Saint Vrain Creek, South

02. Narrows(SSV)

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DifficultyV+
Length6.6 mi
Avg Gradient248 fpm
GaugeSouth Saint Vrain Near Ward
Flow Rate as of 6 hours
30 cfsbelow recommended
Reach Info Last UpdatedDecember 12, 2018

River Description

Colorado road side mank at its finest, with a unique touch.

This tall roadside canyon comes complete with multiple put-in and take-out options for variable spice factor; boasting hairy cascades and gnarly ledges to keep you on your toes the whole way down.

After driving three miles towards Allenspark, from Lyons on highway 7 you'll come around a corner and see a roughly five foot spout drop, this is 1in5.

Use the large dirt pull off next to the rapid as a take out.  A large cotton wood tree acts a good marker from river level, if you wish to take out above this one.

It's a good idea to scout this one. Safety is recommended.

The main line on 1in5 is off the left, a good right stroke will bring you home. This drop becomes substantially meatier above 400 cfs. The right side acts as a potential sneak at these levels. If water is running over the rock on river left, it may be a good idea to take out above.

This rapid is ideal for lapping. Get creative with put in methods.

It is important to be aware of the cave on the river right side of the pool, created by the boulder that creates the two channels. Too date no person has been stuck in that room, several boats have though. They where in there for quite awhile.

For the put in, drive about a mile and a half up the road, coming around another bend you'll see Jihad, a steep and manky drop, with an out of play log in the middle of two pinches.  Use the first pull off on the right directly adjacent to the drop. Gear up and scout.

There are several put ins depending on how high you want to walk up. Hiking up the shoulder will bring you to a very steap cascading section, barreling around a sheer corner: The Narrows. If this looks like your jam, keep hiking. If not, put in below all that nastiness. Be aware, put in spots are loose at best.

The top of the Narrows is marked by a river wide ledge drop with a dynamic lip.  This is the one and only, Hot Donna. After runni

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River Features

Hot Donna

Class: VDistance: 0 mi
Waterfall / Large Drop
Hot Donna

The enteracne drop of the Narrows.

Hershey Squirt

Class: IVDistance: 0.2 mi
Hershey Squirt

If narrows doesnt look appealing, putting in above this class IV hydrolic is common.

1in5

Class: VDistance: 2 mi (approx.)
Take Out
Waterfall / Large Drop
1in5

The odds against you are 1 in 5. Cool smooth bedrock drop, Class V.

Big right Boof.

Beware the cave on river right in the pool.


SH
Spencer Huff

Aug 14, 2017


Right line on 1in5, often ran as a sneak

SH
Spencer Huff

Aug 14, 2017


Bad Cat, the third rapid when putting in below the narrows.

SH
Spencer Huff

Aug 14, 2017


Gettin risky on 1in5

SH
Spencer Huff

Aug 14, 2017


The bottom half of Jihad

BA
Brian Adkins

Jun 17, 2004


Bottom half of Jihad

BA
Brian Adkins

Jun 17, 2004


This drop looks ugly but is really the easiest to run in Big Narrows...
Great boof to the right as the creek falls to the left.
Great boof in the center channel, left channel goes too...
This is the last drop, and the one most often portaged. It looks super ugly but runs sorta clean, there are a variety of lines and theories about how best to run it. Most will get stuck in the hole at the bottom for a short but usually painless ride.

BA
Brian Adkins

Jan 1, 1900


This is the start of the 'core' run that has the best concentration of steep drops.
Great boof at the entrance, manky second half.
The most technical drop of the run
One of the best rapids of the run, and one of the longest.
Get out here if you've been getting worked. If you want more challenge, continue downstream...