Crystal River

This is a great beginner stretch for starting novice’s on in the Roaring Fork Valley. The whitewater is friendly and splashy, the scenery is beautiful, and hazards are minimal. The stretch is 8 miles and depending on flows can be very slow moving so make sure you plan accordingly.

Put in just upstream of the KOA campground. There is an impromptu dirt parking lot across on river left where paddlers take out for Avalanche. There is roadside parking at the confluence where you can takeout on river right. If you are still feeling hungry, you can continue into the Roaring Fork and set shuttle at the cemetery.