paddling with a camera

Gross Reservoir on South Boulder Creek is a new attractive destination for Front Range paddlers. It was opened by Denver Water this year for paddling (or using any car-top boats) during summer months.

Gross Reservoir July 2005

Early morning on July 23rd I drove from Fort Collins through Boulder and Boulder Mountain Parks to the Gross Reservoir. I launched my Sisson kayak at the Osprey Point boat ramp on the southern shore. just after 8am. It was already some wind on the reservoir and it was getting stronger during the day.

First, I paddled to the Winiger Gulch and and then to the South Bolder Creek arm. There is a nice cascade where the creek enters the reservoir. When I was back to the Osprey Point Eric Nyre showed up in his Alden rowing shell, so we went again to the South Boulder Creek arm, and, then, again for the third time with Eric Niles in his Bell canoe. This was the nicest spot on the reservoir. I also liked the burnt forest in the Winiger Ridge arm. The forest bottom was all covered with wild flowers.

Later, I completed my paddling around the reservoir by visiting the north arm and stopping with both Erics on a nice peninsula near the boat house. There was quite a lot of canoes, kayaks and fishing boats on the water and the Osprey Point parking lot was full.

I was trying to return home using another route but it took me close to Denver area and I had to drive through Arvada. However, I had a nice stop at the upper Eldorado Canyon State Park to take a distant look at the Gross Reservoir Dam. The reservoir is open till September 30th, so I have a chance to paddle and photograph there again this year.

GPS trip odometer: distance 12.9 miles, moving time: 2:53h , stopping time: 1:14h, average moving speed: 4.5mph , max speed: 7.4mph .

Eric Nyre posted a report from the same trip on Canoe Colorado pages. He made some pictures of me trying his Alden 18 rowing shell. One of his pictures is showing how I am shooting from the board of my tippy Sisson kayak with a tiny and "tippy" Pentax Optio WP camera. Due to a small size this camera can be easily shaken when pressing the shutter button unless some precautions are taken, e.g., using a 2s self timer or/and stabilizing the camera on a paddle.

Another photo report is available from Tom Yost who paddled east Greenland kayak on the Gross Reservoir. Even more information on paddling there can be found at Rocky Mountain Sea Kayak Club.

Related post:

• Gross Reservoir - Fall Paddling in Colorado Rocky Mountains
• 9 Pictures from Paddling Gross Reservoir in Colorado's Rocky Mountains