Coliseum (aka Three Chimneys, Z-turn, Arches)

The most technical rapid on the river with two choices as described below.  The whole run is very short but tricky and should be land-scouted on river left by first-timers from the easy to catch large eddy before the entrance to the rapid.   About a third of the river volume channels to river right into the basment of a delapataded mill building (The Room of Doom) it then passes through the old discharge arches that are usually clogged with debris such as trees. "The Room of Doom" is full of rebar and log cribbing, it also contains 4 vertical penstocks 5' in diameter one of which still sucks water through creating a visible wirlpool at low water levels. The discharge for the tube is probably under the rock pile in the middle of the river. Any paddler who enters river center will end up in a dangerous boulder sieve.  In short, you must go right or left.  There is an small eddy on river right that can be useful to get a better eye on things from your boat before entering the rapid.

(1) Class III common route: enter the rapid river center and take a sharp 90-degree left.  Maneuver over a boulder strewn drop, where the river heads directly into a stone wall, and take a hard 90-degree right. There is also an eddy river left just before the stone wall (some rebar here at low water).

(2) Class III+ maneuver for the adventurous: start at river center and stay right-center to push through a high-penalty surf wave (easier on its left end) and catch the eddy swirling immediately under the brick arches.  Adjust your orientation and then proceed down a boulder-strewn drop staying river right while avoiding a piton rock and the rock sieve in river center.

See this YouTube video of 4 paddlers passing through Coliseum Rapid at 1170 cfs.

See the Coliseum Rapid Map