PumpHouse Rapid (Class III) - Royal Gorge

You’ll float past a bit of history as you negotiate this rapid. Pumphouse Rapid is a punchy class III rapid which long ago featured a low head damn. The damn backed up the river a little ways, directing it into a pumphouse on river right. From here, the water travelled the entire length of the Royal Gorge contained in a pipeline which served Cañon City’s municipal water supply from the early 1900’s to sometime in the 1970’s. 

But what’s the rapid like? You’ll experience a bumpy drop of waves and rocks just above the old pumphouse, followed by a flat pool where the damn waters used to back up. Right after this we launch back into the rapid and must avoid a large boulder right of center at the bottom. Regardless of the river flow, you’ll enjoy the challenge and splashes of Pumphouse Rapid!