State Line to Encampment (canyon)

This is a great run that I like to do about once a year. There are some big and very continuous rapids in the heart of the canyon. This run is Class IV at low water, Class IV+ at medium, and Class V at high water. At the highest levels this is a rollercoaster of fun, not epic, but if you swam it could be a very long hike out. Generally the bigger the rapid on this river, the more likely the line is right down the gut paddling hard. If the five miles or so in the heart of the run were easily accessable this would be one of the best whitewater runs in the rockies. As it is this run is a long drive to get there, a long dirt road shuttle, for a long paddling day with some serious flatwater and mosquito issues. The flatwater is nowhere near the kind you experience on Westwater or Gore, it is swift moving Class II, but it seems endless, particularily the last 5 miles. I reccomend packing some beer and/or Advil for the last few miles. I don't want this description to sound too harsh, if you're in the area this is an excellent and beautifull wilderness run. It's good enough that I want to make sure I hit it every season, but has enough negatives that I only hit it once a season. To Get There: From the town of Encampent drive south for about a mile until you see the sign: "Encampent River and Trail". Follow this road to a campground where the road dead-ends at a gate. This is the takeout. To get to the put-in drive back out to the main highway and head south again on the highway. After several miles turn left on FR 550, about 20 miles down this dusty road is Commissary Park, the put-in.