July 31st, 2015

7/31/2015

Pagosa Springs

The Pagosa Springs park has five or six drops spread over almost a mile. There are several ledges and holes interspersed between the usable features, and there are a variety of auto and foot bridges across the park, some of which may not yet be on Google Maps, so before getting in the water orient yourself by car, bike, or foot; or make sure you study and memorize the map thoroughly. At a minimum, find the visitor’s center, the Police department and Yamaguchi park before taking to the water. We know one visitor who visited Pagosa, didn't orient themselves before getting in the water and missed half the park.

The river goes off in late April or early May and is frequently done by the beginning of July.

We added some directions into this report contributed by Local Pagosian Chris Coleman.

“The Pagosa Springs Whitewater Park Run consists of 5 1/2 features spread out over approximately 1 river mile on the San Juan River. Most of the features develop different characteristics at different flows. Optimal flows are 600 CFS and up. It runs in April, May and June and later if we get substantial rainfall.

The first feature is the Town Park Wave, which is located at Town Park off of Hot Springs Boulevard and Hwy 160. [upstream of the Hot Springs Boulevard automobile bridge] This is a nice wave that will serve up spins, cartwheels, blunts ETC. Loops are possible at some levels. Advanced wave tricks are possible for expert play boaters at higher levels. The optimal flow level for this wave is 500 CFS and up. The higher the flow, the better this wave gets.

Wave # 1 1/2 is located about 50 yards downstream from the Town Park Wave. I call it 1 1/2 because it is only in at certain flows and is usually passed up by most boaters. This is a small surf wave that is friendly for beginners and a fun catch on the fly wave for all boaters. It comes in at about 500 CFS. At flows above 2000 CFS, this wave turns into an epic surf wave.

Davey’s Wave is located about 125 yards downstream from Town Park Wave adjacent to the Pagosa Springs Visitor Center and just up stream from The Springs Resort. [This is below the Hot Springs Boulevard Automobile bridge] This wave is actually a river wide hole. The optimal flows for this feature are between 650-900 CFS. After 1200 CFS, this hole flattens out a bit and becomes quite rowdy. All hole moves are possible here.

[There is a long gap between Davey's Wave and the Donut Wave. Leaving Davey's wave you might feel like you have left town. Don't panic. You will get to the rest of the features.]

About 0.7 river miles downstream from Davey’s wave is the Donut Wave (Donut Hole). It is named for its proximity behind the Police Department station on Hot Springs Blvd. [On the west side of the river it is downstream from a small private gazebo. It is above the Apache Street Automobile Bridge.] This is a small, flat wave that is excellent for beginner play boaters who want to become comfortable surfing. It is in year round, but is not really worth surfing until 300 CFS. Front surf, back surf and spins are possible here. Unfortunately, it is too shallow for cartwheels and blunts until the flow reaches 800 CFS. I think McNasty's are possible here.

The Upper Yamaguchi Wave is located about 150 yards downstream from the Donut Wave at Yamaguchi Park on S. 5th st. [This is below the Apache Street automobile bridge.] This is an awesome wave that is rideable from 300 CFS and above. The bigger the flow, the better this wave gets. The wave becomes tall and green from about 600-900 CFS, but once you are surfing it, a pile will form. Most wave tricks are possible here. Eddy service is very tricky at 600-900 CFS. This is my favorite wave of all the features.

The Lower Yamaguchi Wave is located about 100 yards downstream from The Upper Yamaguchi Wave next to the gazebo at Yamaguchi Park. [Note that this is a large park gazebo, not the small private gazebo above the Donut wave.] This wave is not working well at this time but will probably be fixed in the future. It was a decent wave before it broke. Take out just below this feature unless you want to run the 12 mile Mesa Canyon run where portaging and trespassing is strictly prohibited by private land owners.

Pagosa Springs Whitewater Park is very unique. It is the only park that I know of that can be a run of a mile or more or park and play is possible at each of the features. The features are being adjusted as needed every winter and there will be one or two more features added within the next couple of years.”

Click here for the Pagosa gauge.

Click here for a map and directions to the Pagosa Whitewater Park.

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July 31st, 2015

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