Town Run Betta

Originally posted May 7, 2021

Canon City Town Run 

Arkansas River Pink House to Mackenzie

This section of river is suitable for all ages, however pending on the water level, several features prove more difficult. There are several access points along the river to avoid the whitewater park if you are a complete novice. Strainers such as low lying branches, log jams, cement and rebar debris, or complete downed trees are the most common hazards along this section. Avoid them completely.  

The Pink House boat ramp is a PRIVATE gated ramp for commercial rafting company use. They had at one point allowed users with parks passes to access this point, but that program has ended and is not available for private boaters anymore.

Low Head Diversion Dam and Canon City water supply is well marked with signage to indicate the boat chute on river left. Lower wave is a good surf at medium-low water levels.

Oil Creek Rapid or Canon Ditch diversion dam is a right hand turn into a left hand move against the bank. This is a rock dam that has a boat chute river right and at low levels rocks sometimes get re-stacked allowing only a river left access. Jagged rocks in rapid along left bank.

1st Street Bridge

WKRP (whitewater park) and Centennial Park Boat Ramp river right.  

WKRP consist of 3 main features. First feature being Ice House surf hole, the block feature is located immediately up stream of Centennial Park Take Out. The second feature is WKRP surf hole is a large wave constructed from cemented boulders near Centennial Park pedestrian bridge.

4th Street Bridge and River Station Boat Ramp river left. Great access point to avoid whitewater park is you choose to. There are two boat ramps here if you miss the first ramp directly downstream of the bridge, float about 50ft down river to catch the second ramp.

Third WKRP feature is farther down stream at Black Bridge/Train Depot pedestrian bridge. It has a large play hole river left upstream of bridge. If you choose to play here, note that any carnage needs to be cleaned up before the next bridge support located in the middle of river.

Black Bridge has several old supports located just underwater on left bank. 

State Hwy 115 Bridge usually has a pile of strainers against bridge support.

Canon City River Walk joins in on the right bank. There are several little beaches on river right to stop that are public property. This continues most of the way to the take out. River right remains private property. 

Pokémon Rapid is a small wave train on river right.

Skunk Hallow Rope Swing river right near stone memorial bench. Not very deep. 

Reynolds Bridge and Boat Ramp river right. Access at Canon City River Walk Trail Head.

Dangerous Dam Ahead: Sign that states there is a dangerous dam beyond Raynolds Bridge and that it is the last takeout before the dam. The diversion dam is navigable via boat chute river left. After heavy rains strainers form on the rocks that make up the dam. Upstream View is maybe to scout. Boat chute on left!

Mackenzie Bridge Boat Ramp river right immediately after bridge. Small take out ramp, many boaters land directly under the bridge to off load passengers and walk boat to ramp. 

This is the LAST CHANCE TO TAKE OUT BEFORE A VERY DANGEROUS DAM LOCATED BETWEEN MACKENZIE BRIDGE AND FLORENCE.