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| Lower Eagle
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Avg Rating:
Current Rating
Total Votes:
no votes
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Run Length
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17.4 miles
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Average Gradient
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36 fpm
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Difficulty
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Class III
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Recommended Flow
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700 - 5000 cfs
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River
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Eagle River
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Location
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Vail, Colorado, United States
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Author
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Jimmy Escamia
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Current Flow & Weather
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Drainage
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Eagle
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Elevation
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7160ft to 6540ft
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The Lower Eagle section begins at the Edwards water treatment plant and "ends" at the Town of Eagle, though the river can actually be run all the way to the confluence with the Colorado River near Dotsero. This run is great for beginners consisting of mostly class II with a few class III’s. The scenery is gorgeous with some pool drop sections that offers excitement without extreme risk.
Specials thanks to our parnter!
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| Disclaimer |
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| | Put-In
The put-in is at the Edwards water treatment plant, 1 mile west of Edwards on Highway 6, at the bridge. | | | Trestle Rapid Class III+
Just after Wolcott, Trestle rapid begins. Look for the obvious RR trestle. At high water, clearance can be tight at the bridge. The rapid consists of a wave train that goes from larger to smaller, then another one around a curve. There are two large boulders at the rapid's exit, with a sometimes nasty hole near the one on river right. Overall it is a pretty long rapid with sharp pointy rocks and RR debris. At low water it is a long III-, at highest water, it is maybe a III+ to IV- due to the difficult entrance and continuous nature. | | | Dave's Waves Class III-
Fun Wave Train just west of the Edwards shit plant and right near the new Christian school. They get larger at higher water. No major obstructions. II+ at lower water.
P.S. this one is out of order in the list, it should be the first one. | | | Interstate Rapid Class III
About half a mile or so past the Wolcott BLM campsites (also alternate river access with boat ramp here). The river crosses under the I-70 overpass and makes a right bend. Large lateral type waves form on river left at higher water, boney on far right. Also "guide ejector" rock becomes a pourover at certain levels that makes for a nice catapult for raft guides. As always, can get bigger at higher water, and not very interesting at lower water. | | | Dead Cow Class III
Comes up between Wolcott and Eagle. Best way to find it is follow the line of the large red dirt ridge downstream on river left that drops from the mountains to the river. When you get to it, this is where the rapid is. Mostly a large wave train with some random rocks or holes and some boney spots. Nice big fun laterals on river left with the deepest channel. A few rocks. The laterals get quite large at high water, and almost disappear at lower water. Runs from III- to III+, depending on flows. | | | S- Turns Class III-
Short S turn with some busy water, and a big hole or two on river right. | | | Rodeo Class IV
Learning boaters beware. There are two possible take-outs, one above, and one below this drop. Above is at Chambers park by the historical info center. Below is at the rodeo fairgrounds. You will cross under the round-a-bout bridge before the park. If you continue to the fairgrounds, the river will get busy with a wave train and some rocky type waves before making a 90 degree left turn. Just after this turn, you will see a distinct horizon line. There is a drop that varies in size with the water level. At high water, a powerful hydraulic forms with a secondary hydraulic forming at the boil line. Maytag style trashings are possible with a line up the middle. Possible to sneak past the meat by staying on the right bank. There is also an eddy just beyond the drop on the right. Just below there is a another smaller drop that forms a fun short wave train. After this, it starts to slow down (watch out for a strainer that has been there for a few years- a sneaky forked tree wrapped on the bridge pylon that is usually lurking just under the water. The take-out is river right, a sometimes small landing zone in higher water. The rodeo drop shrinks down considerably at lower water, but rumor has it that there is mank and re-bar in the riverbed where the drop forms. You can easily shuttle scout this drop by going into the large gravel truck rest stop parking lot and looking from the fence. | | | Kayaker's Nightmare (??) Class III-
Forgot this one. I've been told this is the name, despite the fact that it isn't that significant of a rapid. It is between Trestle and the Wolcott BLM campground (alt takeout). This is a short rapid, deep channel on the left, also a big boulder just past the enterance to avoid on the left. After that, some waves. | | | Rodeo Rapid (new description) Class IV-
The rapid has now changed. The big drop with the hole has become more like 3 lesser drops. This may not be super accurate as I was confused when I went through the only time this season, but it seems to have made the rapid less intense. Now it is more like III+ to IV-. | | | Take-Out
The final take-out point on this section of the Eagle River is Chambers Park, on river right, in the Town of Eagle at 17.4 miles. |
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