Taylor,

01. Taylor Park Reservoir to Almont

Usual Difficulty	II-IV (may vary with level)
Length	18 Miles

Gauge Information

Name	Range	Difficulty	Updated	Level
TAYLOR RIVER AT ALMONT, CO.
usgs-09110000	280 - 1000 cfs	II-IV	00h54m	cfs

River Description

The Taylor is a stunning river; beautiful alpine scenery, a boulder strewn course through the pines and lots of whitewater at different levels.
The great thing about the Taylor is that you can pick your poison. The top reasonably boatable section (there are serious access problems above here) begins at Lottus Creek Campground. The first rapid; Lottus Creek, appears immediately. It is a long class IV boulder garden. Next comes several miles of rock gardens alternating with more placid sections. Todd's Slot is the best known drop on the river and is a technical class IV- or IV rapid. It is a bit complex and has killed so take a look.
Below Todd's slot are miles of beautiful continous class III mountain water to the takeout by the Bridge right above a resort (can't remember the name).
Below this bridge to Almont the river steadly decreases in gradient until it is a placid class II stream where it meets the East River at Almont to form the Gunnison.
The top miles below Lottus Creek drop at about 80 fpm with the gradient steadly decreasing to 20 fpm at Almont.
I have been paddling it for about 15 years. My sense of the river in the early days was often: "oh damn! If this gets any harder I am screwed!" but it just never got above that point.
This is a trophy trout stream so it has constant releases all summer to maintain the fishery. Watch for wood, espicialy given the fast pace of the water. Most of my runs have involved at least one portage because of lumber in the river.
There are serious access issues because of all the big trout fisherman houses along the banks but access is certainly possible at several good locations.
The Taylor is a superb Beginner (near Almont), intermediate (below Todd's slot) and advanced (from Lottus Creek) river and will have water when most everything else is dry.