Bridges on the Poudre
Dave Hoag taming Bridges at high water
Rating: Class III, Easier if the rock is at 1.5' or lower, but still class III. If you are new to Bridges, see the videos at the bottom of this web page.
The meeting time may vary, so watch for emails from the club. There is often a run at 3:30 pm and again at 5:30 pm. The meeting place is usually the Bridges take-out, but again, follow the email.
PFD, helmet, and boat flotation are required.
Directions to Bridges: Take 287 to Ted's place and go west on 14 into the Poudre Canyon. Watch the mile markers. The put-in is at mile 113.1. See the map below.
If you don't like mile markers, take 287 to Ted's place, go west into the canyon, pass Picnic Rock parking lot. Keep going. Eventually you will go up a hill and pass Gateway Natural Area on your right. Keep going and you will pass a dam. That is where Greeley takes most of the water out of the Poudre. A few blocks after the dam, there is a sunken parking lot on road right about 5 feet below the road. You can see the top of a port-a-potty. That is the Bridges take-out. For the put-in, keep driving. Go past Grey Rock parking area on your left and then look for a long parking area on the right. It will have another port-a-potty at the end. This is the Bridges put-in. Park outside the signs if you are floating in the afternoon as the commercial rafters need space for their big rigs.
Description: Rapids include Pin Ball, Killer Bridge, Roller Coaster, and Red House, in that order. Some people list Greyrock as a rapid, and it comes before Pin Ball. Generally, the river is easier at the start and gets more difficult. If you have swum 3 times before you get to Pin Ball, you probably should walk out. The road follows the river so you can exit anywhere and there are some bridges you can cross. Bridges is unique in that you can run it when most runs are dry. The Poudre Paddlers generally run Bridges at the start of the year and at the end of the year and float Filter Plant in between when it has water.
If the commercial raft companies are taking people down the river, make sure you leave parking space for them. They are important to us as they keep the rivers open for boating.
If the commercial raft companies are taking people down the river, make sure you leave parking space for them. They are important to us as they keep the rivers open for boating.
Ron Huffmeier made some nice videos of the Bridges run at low water.
Below is a video of Greyrock Rapid, just downstream of the Greyrock bridge.
Below is a video of Greyrock Rapid, just downstream of the Greyrock bridge.
Pin Ball rapid is show below. This is the first class III on Bridges. The easiest route is to just stay right.
Killer Bridge video is below.
Roller Coaster video is below.
Red House video is below. It is basically one drop.
Host: The email will mention who is hosting the float and also the meeting time and place.