Yampa — 04. Cross Mountain Gorge - 85 Rd to Deer Lodge Park Rd

Cross Mountain Updated info 11-24-2023 _**I would not recommend a raft below the listed flow range of 700cfs, in a kayak it is good down to 300cfs you will hit rocks at 300 but its doable!**_ There is not a lot of information on this section of river, so  I decided to update a little. There is an old AW article from 1966: [_**www.americanwhitewater.org/content/Journal/show-page/issue/1/year/1966/page/4/**_](http://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/Journal/show-page/issue/1/year/1966/page/4/) And several other links that have been taken down or the links don't work. The article above has names of the rapids but they have since been renamed. These are the names I have been given or seen in other forums and online information. If you have different information feel free to change it. Cross is a unique section at 4.5 miles long it offers some exciting challanges at all levels. I have paddled it at 300 to 3000cfs. I have heard reports and people often paddle it much higher and flows have been seen up to 17,000cfs. The run is mostly Class IV- to 600cfs, Class IV to about 4000cfs then goes Class V. There are three put in's, the first is a campground parking lot with a pit toilet and the other  two bypass most the flat water, The second and third ones take a high clearance vehicle to get to, numer two  takes off about a mile of flat water and the third has a short hike down, to get to the mouth of the canyon. I typically just use the 1st one and use the flat water as a warm up. Mind you the flat water has sand bars that are pretty shallow. As you get closer to the canyon there is a hill on the left side before you enter the gorge, on top of the hill is a monument, you can take a high clearance vehicle up there and is a great view point looking down the canyon. The river makes a right turn and starts heading west. At the end of the flat water the canyon starts to drop and you pass the Rock of no return. This rock is in the center of the river and has a little Class II rapid around it, both sides are clean.  A hike out from here would be difficult against the current, but pulling a boat back up would work. If you have any doubt if your caft will fit now would be a good time to hike down to see Osterizer Rapid. (Disclaimer, a kayaker is writing this) As we move down the canyon we come to the first rapid Osterizer. Scout on the right.  This is a pour over type rapid, with a narrow chute afterwards. At low flows there are a couple options, at medium flows its down the middle, and at high flows a couple options open back up. Attached is a video of a Creature Craft getting worked for 3 minutes _**[Creature craft RagDoll](https://youtu.be/_AQX-UpWoG4?si=DkY19vKSwV_CyUBd)**_. After you pass through the narrow channel there are three rocks, choose your route. A large recovery pool is after this. Next up is Body Pizza, this is a read and run with boulders and holes. Death Ferry, Scout on river left notice the backboard :(  While scouting, boulder hop a little further downstream and take a look at Snake Pit. The river here goes right, and the ferry starts after the large rocks end on the left. There are several rocks, holes at higher flows, you need to get through before entering Snake Pit. Snake Pit or Corkscrew at lower levels, is entered center with a good ride down the middle. At medium flows, a curler wave forms at the very top resembling a corkscrew. It is pretty easy to punch through and ride down the middle. A nasty hole (pit) feature is on the far left and a bunch of rocks are on the right. I like it best around 1000, feels like it has the biggest drop at that level. The river mellows a bit, pay attention, rock dodging and holes are still around at medium flow. Ledge Drop or Pour Over City. Scout on the right with plenty of eddies. You will be able to see a ridge line on the left side meet the river on a left corner.  At low and medium flows, the rivers main current flows over a ledge and smashes into a cliff. A narrow slot coming out at the bottom of the slot is Magnetic Rock, the rock is in the middle of the current and pulls people righ to it. Both sides are clear. At meduim flows there are some cool boofs here, just following is a nice surf wave to play around on. You have now past the hardest part of the canyon. There are two more steepish sections that are pretty much read and run, and before it is all over, one nasty hole at higher flows in the middle of the river. Just keep an eye open for it. I have left the old description below. Cross is one of my favorite runs. Such a magical place and great whitewater, be prepared, it is remote and a hike through there at higer levels would suck. There are tons of videos on Youtube at all levels. 800-2000 is my favorite levels. 'Rioter' said, on [Boater Talk](http://boatertalk.com/HyperNews/get/BT.html), 'I've never been on the water in Cross above about 4500 cfs. It's a solid IV at this level with some must-make moves. I've also paddled it as low as 300 cfs and it wasn't great (III-), but hey it's Cross! Just beware that Cross has a short season and when it starts to go it goes. I know some people that have hit it at high water (Barry Smith claims he has run it at 17,000 if my memory is correct). For me, I like it best around 2,000-2,500 cfs. Here's the description from the AW Journal Article describing the first known descent in 1965: [content/Journal/show-page/issue/1/page/12/year/1966/](content/Journal/show-page/issue/1/page/12/year/1966/)  (currently the page order on the website is a bit messed up, but on page 5 (electronic) there's a list of rapids by mile location.