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The Fraser is an exciting and dynamic canyon which laregly feels like creek boating. The only public land is from the confluence of Ranch Creek and the Fraser to the tunnel. The next public land is at the takeout. Do not stop on private land. Read and run until Thumper (III-IV) ~ 1.5 miles past the tunnel bridge which marks the end of public land. Scout river left - fast landing at a tree-less scramble to the tracks - or read and run. Higher flows can be more foregiving. The preferred run is right with a pull off Thumper rock. Read and run rapids (I-II+) follow intermittently for the next ~2 - 2.5 miles. The runout behind Granby Ranch is calm and winding. Where braided, avoid the left no-go channel. Be prepared to encounter deadfall across parts or all of the river at any time. Recommend using this guage to assess flow in the canyon: [https://dwr.state.co.us/Tools/Stations/FRAGRACO?params=DISCHRG](https://dwr.state.co.us/Tools/Stations/FRAGRACO?params=DISCHRG) (or combine Fraser @ Tabernash with Ranch Creek on USGS). Small boats can run this stretch at significantly lower flows.
Class IV — advanced, demanding rapids
Grade from OpenStreetMap contributors. Conditions change with flow — scout before you run.
Grand County, Colorado
Put-in coordinates mark the river reach; scout access and current before launching.
River geometry from american whitewater. Conditions and grades are guidance, not a substitute for on-the-water judgment.