Saint Vrain Creek, South,

01. Ceran St. Vrain TH to Confluence (Upper SSV)

Usual Difficulty	V+ (may vary with level)
Length	5.5 Miles
Avg. Gradient	230 fpm
Max Gradient	414 fpm

River Description

This is an obscure Class V+/VI- wilderness run. It has been paddled a couple of times but has never seen regular use. Mostly I am putting this in the AW database to bring attention to that fact that it exists and maybe that will help it get cleared of wood. Also, if this has enough water the lower section definately would have enough and they could be combined for 10 continuous miles of Class V creeking! The shuttle is super easy, and the run will definately get enough water in a decent year (probably 300cfs+ or so at peak), although I have no idea what would constitute a good level. The rapids at the put-in and soon after look promising, but then the gradient peters out and there is lots of wood, much of it put there as bridges by fishermen. Soon after the trail leaves the creek the gradient will pick up to continuos Class IV, with lots of wood, for about a mile. There will be a very short calm strech before the bottom drops out. At this point there is a super intense bedrock gorge that drops at a rate of 400 to 500 fpm for about 1/4 mile. Then the gradient will remain fairly steep for the remainder of the run, 300+, but it won't be gorged up. Lots of wood! If you want to scout this out or do some wood cleaning the best way to get in there is to mountain bike from the trail head, the trail follows right next to the creek through the easy stuff, and then climbs out into the hills on river left right before the gradient. Once on the jeep trails that climb away from the river keep taking the trail to the right to parrallel the river up on the edge of the canyon and you will definately be able to tell where it gorges up! PS: this is a great bike ride!

Extensive pics of the crux section...

To Get There: The takeout is the put-in for the normal ssv run, at the confluence of the south and middle forks of the creek on Hwy 7 west of Lyons. To get to the put in continue driving upstream until you get to the intersection with Hwy 72, take a left (south) and continue driving south past Peaceful Valley adn take a left on Overland Road(there should be a sign for Jamestown). Continue down this Class II dirt road until you cross over the creek, then turn left at the sign for the Ceran St. Vrain Trailhead.

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.

The various reaches of of Saint Vrain Creek,
Upper NSV (Class V+/VI-),
Middle NSV (Class IV/V),
Lower NSV (Class II/III),
Upper SSV (Class V+/VI-),
SSV (Class V/V+), and
Left Hand Creek (Class IV).