Vallecito Creek

For the expert paddlers, Vallecito Creek offers the best mile of creeking in Colorado. Steep and usually clean, the clear blue water is invigorating - especially after you arrive at the put in, a place gained after a one-mile uphille hike. A good run down Vallecito is one of the best feelings I've had in paddling.

The "Creek" is tucked into the beginnings of the Weminuche Wilderness - the largest wilderness area in the lower 48 states. An overview of the run would show a tight twisting granite gorge filled with boulders large and small. Must make moves, boofs at every rapid, and little chance to escape during the run make for a very committing paddle. Vallecito has slapped every good paddler I know even after they've run it many times. Don't drop in unless you're solid Class V and go with someone who knows the run for your first time down. Scouting is difficult if not impossible for many of the drops.

Upon launching, you'll encounter a hundred yards of warm up rapids with fun boofs and eddies. Spend sometime here getting your psyche on and figuring things out because just downstream lies the first major rapid - Entrance Falls.
I first began paddling this run in the 90's and Entrance Falls was a clean straight forward 20 foot boof. Things have changed since then and the falls is now guarded by several holes making the line up to the drop trickier. Also, the falls is more of a ramp now so boofing is trickier. Many a good paddler has swam this falls and it's also the site of last year's only fatality. You can get out above the falls on river left to scout. Once you drop in, there's little chance to escape if things go wrong. The smooth granite walls offer little opportunity to climb out.

After Entrance Falls, the next series of drops called Trash Can await. Paddle over the boulders into a foamy pool and make your way to the river left eddy above the last boof. Catch the river left eddy, take a breather for a second then peel out and hit the 8 ft. boof. There's a pool below the drops in Trash Can to catch a breath.

Several more boofs, boulder gardens, and fun Class V drops lead to a magical pool above Fuzzy Bunny - a 15 ft. boof into a pool. Fuzzy Bunny is guarded on the left by a house rock and on the right by the sheer granite walls of the canyon. Boof into the slot and enjoy the ride. Get out of your boat, hike up and do it again. This is an awesome place to take a break, have a snack, shoot pics and hang with friends. Look downstream from the top of the house rock and check out the gradient for the next series of drops. Incredible!!!

I feel the next set of rapids represent the crux of the run. Two rapids without rest - Boofant Blast into Paddle Bitch - require precise paddling and must make moves. The undercut/sieve in Paddle Bitch has resulted in broken boats, trapped paddlers, dislocated shoulders and other carnage. It's possible to scout this section on river left...just make the eddy!!!! Boofant Blast begins with a 4 ft. boof into fast water cruising through boulders. Catch the eddy river right and set yourself up for Paddle Bitch. Two boofs and a perfectly timed stroke lead you past the undercut and into the pool below.

Finally No Way Out, the last major rapid on the run, is infront of you. Pick your way downstream on either side of a large granite boulder boofing and making moves until the final move - a left hand boof infront of a hundred foot granite wall. A last sweet boof at Finish Line means the run is over.

Come to Durango and we'll paddle this run together. It'll change your world!!!!