Colorado's Most Scenic River "Royal Gorge"

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River Description
Run Length:10.5 miles
Gradient:46 FPM
Reach Description
The Royal Gorge run on the Arkansas river descends into a deep gorge and creates a paddlers sanctuary.
Train tracks run along river left for the entire run. Jagged rocks from railroad construction exist in the major rapids and steel rails stick out of the river in the Narrows at all but the highest flows. On the river right bank are the remains of a pipe that carried water into Cañon City downstream. The degraded structure is a hazard in a few places.
From the Primero to Ed's Rock there are six miles of rapids. Depending on the flows the run can hold several half mile long wave trains. The Royal Gorge is over one thousand feet deep and a hundred and fifty feet wide at one point. Three miles of flatwater to paddle out. (Don't say the word 'wind'!)
Rapids
Mile 2.0: Primero, Segundo, Tercera and Pumphouse:
These rapids are in quick succession and offer a nice introduction to the run. They are Class II+ at low flows and rise to big water II at the highest flows. If you are finding the rapids to challeging, there are two options for an exit, The first is to hike the couple of miles back to the put-in. The second is to hike up the trail that you can see on river left and walk back to US 50. The run gets harder soon and the only exit on the run is the Funicular train at the Fish Bowl. It is currently closed. I'm only aware that it has been used one time in an extreme emergency. You are going downriver in a gorge.
Mile 2.5: Hollywood Hole:
A nice play hole for flat spins at most flows. Nice play hole at high flows. Sunshine rapid is just around the corner.
Mile 2.7: Sunshine Rapid: Class III-IV (2000cfs), Class IV (at 2000+ cfs), Class IV-V- (3,000 cfs):
A very large boulder marks the entrance river right. Consider Sunshine a Class III at moderate flows. There is an elegant S-move at the top at all flows. The rapid is scouted on the right; kayaks can portage on the right as well.
Mile 2.8: Grateful Dead:
A fast Class III at the highest flows. Leads directly into Sledgehammer.
Mile 2.9: Sledgehammer:
The second crux of the run. Class III to IV+. If you want to run it easy, start hard left and stay there. At high flows only the strongest will want to run the center, though it washes out above 4000 cfs. Sections include Rushmore and Clark's Hole (stay left at the bottom at most flows).
Mile 4.0: The Narrows:
At high flows this is the second hardest section on the river. The water has nowhere to go but up and forms complex long ten foot high wave/ holes. Try and stay center. At low flows it's easy, still stay center.
Mile 4.6: The Fishbowl:
Good break spot. There is a viewing area for people that descended the Funicular train from the rim. The Gorge is now a thousand feet deep. Throw a few wave wheels for the tourists.
Mile 4.7: Wall Slammer Rapid:
Stay 20 feet off the right wall - it never exceeds Class III.
Mile 5.2: Boat Eater:
Run right. This hole consumes the left side of the river. It forms around 1200 cfs and just gets bigger and bigger...
Mile 5.5: Soda Rock (Picnic Rock, Corner Pocket):
There is a rock in the center of the river (Soda Rock). Paddle around the right and stop at the beach. It's a nice spot. Picnic Rock is quite visible from upstream. The canyon walls while still over 800 feet high have moved away from the river. Picnic Rock sticks out on river right. Soda Rock goes underwater at about 3500 cfs.* At 4000 cfs do not eddy out to the right. You will have to portage down a bit to re-enter the river.
Mile 5.7: Unnamed Waves:
At higher flows these are the largest waves on the entire length of the Arkansas River at ten feet.
Mile 9.3: The Canon City Wave:
Hazard ! LOW HEAD DAM
Stay Left!! Low Head Dam on right!
At high flows there is an upper and lower hole that can provide a fun end to a day on the Gorge. Over 4000 cfs the top hole is terminal. Paddle left like your life depends on it.
Mile 10.2: Centennial Park Take-out:
Take-out River Right where there is plenty of parking and a bathroom. Whitewater Park being built.
Royal Gorge is a committing Class IV run.
Many consider 3500 cfs to be the most challenging.
'At this level the Gorge simply pisses excellence'. - Joe Keck
Since the river descends into a deep gorge it has a harder 'feel' than it actually paddles.
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Thanks for Watching!
#kayaking #whitewaterkayaking #royalgorge

[@WadeHarrison]

👇Get Your LL Sweet Ride Here 👇 coloradokayak.com/products/liquidlogic-sweet-ride-whitewater-kayak

[@michaelmoser7219]

What are your final thoughts on the LL Sweet Ride?

[@WadeHarrison]

I did a full review of this I think it’s a great all rounder for those that just don’t want a full creek boat

[@powskier]

This paddle looks short. Why not the 205cm Vulcan for this?

[@WadeHarrison]

@@powskier this was a prototype i aquabound paddle they sent me to try and give my thoughts on it’s a 197cm was just trying it out

[@powskier]

Try Gore Canyon of the Colorado. Also a train track on one side but also an old narrow gauge track on the the other side for mining carts and Stout rapids.

[@WadeHarrison]

@@powskier I have paddled gore many times

[@powskier]

Are Aquabound paddles any good? One of the best?

[@WadeHarrison]

The new Aerial really surprised me how good it is the durability and quality was excellent the blade design is more of a everyday paddle i recommend those for anyone that just needs a everything paddle that’s reliable

[@powskier]

Not the the Sweet Ride isn't a hood boat, but would you have personally preferred a Powerslide for this run?

[@WadeHarrison]

I have the power slide I love that design I will have a review soon on it

[@powskier]

@@WadeHarrison I look forward to the review. But again, would you have preferred the Powerslide on this run?

[@Huntermouse31]

Trip down the Royal George this spring lead me into Kayaking and thus watching many of your reviews. Great to see you 20 minutes down the road from me, hope one day you could sign my dagger code lol.

[@WadeHarrison]

Such a great series of sections on that Arkansas river seems to be little of everything

[@mikemiller5052]

Never paddled it, but I rode the train to the bottom one time. There is a sign up top that says "no fishing from bridge."

[@WadeHarrison]

Its a good ride

[@FeWolf]

That is some serious moving water, I saw you looking back, man I should have rock slide that

[@WadeHarrison]

Yeah some good flow and those rocks were not very forgiving on kayaks so just stay flowing

[@pinkpackraft]

Hi Wade-- I'm just getting into the sport and your videos + podcast are awesome! What boat are you running in this and for a Gopro tip, are you set on wide in order to get the bow, river and sky off your helmet? I boned up setting it to linear to record my husband and I learning on splashy Class I stuff. Thanks!

[@WadeHarrison]

Hey thanks and the kayak in this video is the Liquid Logic Sweet Ride And on the Go Pro settings I use when on the river I’m always 4K so if need to crop in have that ability with bit rate standard so the files are not massive and the view is always superview it’s the best for on water and when doing walkthroughs or random off water videos I use 4K linear view and always have the auto stabilizer on and if very sunny I lower the iso and I use the GoPro 11 black I love it because can have different quick custom settings you set up once and then easy to jump through them I have one for off water and one for on water hop this helps

[@pinkpackraft]

@@WadeHarrison Helps a ton and thanks so much for your reply-- fangirling over here!

[@paulgriffiths531]

0:36 - "that's what your going to see the entire way" . Is that your goto phrase to get people to do something more pushy than they are used to 😉 or was it more pushy than you expected?

[@WadeHarrison]

Hahah 😇🤐

[@craigparkin1912]

That run looks sexy AF! You guys are spoilt in the states!

[@WadeHarrison]

From Cali To Southeast there is so much good stuff out there to paddle

[@charlesmcdonald5465]

Looks pretty fun! I’d like to kayak with you but I don’t know how lol

[@WadeHarrison]

Yeah learning how is a useful first step to kayaking with others 😉

[@scottgraham3071]

Make sure and check out the Dolores next time it runs!!

[@WadeHarrison]

for sure

[@k.thomas295]

What class rapids would this be considered?

[@WadeHarrison]

That’s debatable for some but Personally would say 3-4 at most the rapids are pretty spaced outside of that railroad one and there are some meaty holes on there but would not say anything on there is a 5 it is fairly difficult to get out if things go wrong so that’s why it’s like a 4plus maybe at that railroad section

[@TheJbugbee]

SE takeover! Love to see it!

[@WadeHarrison]

dude it was great like 20 of us out there at one time

[@followingrj]

Juicy flow

[@WadeHarrison]

I feel this is the prime flow I can see higher it starts washing out

[@ch678able]

Ah, home is were ya' boat.

[@WadeHarrison]

YUP!

[@ch678able]

​@@WadeHarrison Whole different animal at 5k to 7k. If it's still in affect, the sheriff bans commercials through it at 5k and above.

[@WadeHarrison]

@@ch678able I bet it’s sweet

[@georgewilliamssr5230]

Your run looked significantly easier than when I ran it. I did it at a lower flows. Lots of rock manuevers and slot drops. Oh and FYI, that bridge is the highest suspension bridge in North America.

[@WadeHarrison]

That makes since it’s way up there 👆🏻

[@michaelpelletier7117]

So cool. Did they stop the train just to watch?

[@WadeHarrison]

haha actually yes, they did stop the train when they seen us and everyone on the trail was yelling waving and taking pics videos it made their day, I heard it fired up after we passed.