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Ride the Waves at the
Glenwood Springs Whitewater Park,
Now Open to Paddlers
Water features allow for kayaking nearly year round, as well as other river recreation
Glenwood Springs, CO (May 26, 2008) - Several years in the making, the Glenwood Springs Whitewater Park has begun welcoming paddlers to its exciting waves and mild pools.
The $900,000 whitewater park, designed by Glenwood Springs–based RiverRestoration.org, is located on the Colorado River just upstream from the Midland Avenue bridge and I-70’s Exit 114 in West Glenwood Springs. Because this section of the Colorado River has unusually high water flows, the park has the potential to be used well after the typical kayaking season.
“The whitewater park is already getting rave reviews,” says Kate Collins, Glenwood Springs Chamber Resort Association Vice President of Tourism Marketing. “Members of the kayaking community are spreading the word that this park is one of the best in the country.”
The whitewater park is designed for the varying levels of river flow that occur naturally throughout the year. A “standing wave” will occur during low, medium and high river flows, due to artificial boulders located at different places in the park. This is done to create a unique experience on any given day. The only time the park may not have a standing wave is when spring runoff peaks and the main water features may be totally submerged.
Also at the park are learning pools and multiple eddies, which will allow kayakers to enter the standing waves over and over again, and will also allow novice paddlers to practice their ferrying and rolling skills.
Local organizers and longtime whitewater park supporters Joe Mollica and Glenwood Springs Community Development Director Andrew McGregor have hopes that the high-caliber venue will host international kayak competitions, such as the World Cup of Freestyle Kayaking.
Rafters, surfers, boaters and folks who just want to cool off in an innertube are also welcome to play in the whitewater park. Life jackets are required and helmets are recommended for all users. The calm eddies are ideal for fly fishing when not occupied by boaters. Currently, boaters are parking on the shoulder along Devereux Road, which runs parallel to the Colorado River. An off-street, 25-space parking lot is the next priority in order to accommodate the high amount of traffic anticipated this summer.
A committee of local whitewater enthusiasts, spearheaded by Mollica and McGregor, has worked for at least seven years to bring a whitewater park to Glenwood Springs. Funding for the park came from public donors, such as the City of Glenwood Springs and Garfield County. Private donors include the Glenwood Hot Springs, Alpine Bank, Blue Ridge Investments, Heyl Civil Construction and individuals.
Phase two of the project, scheduled to begin later this year at an additional cost of approximately $500,000, includes a public bathroom, handicap accessible parking, kayak drop-off area, as well as landscaping and a terraced riverbank to allow spectators to watch all the action in the whitewater park. Also planned is a webcam, so paddlers can check on conditions before they arrive at the park.
For more information about the Glenwood Springs Whitewater Park, visit glenwoodwhitewater.org .
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Glenwood Whitewater Park
Man-made waves in the Colorado River
Wave changes depending
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