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Henson Creek
Photo by Scott Baker
"A southwestern Colorado classic, Henson Creek, a tributary of the Lake Fork of the Gunnison River, is a Class V seven-mile run through a beautiful high alpine canyon where mountain peaks soar all around. The coolest part of this section is not the whitewater itself but the history of the gorge. Once a feeder of two dams and an abandoned mining operation, Henson Creek is most commonly paddled by locals. You can actually paddle right though holes that were built into the dams. As of spring 2008, wood problems had cleared, making the run more enjoyable. But it's a new year - no guarantee there won't be more wood. Here, Dan LaHam and Niko Peha paddle though the second dam." ACCESS| Drive the Henson Creek Road west out of Lake City, Colo. On the drive up the canyon, stop to scout as needed - there are mandatory portages. When you get to the Nellie Creek Road and confluence, put in. Take out about a half a mile upstream from Lake City or wherever you find a good spot above town. TRIP REPORT| southwestpaddler.com/docs/gunnison14.html
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