Beautiful, remote-feeling setting with exciting rapids for kayaks, paddle rafts and small oar rigs. A mostly class III run not to be taken lightly. Very cold water, continous rapids around blind curves, steep banks, undercut rocks and downed trees present many hazards. Large boulders in the main channel require quick manuevering to avoid holes and getting pinned. Scout as much as possible from the road that parallels and gives some glimpses. Takeout is a small eddy with a steep bank alongside the last pullout on Hwy 133 before turning to Marble. Look for alternate takeouts downstream in case the first one is missed.
For a longer run, you can go all the way to Redstone (13 miles total). 2 mandatory portages at the culverts as Hwy 133 crosses the river. Small eddies above can be used. Recomend scouting these as you head up to the put in. From the river look for Mile Marker 48 as a heads up that the culverts are comming up. Once the upper portage is completed, you have just under a mile before the next portage. The river becomes more chanalized and is characterized by undercut rocks, holes and wave trains. Use the large eddy just upstream of the lower culvert to exit for the 2nd portage. 1/2 mile below the second culvert is Hayes Creek rapid followed 3/4 mile later by Hawk Creek rapid. Pullout at the Payground park in downtown Redstone. A nice eddy can be found just after the footbridge on river right. Bonus: General Store across the street sells ice cream and beer.
| Gremlin | |
| Class | III to III+ |
| Current Flow |
686.0 CFS 05-19-2024 17:00 |
| Recommended Flow |
Minimum: 500.0 Average: 1000.0 Maximum: 2000.0 |
| Typical Season |
Begins: May Ends: July |
| Recommended Use |
Kayaking: Yes Rafting: Yes Canoeing: No SUP: No Packrafting: No Fishing: No |
| Primary Gauge | CRYSTAL RIVER ABV AVALANCHE CRK, NEAR REDSTONE, CO |
| Length | 6.85 Mile(s) |
| Gradient | 68.27 FPM |
