Garfield County, on the southern edge of White River National Forest between Bond to the east and Glenwood Springs to the west.

Durango 345 miles; Grand Junction 175 miles; Denver 105 miles; Santa Fe 491 miles; Albuquerque 552 miles; Phoenix 758 miles; Oklahoma City 730 miles; Tulsa 835 miles; Dallas 889 miles; Austin 1,070 miles; San Antonio 1,150 miles; Houston 1,139 miles (all distances are approximate and depend upon starting point, destination point on the river and route taken.)

Water quality on this section of the Colorado River is very good to excellent, but not drinkable without purification. The river flows clean, clear and cold. Above the Grizzly Creek access the river is rated Class IV+ with mandatory portages when flows exceed 6,000 cfs in the 2.2 mile Barrel Springs segment that has an average gradient of about 83 fpm. Shoshone, between Barrel Springs and Grizzly, is rated Class III below 4,000 cfs, and Class IV at flows over 4,000 cfs on a gradient of about 39 fpm. Below Grizzly is about 15 miles of Class II+ to III whitewater on a gradient of 19 fpm. Dress for cold water conditions.

The 2.2 mile Barrel Springs segment is best from April through July, depending upon dam releases at Hanging Lake. The 1.6 mile Shoshone segment is usually navigable year-round. From Grizzly to New Castle the best water is from March through November. The Roaring Fork River feeds this lower segment.

Upper Death Rapid, sometimes referred to as "Kayaker's Nightmare", is just below the Hanging Lake access where this run begins. It is a steep drop in a powerful current churning out of the dam at Hanging Lake. It is ONLY runnable by expert level whitewater kayakers, and is often not runnable at all. Most paddlers should put in below Upper Death Rapid. A pool below Upper Death is the usual put-in, with runs starting at Life After Death Rapid, accessed by a bike path off SH 6 and IH 70, just below Hanging Lake Dam. The pool shrinks at higher flows making the start into Life After Death a little more hairy. At flows approaching 9,000 cfs paddlers are generally better off starting their runs below Life After Death Rapid, just so they don't get an immediate opportunity to find out for themselves if there really is such a thing.

Barrel Springs Rapid comes after about a mile of easy paddling below Life After Death. At low flows a hole created by a large boulder in the channel near the top of the drop is somewhat turbulent, but can be avoided by choosing a good line for your approach, then nailing it. However, at high flows the hole is very turbulent, and all bets are off! Just buckle up, hang on tight, and try to get through it as quickly as possible. About 2/10 mile above the Shoshone powerplant is a horizon line drop with a mean right side that should be avoided. Below the powerplant sits "The Wall", an S-turn rapid with big boulders and big holes flowing by a retaining wall from the rail line above. Carefully pick a line to negotiate the holes. Bonehead Rapid is a surfing rapid with a hole that tries to be a keeper. Tombstone Rapid, with a triangular rock left of center, features a suck hole at flows of about 1,500 to 4,000 cfs. Superstition, the last rapid above Grizzly Creek access, can roll a canoe or kayak, and flip a raft, if not run properly. It sometimes comes with an audience that gathers to watch the "carnage". A good brace helps canoes and kayaks get through the rapid and its rolling waves and holes.

While there are numerous Class II+ to III rapids between Grizzly and New Castle that must be given careful consideration, most are not really that difficult or challenging for boaters with intermediate or higher level whitewater paddling skills. South Canyon Rapid, just above where South Canyon Creek enters on river left, is a strong Class III rapid at flows over 2,000 cfs that gets tougher as flows increase. This is especially true for rafts because of their lack of mobility. As flows increase the wave trains in the rapid push to the right into the bridge pilings. Extra effort should be made to avoid wrapping on the pilings. A railroad bridge about 2/3 of the way between South Canyon and New Castle, is dangerous if allowing the current to carry you into the bridge abutments. Dinosaur Hole, just upstream from the take-out, can flip a raft if run improperly.

Hanging Lake (IH 70 exit 125) below Upper Death Rapid at 0.0 miles; Shoshone access (IH 70 exit 123) at 2.2 miles; Grizzly Creek access (IH 70 exit 121) at 3.8 miles; Rock Garden campground at 6.0 miles; No Name access (IH 70 exit 119) at about 7.2 miles; Two Rivers Park access at about 7.4 miles; South Canyon access (IH 70 exit 111) at about 12.5 miles; Tibbett's Pullout at 18.8 miles.

Rock Garden Campground (privately-owned) at about 6.0 miles is the only camping area on the Colorado River between Barrel Springs and New Castle. Additional campgrounds can be found on other sections of the Colorado River and in adjacent areas.

Numerous commercial outfitters in Colorado and other states are available to provide rentals, shuttles, guided trips and river information services for the Colorado River.