Beyond the Boulders: Whitewater Adventures in Joe's Valley

You probably know Joe’s Valley for its concentration of sandstone boulders, but did you know that the area is a whitewater destination too? Kayakers and rafters come to Joe’s Valley every year to enjoy the local rapids. Keep an eye out and you might even see them paddling past The Angler. Now, let’s talk about where and when you can expect good whitewater conditions.

Photo by Cody Redmond

Where to Enjoy the Rapids

Cottonwood Creek (or Lower Seeley Creek) flows east from the Joe’s Valley Reservoir, along Left Fork, and is popular for whitewater recreation, including kayaking and rafting. Whitewater enthusiasts are allowed to “put in” (enter the creek) at any pullout along State Highway 29 and often do so near the reservoir to extend their ride. Parking is not allowed on the dam access road and the dam itself is a restricted area. 

Season and Flow Rate

Cottonwood Creek is most popular in April and May, after a scheduled release from the Joe’s Valley Reservoir dumps springtime snow melt into the creek, increasing flow rate. Flow rate is measured in cubic feet per second (CFS). A level of 350 CFS or more is considered desirable for Cottonwood Creek, according to Gary Nichols, an expert whitewater guide in Utah. However, many seasons don’t include releases above 200 CFS and Cottonwood Creek has apparently been rafted at a flow rate as low as 180 CFS. Current flow rate for Cottonwood Creek is provided by the Emery Water Conservancy District and is labeled as either the Joes Valley Reservoir Discharge on the Cottonwood report or as the Reservoir Outflow on the Joe’s Valley Reservoir report.

Class and Difficulty

Rapids are classified by the American Whitewater Association on a scale from 1-6, with Class VI rapids considered to be “extreme and exploratory.” Cottonwood Creek includes Class III-IV rapids (or intermediate and advanced rapids), although weather conditions and flow rate, further impacted by width and gradient at key areas along the creek, can change the difficulty of rapids.

Whitewater enthusiasts should check the current flow rate and consider talking with a local guide before paddling down Cottonwood Creek. Being a Class III-IV river, novices should probably avoid Cottonwood Creek altogether. Whether you’re in Joe’s to climb above Cottonwood Creek or kayak through it, be careful around moving water and don’t forget to share your adventures with us @joesvalley on social media.

Sources

American Whitewater, https://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/River/view/river-detail/1843/main. 

Colon, Will. “Rapids Classifications - Whitewater Rafting: Raft Masters.” Colorado River Rafting & Whitewater Rafting Packages | Raft Masters, 27 Mar. 2018, https://raftmasters.com/rafting-rapids-classifications/. 

“Cottonwood.” Emery Water Conservancy District: Cottonwood, http://www.ewcd.org/canals/cottonwood. 

“Joe's Valley Reservoir.” Emery Water Conservancy District: Joe's Valley Reservoir, http://www.ewcd.org/reservoirs/joes-valley-reservoir/.