Filter Plant on the Poudre
Steve Luttmann paddling his Genesis through Mad Dog Rapid
Directions: We meet at Gateway Park. Be ready to shuttle at 5:30 pm. The Park charges $7.00 to enter, even if you are just unloading your boat, or $40 for a season pass. On Thursday nights, you might be able to unload your boat and then drive down to Picnic Rock without paying $7.00. There is usually no one around. If the ranger talks to you, say you just didn't get to the machine yet, where you insert your credit card.
We float from Gateway Park to to Picnic Rock. To get to Gateway, take 287 to Highway 14 and go west on 14 for about 5 miles. The intersection of Highway 14 and 287 is called Ted's Place. You enter the canyon, go past the dam and next you can see the Picnic Rock parking lot on your left. Gateway Park is a couple miles further up the road. In the Poudre Canyon, you will be driving up a hill and can see a big water tank to the right. At the top of the hill you will exit to the right and drive down a winding road near the water tank to Gateway Park. Gateway Park is at mile marker 116.4. Picnic Rock is at mile marker 119.
Flow Rate: The flow through Filter Plant can be found at this link:
Filter Plant Flow
If water is present in the ditch as you drive into the canyon, then Filter Plant may have as much as 150 cfs more flow than the gauge shows. Anything under 400 cfs is getting bony and too low. A good level for beginners is 600-800 cfs. Above 1000 cfs, swims can become long.
Rating: Class II. Mad Dog is class III, but it can easily be portaged.
Rapids:
Rock Slide
Screaming left Hand Turn
Sluice Box
Mad Dog
PFD, helmet, and canoe flotation required. The water is very cold, so you may want to dress accordingly.
Description: Filter plant has many fun play spots. You should have experience with runs like the Town Run before floating Filter Plant. The lower Filter Plant below Mad Dog is without major rapids and is an excellent introduction to class II water. Arrangements can be made to meet the Filter Plant group at the start of this section. The take-out is at Lower Picnic Rock.
Possible Hosts:
Mike O'Brien, obrienm@prpa.org
Scott Rankin, scott@leadingedgefinancialgroup.com
We float from Gateway Park to to Picnic Rock. To get to Gateway, take 287 to Highway 14 and go west on 14 for about 5 miles. The intersection of Highway 14 and 287 is called Ted's Place. You enter the canyon, go past the dam and next you can see the Picnic Rock parking lot on your left. Gateway Park is a couple miles further up the road. In the Poudre Canyon, you will be driving up a hill and can see a big water tank to the right. At the top of the hill you will exit to the right and drive down a winding road near the water tank to Gateway Park. Gateway Park is at mile marker 116.4. Picnic Rock is at mile marker 119.
Flow Rate: The flow through Filter Plant can be found at this link:
Filter Plant Flow
If water is present in the ditch as you drive into the canyon, then Filter Plant may have as much as 150 cfs more flow than the gauge shows. Anything under 400 cfs is getting bony and too low. A good level for beginners is 600-800 cfs. Above 1000 cfs, swims can become long.
Rating: Class II. Mad Dog is class III, but it can easily be portaged.
Rapids:
Rock Slide
Screaming left Hand Turn
Sluice Box
Mad Dog
PFD, helmet, and canoe flotation required. The water is very cold, so you may want to dress accordingly.
Description: Filter plant has many fun play spots. You should have experience with runs like the Town Run before floating Filter Plant. The lower Filter Plant below Mad Dog is without major rapids and is an excellent introduction to class II water. Arrangements can be made to meet the Filter Plant group at the start of this section. The take-out is at Lower Picnic Rock.
Possible Hosts:
Mike O'Brien, obrienm@prpa.org
Scott Rankin, scott@leadingedgefinancialgroup.com
