Willow Creek
01. Steamboat Lake to Elk River
| Difficulty | IV(V) |
| Length | 4.3 mi |
| Avg Gradient | 90 fpm |
| Gauge | Willow Creek Below Steamboat Lake |
| Flow Rate as of 6 hours | 5 cfsbelow recommended |
| Reach Info Last Updated | July 11, 2017 |
Projects
Colorado River Access American Whitewater’s Colorado River Access Program works to improve river access and public safety throughout the state by working with landowners and managers, paddlers, law enforcement, and lawmakers to understand Colorado’s river access laws and the ongoing threats to public safety. Our primary goals of this [...]Read More
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River Features
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Trip Reports
Log in to add a reportVideo of willow creek
6/28/2016 My brother and I cut out every single log strainer hazard in the creek. This took an entire day of chainsaw work and every bit of strength we had. Beware though because now the creek has a huge amount of 6ft long logs in it It would have been impossible to clear this river and remove them all. The 2nd of the two really hard rapids is now a sharp hooking right turn at the end. The piles are no longer strainers or hazardous, but I can't tell how difficult the move will be (oh ya...if you love the old sneak it is now cleared out as well).. At the end of the run in a long flat section you will notice a giant pile of logs...this jam you want there because it signals an approaching fence across the river. Get out before the boulder sneak on the left. It is not barbed wire, but don't think you can navigate it. Mandatory traffic around will work on river left (involves scaling Phil Mosses fence/trespass on 5ft of private property. I know everyone hates this landowner, but this is a fence for cattle and not for killing kayakers so don't destroy it. I consider the fence as a forced portage on navigatable waters...no different than a fence placed across the Colorado river. This fence is brand spanking new so be aware of more downstream which are unknown to us...but that last part is super flat and shouldn't create a huge cocncern.
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