Cimarron

02. Cimarron to Gunnison River(Lower Cimarron)

DifficultyV
Length2.3 mi
Avg Gradient120 fpm
GaugeCimarron River Near Cimarron, Co
Flow Rate as of 53 minutes
100 cfsbelow recommended
Reach Info Last UpdatedAugust 5, 2019

River Description

See Banks & Eckardt, Colorado Rivers & Creeks II.

This is a cool, short, roadside gorge that makes for a good after work run if you live in the area, or something unique to catch if you're driving along Hwy 50 in the spring.

The gorge starts off fast and hits the main event after ~150 yards from the bridge, Super-Bass-O-Matic, a long-ish class V drop with a couple sections, but super easy to scout from the road. It starts with a big ledge-hole boof into a pool, then moves into a more technical series of slot/drops through a steep boulder garden. Lots of hidden teeth in this one... stay upright. Wood likes to get caught up in here so give it all check before dropping in. After SBOM, it's read n run class III-IV to the reservoir, with a decent drop at the end.

Though runnable lower, 500-700 seems to be pretty good level to make it worth the drive. Above 700 and it's probably sketchy to get under the bridge at the top of the gorge, but there's an easy put-in below this. It's mainly snow fed.


River Features

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Take Out

Distance: 1 mi
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AB
Austen Beason

Aug 5, 2019


https://vimeo.com/333658413 another video of the Lower Cimarron

MH
Matthew Haughee

Jun 24, 2014


https://vimeo.com/98953936

This is a video of the run

MH
Matthew Haughee

Jun 24, 2014


This stretch is short, but very fun. It can be run lower than the suggested 400 minimum. We ran at 350 and had plenty of water. Guidebook says min. is 250.

MH
Matthew Haughee

Jun 24, 2014


This strainer sits across the entire river underneath the 1st bridge after Super Bass-o-Matic as of June 22, 2014

MH
Matthew Haughee

Jun 22, 2014


2nd part of SBOM

KD
Kit Davidson

May 29, 2005


Nasty strainer on river left at the top.
Looking up.
This is right at the bottom. Some good small waves.
Middle part of S-BOM. Looking up.
Top part. This is a sieve at low water.

KD
Kit Davidson

Aug 3, 2004


This is where the Cimarron joins the Gunnison just below Morrow Point Dam.
This is one of the last few drops at the end of the canyon. The last few are of good size.
This is another one.
This is the trestle that the river passes under. Notice the burly culvert in the middle of the river.
This is the same thing, just from the other side of the river.
Looking downstream at the start of the lower section of Super Bass-O-Matic.
Same rapid, this time looking upstream from river left.
This s-turn is the middle part of Super Bass-O-Matic.
This is looking downstream still, but higher up. Alex is standing right above the s-turn.
This is the upper part of the Super Bass. This is the first real whitewater on this section.

AG
Adam Griffin

May 15, 2004


This is the only signifigant drop on this stretch