Cache La Poudre
01. Long Draw Reservoir to Big South Campground(Big South)
| Difficulty | V+ |
| Length | 11.8 mi |
| Avg Gradient | 134 fpm |
| Gauge | La Poudre Pass Creek Below Long Draw Reservoir |
| Flow Rate as of 6 hours | 40 cfsbelow recommended |
| Reach Info Last Updated | July 5, 2020 |
Projects
Big South is Colorado wilderness paddling at it’s best! Access to the river, however, has been increasingly impaired by US Forest Service travel management decisions. American Whitewater is currently working to find a balanced solution to the gate closure that will allow public access to the river, while minimizing [...]Read More
River Description
Big South is the finest expert run in Colorado. For the first few miles the river marks the western boundary of Rocky Mountain National Park, the rest of the river all the way to the takeout is in the Cache La Poudre Wilderness Area. The Big South runs through 12 miles of pristine wilderness with more than a dozen classic Class V, V+, and VI- rapids. The beauty of it is you can have any kind of day you want there. If you are there for the scenery and the experience you can easily portage the hardest rapids and have a relatively relaxing Class IV+/V- day. If you are there to test yourself and run some big stuff you will have a couple of big technical hair-raising drops to run.
Pinball Wizard, Rock Lobster, Starter Fluid, Bar Room Brawl, Bonk, Nitrogen Narcosis, Prime Time Gorge, Pincushion, The Rush, and Tubular Balls are all Class V to V- at reasonable water levels, and can be run without scouting if you have a good guide to lead you down.
Taco Bobs, and Fantasy Flight are in the Class V territory, but they have some really ugly lines you want to check out before jumping in. Slideways is another good scout, it's a classic long and steep Class V studded with big holes.
The truly big Class V+/VI- rapids of the Big South are Cool World, Meltdown, and Double Trouble. Cool World is especially dangerous because it looks like it's just another Class IV rapid from the top. Be very cautious until you are past it! The final drop of Cool World slams directly into an undercut cliff on river right. Meltdown is a two-step cascade with a sieve at the bottom. It's the hardest rapid to portage, so sometimes it seems like it's 'almost' easier to just run the rapid!
Double Trouble is a big double waterfall. The hole at the bottom is considered by many to be in the top five scariest hydraulics in Colorado, which is saying a lot!
The only real negative to Big South is the short season. The Forest Service keeps the road to the Long Draw R
...River Features
Long Draw Reservoir
Put in at the outlet of the reservoir.
Few individuals go this route. Its easier to hit the creek in the willows below the res.
Pinball Wizard
The gradient will tilt steep all of a sudden, not much of a line, just bounce of the round rocks.
Rock Lobster
We didn't scout this one so I don't remember it too well, nothing went wrong at least!
Starter Fluid
Sweet little waterfall that starts of the goods!
Taco Bobs
Very different at different water levels. I do know of severe vertical pins at low water. Higher water improves your route options.
Bar Room Brawl
The river splits around a large rock island. The left channel doesn't go, the right side slams into a wall.
Fantasy Flight
The entrance to this waterfall has a right and a left line, I refer to them as ugly and uglier.
Cool World
Tricky entrance that gains momentum before launching into and undercut cliff.
Bonk
Steep drop that pushes into a cliff on river left.
Melt Down
Two stage drop. The first drop has a hole at higher water that looks like a jet engine. The second drop sieves. Often has wood problem, particularily in the entrance.
Nitrogen Narcosis
This isn't one of the more distinctive rapids, it kinda blends in with the continuous IV above and below, but is a shade harder.
Prime Time Gorge
Very fun rapids in a small gorge. Frequently has wood problems.
Double Trouble
This is the big daddy of the Big South. Epic hole rides are too be expected.
Pin Cushion
Pin spot, hard left boof required.
Slideways
It's big but straight forward. After 10 miles your definately starting to feel it. The hardest rapid at high water.
Tubular Balls
The pace seems to quicken after Slideways, not sure exactly which rapid is Tubular balls but do keep an eye out for wood.
The Rush
Keep and eye out for increasing amounts of wood, you may want to just bag it at some point and start hiking downstream.
Curtain Call
This has been run at high water, not advisable at any water level. Only for sickos with a lack of good judgement. Waterfalls pouring into sieves. Be sure to start the portage well upstream.
Highway 14
Take out
Trip Reports
Log in to add a report180 CFS, low but runnable
Too far right, paddling like hell to keep out of the undercut.