Small Water: Looking for the Channels

Finding a small river like the Spanish Fork River is a treasure to cherish. I know only two other people that have kayaked this section of the river, friends Matt Long and Katie Cope. There may be more. However, I never see people navigating this section of river. In recent years the river has been a project of the city of Spanish Fork. In the attempt to save eroding banks the city has built in conjuction a bicycle trail alongside the river. Consequently, the river has become better for the sports fisherman and more navigable for small watercraft. This section of the Spanish Fork River has a few issues for small watercraft users. A large portion of the water is used for irrigation in summer months causing the river to run low. This makes the river more ideal in spring and fall for navigation. Another issue is the botanical nightmare called the Russian Olive. This invasive species can commonly be found along irrigation channels and is also prolific throughout the Spanish Fork River area. These long thorned trees can be in the way of small channels blocking the only passage of the river, be careful. Like I said, it is a treasure. Nothing here to stop the adventurous spirit. Class 1 and 2 rapids, an easy going river with challenges previously mentioned.

Click here for the map

The Journey

It had been cold all day. I was working outside on a new storage shed for my kayaks. William, my son in-law, came over and said "Let's go kayak the river". Now, I thought for sure that I was the only one in Utah that would kayak in winter weather. 

How wrong I was. Thanks, William! It was only a few hours to sundown. Luckily, we live by a river.

In small water, like the Spanish Fork River, one challenge is finding the deeper channels for passage because it beats by a longshot walking beside your kayak in freezing cold water. Reading the river is essential if you do not want frosty toes. Some of the other challenges of the SFR include: Low hanging branches and a few tricky cascades. However, the scariest part of this trip is a scourge that can leave you with puncture wounds like a schoolgirl in a vampire's lair; the dreaded Russian Olive tree.

Russian Olive trees are very common along the SFR. At one point, a small rapid pulled us right into one. I could see those long fang-like thorns coming right for me. All I could do was shield my face and ride through. Luckily we punched through unscathed. I still don't know how.

We started our trip in the rain. My car thermometer was reading 40 degrees. Donning my wool beanie, I pushed out into the cold current and William followed.  It doesn't take long before the silence of the banks and the sound of rippling water brings you to that euphoric easiness that comes with kayaking a river like this. All your worries lay secondary, like they are packed on the highest shelf, long forgotten and dusty.

The SFR has a lot of beauty to offer a kayaker. A bicycle/walking trail runs alongside the river. Consequently, there are some bridges that go over the river that were built for pedestrians. I love to see the bridges. The lack of foliage that winter offers reveals where the beaver have gnawed on some trees and very often muskrats will swim right under your kayak (this did happen to William. He is a slow draw on the camera just like me. Sorry!). We heard many different birds of prey screeching their ownership of the skies and the marmots quickly scurried to hide as you turned the bends. After all, they were not expecting you in this winter like weather. We did not see any mule deer on this trip which is very unusual because they frequently cross the river at dusk.

Provo river muskrat.

Native Americans have long considered the muskrat to be a very important animal. Some predict winter snowfall levels by observing the size and timing of muskrat lodge construction.

In several Native American creation myths, the muskrat dives to the bottom of the primordial sea to bring up the mud from which the earth is created, after other animals have failed in the task.

(wikipedia)

SFR Bridges

Marmots on the SFR Trail (previous springtime video)

Winter Mule Deer on the SFR

As you enter the lower park areas there are many large houses lining the river. It was starting to get dark as we approached this area. The houses were lit up and it gave a little, Christmas on the river, feel to our journey. It was about a 2 hour stretch of river that we ran. That is just perfect for a sundown river run. However, this trip it was overcast with some rain. I look forward to watching the sun go down next time on this westward flowing river.

Sunset on the Spanish Fork River (click)

We put in a few miles below Canyonview park where the road crosses the river. Locals call this road "Tree Line Road" (where 1100 East crosses the river). This cuts out a lot of the journey but our time was short. There is parking on the side of the road. Kayak entry is on the north/west side of the bridge. Just go under the bridge where there is a sand bar where you can enter the river easily. Our take out was just passed the Sports Park, under a bridge where the bike trail dips down to the river. Next time we will do a longer stretch.

Good times!

Shallow water and protruding logs.

Video by: William Pennington

(new camera for me. Oooops on the, out of date, time stamp)