wildernet

Roaring Fork Valley Area

General Information

Summaries

Nearby Activities

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Activity	Location	Description

Black Bess Day Use Area	Sopris Ranger District, White River National Forest	Black Bess Family Picnic Ground is located at 7,800 ft. in elevation and provides access to water sports on Ruedi Reservoir and land sports in the surrounding terrain.

Chapman Picnic Ground	Sopris Ranger District, White River National Forest	Chapman Campground is located adjacent to the Fryingpan River. If you are an angler, the lower Fryingpan is classified as a gold medal water by the Colorado Division of Wildlife.

Chapman Group Picnic Ground	Sopris Ranger District, White River National Forest	Chapman Campground is located adjacent to the Fryingpan River and Chapman Dam. If you are an angler, the lower Fryingpan is classified as a gold medal water by the Colorado Division of Wildlife.

Colorado River	Colorado River, Colorado Rivers & Streams	Although normally thought of as a destination for whitewater sport, the Colorado River can have exeptional fishing, and gets relatively little pressure.

Colorado-Lower River Section	Colorado River, Colorado Rivers & Streams	From Grizzly Creek to Rifle, the Colorado offers many fine opportunities for whitewater sport. This is a good beginning to intermediate section for rafting and kayaking. It definitely is not like the hairy Gore Canyon up above, or calm and flat like the water down below. The high walls of the Glenwood Canyon section are the most popular, but the scenery down below is gorgeous also.

Colorado-Middle River Section	Colorado River, Colorado Rivers & Streams	This section of the Colorado River provides some of the finest whitewater action in the entire state. The most popular upper segment from pump house to the private take-out at State Bridge is principally for day use.

Colorado-Upper River Section	Colorado River, Colorado Rivers & Streams	The Upper section of the Colorado is a popular section for whitewater sports. This is a popular section for both day users and overnight trips. The primary put-in lies within a two hour drive from Denver, and this section is suitable for everyone, unlike other sections of the river, which are for the extreme expert.

Crystal River	Crystal River

Crystal River	Crystal River, Colorado Rivers & Streams	The Crystal River is one of the last free-flowing rivers in the west, tumbling more than 35 miles through scenic terrain to join the Roaring Fork River two miles below Carbondale.

Roaring Fork River	Roaring Fork River, Colorado Rivers & Streams	The Roaring Fork River is a freestone river that has many different faces as it travels throughout the Roaring Fork Valley. It originates on Independence Pass and culminates at the confluence with the Colorado River in Glenwood Springs.

Roaring Fork-Lower River Section	Roaring Fork River, Colorado Rivers & Streams	This section of the river is not quite as popular with whitewater enthusiasts, but can still offer exciting action. Cemetery rapids, just upstream of Glenwood Springs offers excitement and requires maneuvering around large boulders.

Roaring Fork-Middle River Section	Roaring Fork River, Colorado Rivers & Streams	The Middle section of the Roaring Fork River from Basalt to Carbondale falls in elevation much less than the upper sections of the river. While this is not the most popular section for whitewater enthusiasts, there is still plenty of good water. This is also an extremely beautiful section to float with the majestic Mt. Sopris creating a breathtaking background.

Roaring Fork-Upper River Section	Roaring Fork River, Colorado Rivers & Streams	The Upper section of the Roaring Fork River is the narrowest and fastest section with many obstacles. This section is very exciting and convenient for the whitewater enthusiast, it allows for either an all day trip, or a 45 minute after work jaunt. This section should be left to those with a guide or considerable experience as the water is either class IV or V based on the water level.

Ruby Canyon of the Lower Colorado (canoeing)	Colorado River, Colorado Rivers & Streams	The Ruby Canyon section of the Lower Colorado River provides some of the finest flat water canoeing opportunities in western Colorado. This section has spectacular scenery, and plenty of area to explore.

Ruby Canyon of the Lower Colorado River Section	Colorado River, Colorado Rivers & Streams	The beautiful Ruby Canyon of the Lower Colorado River provides flat-water trips for canoeists, rafter, and kayakers. Grand desert painted walls tower overhead. The 25 mile stretch of between Loma Boat Launch, below Grand Junction and the Westwater Ranger Station take-out in Utah is some of the most noteworthy canoeing waters in western Colorado.