Gore Canyon facts for kids
Gore Canyon is a short, exciting canyon located on the upper Colorado River in Grand County, Colorado, United States. This steep and rugged canyon is about 3 miles (5 kilometers) long. The powerful river carved it as it flowed past the northern end of the Gore Range mountains.
Inside the canyon, the Colorado River drops from about 7,300 feet (2,225 meters) to 7,000 feet (2,134 meters). The canyon walls rise steeply, reaching about 1,000 feet (305 meters) high on both sides. Gore Canyon marks the end of the Middle Park area in north-central Colorado.
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Getting Through Gore Canyon
Gore Canyon is a very isolated place. You can't reach it by most roads. Instead, the Union Pacific Railroad's Moffat Subdivision runs through it. Building this railway line was a huge engineering challenge back then!
The Railroad's Challenge
Even though the canyon is short, it was a very tough obstacle for the railroad builders. Getting the tracks through Gore Canyon was seen as an amazing feat of engineering when it was completed. It showed how determined engineers were to connect different parts of the country.
How to See the Canyon
While you can't drive directly into the canyon, you can get a peek at it. A road called Grand County Road 1 (also known as Trough Road) runs along its southern rim. This road is part of the Colorado Headwaters Scenic Byway, a beautiful route for sightseeing. The famous California Zephyr passenger train also travels right through the canyon, offering passengers incredible views.
Whitewater Adventures
Gore Canyon is also famous for its wild and challenging whitewater rapids. These rapids are considered "Class V," which means they are very difficult and only for expert paddlers.
A River Too Wild?
In the 1800s, an explorer named "Captain" Samuel Adams tried to navigate the canyon by boat. He decided it was too dangerous and impossible to pass. Over the years, the railroad construction added more rocks and hazards to the river. This made the rapids even tougher!
Rafting and Kayaking Fun
Today, expert kayakers and rafters love to challenge Gore Canyon. It's a popular spot for thrilling river adventures. The canyon was first successfully rafted in the 1970s. Now, you can even find commercial rafting trips that take brave adventurers through its waters.
Many rafting companies agree that Gore Canyon has the wildest commercially available whitewater rafting in Colorado. Some even say it's the wildest in the entire country! If you're brave enough to raft or kayak here, you'll face rapids with names like Pyrite, Tunnel Falls, and Gore Rapid. Because it's such wild water, Gore Canyon is considered very dangerous for anyone who isn't an expert river runner.
The Gore Canyon Festival
Every year, river lovers gather for the Gore Canyon Whitewater Festival. It's held on the third Saturday of August. This festival includes exciting races and other celebrations of the river. It's also the host for the US National White Water Rafting Championship, where the best rafters in the country compete!
