Whitewater Run CO Class III

12. Big Sur

American Whitewater
Linked via: Unknown Synced 6mo ago
Gauge Conditions
Runnable: 18,000.0 – 25,000.0 CFS

24,000 is the optimal flow for Big Sur (flows based on Stafford & McCutchen).

Run Map
Run Time Estimate
Select put-in and take-out to estimate time.
Sign in to generate an AI timing estimate for this run.
Whitewater timing varies with scouting, portages, and group pace. Use as a planning baseline.
Description
Big Sur on the Colorado is a unique feature that occurs when flows reach 20,000cfs.  High flows are provided by coordinated reservoir operations upstream, and are intended to support endangered fish in the Grand Valley. _Lat/longitude coords are approximate._ _Reaches of the Colorado River:_ _01\. Hot Sulphur Springs to Hwy 40 bridge (Byers Canyon) (CO, IV)_ _02\. Gore Canyon (CO, IV-V)_ _03\. Pumphouse campground to Rancho Del Rio (Pumphouse) (CO, III)_ _04\. Hanging Lake Exit 125 (I-70) to Shoshone Power Plant Exit 123 (I-70) (Barrel Springs) (CO, IV-V \[V+\])_ _05\. Shoshone Power Plant, Exit 123 (I-70) to Grizzly Creek, Exit 121 (I-70) (Shoshone) (CO, III-IV)_ _06\. Cameo Dam (Big Sur / Lucky 7) (CO, III)_ _07\. Loma to Westwater (Ruby / Horsethief Canyons) (CO-UT, II)_ _08\. Westwater to Rose Ranch (Westwater Canyon) (UT, I-IV)_ _09\. Cisco (Rose Ranch) to Moab (Professor Valley) (UT, I-III)_ _10\. Moab to Powell Reservoir (Cataract Canyon) (UT, I-IV)_ _11\. Lees Ferry to Lake Mead (Grand Canyon) (AZ, I-V)_ _12\. Black Canyon (AZ-NV, I)_
Difficulty
Class III
Length
1.2 mi
Gradient
15 ft/mi
Rapids
0
Difficulty Classes
I Easy II Novice III Intermediate IV Advanced V Expert/Extreme VI Unrunnable
Current Conditions
5-Day Forecast
Whitewater data from
American Whitewater