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Description
A nice classic roadside Class III and light IV run before the hard stuff hits downstream.
This upper section of the Big Thompson is a great class III to III+ river with fun wave trains, a few rock gardens, ledges, and occasional holes.
The biggest Rapid "Culvert" has a nice line on the left but a determined boater can bomb down through the big hole if they want unless the river is really high.
Unlike the lower sections the road blast is not quite as dangerous because the gradient is not as steep. While this river has seen flooding the upper section did not get too much damage compared to what lies below Drake.
As a warning, there has been a river wide tree, about a half mile above the takeout for over 10 years. This is a dangerous spot if your not paying attention and you will want to walk around on the left or just take out at the river/fishing access about .5 miles upstream of the fishing pier.