Cache La Poudre, CO

Lower Narrows

Lower Narrows
Photo of Tom Carter by Brian Gardel

River Description

The Narrows of the Poudre can be broken down into 3 different sections with markedly different personalities...

The "Upper" section consists of 3 tough drops: Super Collider(V), Cabbage Shredder(IV), and Whiteline(V). These drops are back to back and easily scouted from the road, just be carefull because there really isn't much of a shoulder and lots of traffic! Amazingly just a few years ago the Upper Narrows, particularily Whiteline Rapid, were considered deadly class VI rapids.

The "middle" section is good all-around class IV, and is great for those who want to add a little more class IV mileage to the Upper Mishawaka run, just don't forget to portage Lower Narrows!

Just below the bridge is the "Lower" section, which consists of one big burly "classic" class V. There is a messy rock jumble at the bottom of this rapid to give you incentive to stay on line!

Check out the locals view of the Narrows at coloradokayaking.com

To get there: The put-in for the Upper Narrows is at the Narrows Campground. For the Middle Narrows put-in at the base of Whiteline(the really steep constricted rapid), or just down stream at the sharp corner. The take-out is at Stevens Gulch Access, a very nice improved picnic area/launch site with changing rooms.

See Colorado Rivers and Creeks II, by Banks and Eckardt (The Bible), for info on this and most of the other kewl runs of Colorado.

Lat/longitude coords are approximate, from TopoZone.

See also,

Big South (Class V/VI),
Joe Wright Creek (Class V),
Spencer Heights (Class V/VI),
South Fork (Class IV/V),
White Mile Run/Upper Rustic (Class III),
Grandpa's Gorge/Lower Rustic (Class III/IV),
The Narrows (Class IV/V/V+),
Upper Mishawaka (Class III/IV),
Lower Mishiwaka (Class III),
Poudre Park (Class IV),
Bridges (Class III/IV),
Upper North Fork (Class IV/V),
Lower North Fork (Class II/III), and
Filter Plant (Class III).