Bogan Canyon
Colorado – US
- Class
- III to III+
- Length
- 6.85 Mile(s)
- Gradient
- 68.27 FPM
- Put-in elevation
- 7,923 Feet
- Take-out elevation
- 7,457 Feet
- Typical season
- May to July
- Author
- Gremlin
Current Flow
137 CFS
Gauge height: 1.12 FT
Reading from Jul 10, 2026 10:00 PM
▲ 0.42/hr (12h) ▲ 0.21/hr (24h)
Don't bother
- Primary gauge
- CRYSTAL RIVER ABV AVALANCHE CRK, NEAR REDSTONE, CO Gauge detail & alternatives Live gauge ↗
Recommended levels
| Minimum | 500 |
| Average | 1,000 |
| Maximum | 2,000 |
Recommended use
- Kayaking
- Rafting
- Canoeing
- SUP
- Packrafting
- Fishing
Struck-through craft are not recommended for this run.
Flow history — last 6 days
No gauge history recorded in the last 6 days.
Photos
No photos added for this run yet.
Description
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.
Rapids
| # | Rapid | Class | Recommended flow | Description | Scout |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marble MIle | III to III+ | 2,000–— | Medium gradient rapid. A few holes and rocks. Lots of wood and strainers. |
Private property. You might be able to scout by asking permission from the folks on Juniper Court with the red roofed house. They have a marble garden down by the river. |
| 2 | Upper Cowboy Corner | III to IV- | 2,000–— | Start right and move hard left at the lower turn to avoid rocks in the center of the channel. Wood may be present. |
Pull out on North side of Hwy 3 aproximatly 3/4 mile after the bridge. Walk across the road to look down at the river. |
| 3 | Lower Cowboy Corner | III to IV- | 2,000–— | Start right and move hard left at the lower turn to avoid rocks. Wood may be present. |
Large pull out on right (South) of road just under 3/4 mile from the bridge. Walk down the road 300 ft to look at river. |
| 4 | Bogan Canyon | III+ to IV | 2,000–— | Medium gradient s curves with waves, rocks and holes. Some wood may be present. Aproximatly 1/2 mile long semi continuous. |
2.5 miles after turning on hwy 3. Pull out on North side of road. 39.087810, -107.248095 Walk down to river for a very limited view. |
| 5 | Lower Bogan Canyon | II+ to III | 2,000–— | Straightforward rapid with wave trains and holes. |
Scout from large pull out on North side of road 1/2 mile after turning off Hwy 133 onto hwy 3. |
| 6 | Bears Gulch | III- to III | 2,000–— | roadside. A swim or flip could be disaterous due to culverts down stream. |
roadside. |
| 7 | Hayes Creek Humiliator | IV- to IV | 2,000–— | Large pour over / Hole. A few waves and right move toward the cliff face. |
Roadside. Stop at sign for Hayes Creek Falls. |
| 8 | Hawk Creek Herniator | IV to IV+ | 2,000–— | Steep fast water moving water through a pronounced boulder garden. Large waves and must make moves. Definatly the hardest rapid of the run. |
Roadside. Pull out on river side of Hwy 133 just over 1 mile from Redstone bridge. Rapid is below road an not visible at all from the road in either direction. Walk back down river 150 yards to view rapid. |
Access
| Type | Name | Elevation | Camping | Water | Boat ramp | Vehicle access | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Put-In | Yule Quarry bridge | 7,923 Feet | No | No | No | All Vehicles | Carry down to large eddy above the bridge (to Yule Quarry; W. 3rd St.) |
| Put-In | Meadow Lane (Alternate put in) | — | No | No | No | All Vehicles | (Alternate put in) Meadow Lane: Near Air Strip and Milton Falls. Dirt track on Hwy 3 side of bridge. May be possible to back a trailer down. YMMV |
| Put-In | Hwy 3 Bridge (Alternate put in) | — | No | No | No | All Vehicles | (Alternate put in) South Side of bridge on left |
| Take-Out | Pull-out from Hwy. 133 | 7,457 Feet | No | No | No | All Vehicles | From the river, look for Highway 133 to parallel and stay along the left bank with bowline ready to leap for shore. |
| Take-Out | Upper Culverts Portage Take Out | — | No | No | No | All Vehicles | Mandatory Portage |
| Put-In | Upper Culverts Portage Put In | — | No | No | No | All Vehicles | Mandatory Portaage |
| Take-Out | Lower Culverts Portage Take Out | — | No | No | No | All Vehicles | Mandatory Portage |
| Put-In | Lower Culverts Portage Put In | — | No | No | No | All Vehicles | Mandatory Portage |
| Take-Out | Redstone Take Out | — | No | Yes | No | All Vehicles | Redstone Take Out |
Camps
| Camp | Fee | Beach | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bogan Canyon National Forest Campsite | Yes | Yes |
Permit
No permit is required, or permit info hasn't been added yet.
Fishing
No fish species have been associated with this run yet.
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