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RiverBrain

Utah – US

Class
III to IV
Length
4 Mile(s)
Gradient
70 FPM
Put-in elevation
5,177 Feet
Take-out elevation
4,900 Feet
Typical season
March to June
Author
David Nix

Current Flow

444 CFS

Reading from Jul 10, 2026 10:30 PM

2.49/hr (12h) 1.25/hr (24h)

Too Low

Don't bother

Primary gauge
[PROVO RIVER BELOW DEER CREEK, UT] * 0.75 Gauge detail & alternatives
Flow formula
[PROVO RIVER BELOW DEER CREEK, UT] computes to 592.0 right now Estimated flow
Alternative gauge
[PROVO RIVER BELOW DEER CREEK, UT] 592 CFS (estimated)

Recommended levels

Minimum600
Average900
Maximum2,000

Recommended use

  • Kayaking
  • Rafting
  • Canoeing
  • SUP
  • Packrafting
  • Fishing

Struck-through craft are not recommended for this run.

Flow history — last 6 days

Photos

No photos added for this run yet.

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Description

This run goes through the heart of Provo Canyon with the crux of it near where the old Bridal Veil gondola used to run.  Most of the river can be scouted from the road or the bike/run path that follows the river throughout the canyon.

This run would be an overall class III run at all flows if it weren't for the bridal veil drop.  Because of wood and the S-Turn nature of the river here the bridal veil drop is a class IV because of must make moves around fallen trees from both sides of the river.  For boaters not ready for this, it is easy to portage or you could simply put on below this section and ride the waves down to the dam.

At higher flows this is a fun rowdy stomp down the canyon with few eddies.  The continuous nature of the water and rocky shallow sections can make swimming here to be unfavorable.  For the most fun look at hitting it around flows of 1000 CFS or higher.

Very beginner kayakers should look at running other rivers or stretches until they can get a solid brace and roll underneath them.

Note: Olmstead dam diverts water at the putin to the mouth of the canyon.  This means that the BELOW DEER CREEK gauge is an estimate.  If you take 300 to 400 CFS out that is a guide to what is actually flowing in the Bridal Veil section.  The current flow formula reflects the estimated diversion.

Rapids

# Rapid Class Recommended flow Description Scout
1 Putin Drop Rapid III- to III 300–2,000

Right after putting in is a nice drop that can easily flip a kayak at the right levels.

Scout from the putin lot or putin below this.

2 Bridal Veil Rapid IV- to IV 300–2,000

This is a long series of drops.  About half way down where the river makes a turn to the left is a downed tree followed by some holes and then another tree down on the opposite bank.  This is the Class IV section you don't want to mess up on since you can easily end up swimming under a sweeper.

Scout from the parking lot and pick a line down the drops.

Access

Type Name Elevation Camping Water Boat ramp Vehicle access Description
Put-In Dam below Vivian Park 5,177 Feet No No No All Vehicles

Putin anywhere below the dam just below Vivian Park.  

Put-In Below Bridal Veil Access 5,079 Feet No No No All Vehicles

This is a good putin option if you don't want to run the bridal veil drops or if you want to shorten your run.  This area also accesses the bike/walk/run path that follows the river.

Take-Out 1st Dam 4,900 Feet No No No All Vehicles

A small takeout lot just above the first dam in Provo Canyon when traveling up from Provo.  There are some river walk access point further up if you don't want to float all the way down to here.  There isn't a lot of parking here.

Camps

No river camps added yet.

Permit

No permit is required, or permit info hasn't been added yet.

Fishing

No fish species have been associated with this run yet.

Community Run Notes

Total community notes: 1

Attempted to run this yesterday, 4 July at 300cfs.  Way too low, ended up walking the packraft.  I'd estimate a needed 600cfs. 

DaveSLC · Jul 5, 2014

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