Laurel Hill
Wipkey Dam to Iron Bridge at State Gamelands Access
Approximately 7 Miles
Class 2-3
Gradient 40/70
Gauge: The Laurel Hill Creek Gauge at Ursina should be between 1.9 and 3.1
Below the put-in at Wipkey Dam, the creek is wide with some small ledges. Summer homes exist on the right. After an easy warm-up, a camp appears on the right bank. Also, a cable car crosses the rive here. Shortly after, the stream begins to neck down and enter a beautiful, gorge-like stretch. The whitewater becomes almost continuous. I recall three nice rapids that take place around left-hand bends. These rapids are characterized by drops and increase in difficulty from the first to the third. The first rapid is a ledge. The second has some swift water running over boulders on the outside bend. In the middle, there are some big waves. Run left. The third takes place after a creek enters from the right. This is a large drop made from a 4 foot, vertical ledge. Run left of the ledge and grab the eddy in the pool below. This will provide setup for a smaller drop below. Beyond this point, action remains constant for awhile. Then the creek begins to widen out. This begins the grueling run-out. The rest of the way to the take-out is shallow water and braided channels. Down trees are common in the braids.
Ran this creek the first time 5-26-03. The gauge was at 2.1 (525 CFS). Took-out above the covered bridge. Discovered take-out at iron bridge upstream. This can be reached by a state gamelands access. At this level, the run-out was picky.
Ran for the second time 6-21-03. The gauge was at 1.83 (350 CFS). Took out at the iron bridge. At this level, the drops were more evident. Some scraping occurred throughout the run and the run-out was a boat beater.
Photos
from the first run
(5-26-03)
Click on photo for full size
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| After a slight
mishap at the "Big Drop" |
Regaining Composure |