls the gradient eases off and things appear to be mellowing out, and then the bottom drops out from under you on a blind corner. The bottom cascade in this rapid has an hourglass constriction that has jagged rocks on the left side. You can boat it straight down the gut and just keep your hands and paddle to the right. Takeout right away downstream if you're not planning on running the Slate River.
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Associated News
01. 40' Waterfall to confluence with Slate River, Daisy Creek Colorado, US (mobile)