Gila

Ran the Gila twice this spring (mid and late April) in IKs and packrafts. Once at about 400 the second time closer to 190. We did not put in at Virden because we had heard from several people that anything above Guthrie is thick salt cedar and difficult to navigate. The first time we put in at the Old Safford Bridge and the second time we put in a little further upriver to add miles and because we had access to some private property. We met another group that had put in at the highway bridge on the 191 just before you get to Threeway. There weren't any major strainers, there was one spot where the river curved and the water wanted to push you into a large brush pile but it you could see it coming and our group was all able to paddle out of it. We did meet another group that wasn't as lucky and got caught up in it. Unfortunately, I don't remember the river mile. If you look at the map at the Old Safford Bridge rec area it mentions there are two sections of fences across the water, however those are now down. Highly recommend this as an easy overnight trip, it's a good intro for beginners. All rapids were straight forward read and run. As one would expect the wave trains and rapids were more fun at the higher CFS but it was still a great trip at lower. Great river for wildlife, we saw bighorn sheep, coatis, and deer.