Daisy Creek
01. 40' Waterfall to confluence with Slate River
| Difficulty | V |
| Length | 0.7 mi |
| Avg Gradient | 290 fpm |
| Gauge | Slate R Ab Baxter Gl @hwy 135 Nr Crested Butte, Co |
| Flow Rate as of 1 hour | 295 cfsbelow recommended |
| Reach Info Last Updated | August 13, 2020 |
Projects
Forest Planning in Colorado American Whitewater is closely involved with Colorado’s National Forest Planning efforts. Nearly 68% of Colorado’s forests are Federally owned and managed as public land by the Forest Service (USFS) (47%), Bureau of Land Management (BLM) (17%), and the National Park Service (NPS) (2%) (CSU, 2018) [...]Read More
River Description
Daisy Creek is one of the classic creeks in Crested Butte and like most of the whitewater in the area is short, sweet, and steep. Because of its sliding drops and waterfalls, it is often described as a combination between the Upper East and OBJ but in a smaller riverbed. Also like most of the creeks in Crested Butte, the window for this run is very narrow and is only at runnable flows around peak runoff.
As you hike down to the river, you will see a large, unrunnable 40 footer that you will want to put in below. The Run kicks off into a mancos shale gorge filled with a series of ledge drops and slides. As you begin to exit the gorge, be aware that there is a fifteen-foot waterfall downstream called Big Wood Falls. Eddy out and scout as the landing is shallow and rocky in places and you want a good flat boof.
After Big Wood Falls, the river eases up to the last rapid called Rip Your Head off. This rapid has been responsible for dealing out some pain so be sure to give it a good scout.
To access Daisy, drive up a mile and a half a mile past the put in for the Slate (to get to the Slate put-in, turn left on Slate River Road across from the cemetery right after you leave town on the road to the ski area and drive to the marked FR 754 and go down to a gravel bar upstream of the OBJ campground and the put-in is about two miles up the Slate River Road where the terrain flattens out). Just after the confluence of Daisy and the Slate, look to the left for a road that follows up the river left side of Daisy. Leave your shuttle near the river crossing and continue up the road for about a mile. Park at the bottom end of a meandering section of the creek. The road to the put-in is 4X4, and you can optionally just leave a shuttle vehicle at the takeout and just hike to the put-in and scout as you go.
The Quadruple Crown: Because of the short length and proximity of the Crested Butte creeks, all four of them can be run in the same day. T
...River Features
First series of slides
Put-in below the 40' waterfall and the logjam just below it. This is an easy series of slides, but be aware that a one has a bad piton and strainers are everywhere.
Big Woody Falls
***This waterfall significantly changed in 2011***
Pre-2011 there was a log jam extended 3/4 across the river, and the right line was the safest line. In 2011 the log jam washed away, causing the waterfall to increase from 15' to 20' and revealing a shallow shelf on river right.
The new line is left of center. Aim to brush the pine tree branch on your left shoulder as you're going over - if you're too far left you'll land in the eddy pool and if you're too far right you'll land on the right shelf. Many people have injured their backs from landing on the shelf or by boofing too hard. This waterfall has an easy lead-in, but can be very consequential if done wrong.
- Beta for this rapid was contributed to by the Crested Butte boating community
Rip Your Head Off
This one sneaks up on you. After Big Wood Falls the gradient eases off and things appear to be mellowing out, and then the bottom drops out from under you on a blind corner. The bottom cascade in this rapid has an hourglass constriction that has jagged rocks on the left side. You can boat it straight down the gut and just keep your hands and paddle to the right. Takeout right away downstream if you're not planning on running the Slate River.
Trip Reports
Log in to add a reportMatt DeVoe running Big Wood Falls
Photographer: Josh King
Paddler: Matt Haughee
The first striding descent of Wood Falls. (unless someone knows differently)The landing was SWEET!
Another run of Wood Falls.
The drop.
Striding off the top.
Pretty psyched!