Hazard Warning: Hazard information may be user-submitted and unverified. Conditions change frequently. Always scout rapids and obstacles yourself.
Rapid CO Class III-

Big Canyon Rapid

Dolores - 03. Bradfield Launch (McPhee Reservoir) to Dove Creek Pump Station (CO)

Monitor this Rapid
Gauge Conditions
Dolores River at Dolores, Co. Upstream Primary
Runnable: ? – ? CFS

Approximate - nearest available gauge. Use as general reference only.

Data from American Whitewater & USGS
Photo
Big Canyon Rapid
Photo courtesy of American Whitewater
Description
Big Canyon Rapid presents a technical Class III- descent with moderate complexity, featuring a boulder-strewn channel that requires precise boat placement and momentum to navigate. Paddlers should be prepared for potential rock sieves and scattered mid-stream obstacles, with the primary line running center-right to avoid hydraulic recirculation zones near the canyon's outwash formation.
Location
Type
Rapid
Difficulty
Class III-
Mile Marker
18.3 mi
Directions
Navigate
View Full Run
03. Bradfield Launch (McPhee Reservoir) to Dove Creek Pump Station
Dolores
II-III(IV) 18.5 mi
Current Conditions
5-Day Forecast
Whitewater data from
American Whitewater