Boulder Creek
01. Gun Shy to Jasper Creek(The Source)
| Difficulty | V |
| Length | 1.3 mi |
| Avg Gradient | 350 fpm |
| Gauge | Middle Boulder Creek at Nederland, Co. |
| Flow Rate as of 7 hours | 85 cfsbelow recommended |
| Reach Info Last Updated | February 12, 2009 |
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
River Description
In 2003 the mile above Hellum's Waterfall was cleaned out and 1st descented. This has doubled the length of the run! The new top 1/2 has a different character, it is not gorged up and the inbetween stuff is easier while the named drops are bigger. The first of these is Gun Shy (Class V), 4 big ledge drops back-to-back with big holes and undercuts on both sides. Shortly downstream is Harvey Wallbanger (Class V), this is one ugly rapid and destined to be carnage central for the Source. It already has a reputation! There is a summer home sitting right next to this rapid, you must tresspass to scout so be very stealth. Just downstream is Hellum's Waterfall. The left channel will bounce down a technical sluice before dropping off a 10' fall and the right channel is a straight shot at a 15' vertical. Both options have rocky landings, and both have been done without pitoning. At this point you are at the old put-in. If this is your 1st time down it is impossible to remember every single cascade in the lower section. So concentrate your scout on the big cascade near the bottom - Dead Hiker Falls. DeForrestation Rapid, the first below Hellums, cleaned up in 2003 and no longer requires a scout. Every other rapid can be run on the fly. At medium to low flows you can expect a few minor pins in-between the major rapids, this run is really abusive to your boat. Think 'manky-town'. At high water (400cfs+) the rocks are nicely padded out but the creek starts to push into the trees and the holes get evil.
Do all hiking and scouting from river right because there is private property on the left.
Pics of the Upper Source can be found at Brian Adkins Webshots album, and pics of the Lower Source on Mike Albrecht's Webshots album.
To get there: Drive south out of Nederland towards Central City. At the edge of town turn
...River Features
Put-in
Put-in at a nice flat grassy field about an acre in size with a few fire rings scattered about.
Gun Shy
A series of 4 ledges back-to-back. The top drop has a must make boof to the right at the entrance, and has a sticky hole at the bottom with undercut rocks on both sides. The next 3 ledges are pretty simple.
Harvey Wallbanger
The current slams hard into the river right cliff in this tricky drop. The move is a right to left scramble at the last moment. This rapid has become the scene of the vast majority of the carnage on the Source.
Hellums Waterfall
This is a 15' fall that lands on a pile of rocks. In 2003 it was run down the small river left channel regularily, the line looks bad but no-one pitoned.
Kickstart
An easy slide with a left turn halfway down.
the willows
Make sure to enter the river right channel into the willows directly after Kickstart. Ever been whipped by willows? This section has gotten seriously overgrown in the past few drought years with no flood water to scour out the overhanging vegetation so I've upgraded it to Class IV.
DeForrestation Rapid
This rapid changed in 2003. It is easier and safer than before, the line is still a boof left but the broach rock at the bottom moved several feet out away from the bottom. Be heads up for this drop after passing under the second foot bridge. The entrance rapid (IV-)is manky as hell.
1st Gorge
After some bony busy water there is a good 2 or 3 boat eddy on river right where you can boat scout the entrance to Slot Machine.
Slot Machine
At about 3' wide this is the tightest drop on the run. There is a flat piton rock in the landing zone, but a good boof stroke is difficult. You can eddy out on river right 50' downstream.
busy water
From here to Dead Hiker Falls it is continuous IV to V slides, ledges and boulder gardens. Keep on your toes and watch out for wood.
Dead Hiker Falls
This is the biggest cascade on the river. The second most likely rapid, after Harvey Wallbanger, to kick your ass.
more busy water
Continuos IV to V slides, ledges, and boulder gardens. About 100 yards below Dead Hiker Falls there is a short slide with an large eddy river right. Downstream, just after crossing under a large log that spans the whole stream, is a tricky little boulder drop that deserves a scout.
Cheese Grater
Cheese Grater is a metal hazard 10' upstream of the takeout. Takeout at the bridge crossing the creek or continue downstream another 1/4 mile through Class II with wood hazards to the fork of Hessie Road and Fourth of July Road.
Trip Reports
Log in to add a reportMank City, Colorado.
When we get a decent snow year, she'll go for a few weeks.
This run has some tricks.
Take your time to 'sus it out.
The first gorge, just above eddy #1
Notice the red rope leading to the base of the drop? That is connected to a Necky Blunt, badly broached against the pyramid shaped rock at the base. The broach was fatal to the boat, but the boater got out fine, although he was trapped completely under water at first. The fall is a super-easy boof left, as long as you remember which direction is left;-)
A very good line, also notice the eddy you can catch just below the drop.
All the boats are stowed 20'-30' below the road on the rock ledges close to the rapid, passing motorists cannot see the boats and gear from the road.
This is typical in-between V- terrain. The picture makes it look easy, but it is a 400 fpm gradient at over 9000' altitude, it can really wear you out!