Kit Carson, the early western folk hero was one of the Taos trappers that came through the Spanish Fork canyon. The many beaver dams often remind me of his exploits in the area.
Beaver on the Spanish Fork River (Canyonview Park)
If you live in Spanish Fork then you live near the river. Not to be cliché but "a river runs through it". Melted snow runs through the rocks and rills and into rivers and creeks and eventually funnels into the Spanish fork river or as the explorers Dominguez and Escalante called it; Rio de Caliente. Probably named because of the steam they saw from a hot spring that no longer exists at the base of the canyon. They more than likely had a good view of the steam from what locals call "Escalante's Cross" on a mountain near the base of the canyon. The party allegedly had a base camp there where the view is spectacular. From there they could see anything coming.
The Spanish Fork River was the lifeblood of Spanish Fork for an abundance of wildlife and human inhabitants alike. Native American clans were found at the mouth of the river near Utah Lake by early European settlers. In addition to the pioneer Icelanders that were sent here to colonize the area by Governor Brigham Young. There is no doubt that they all fetched life sustaining water from the Spanish Fork River. Over the years flooding from the river sometimes overtook adjacent farm lands in the valley and today you can find a few automobiles still lining the banks where farmers tried to barricade their land with anything they could against the encroaching river. Don't forget to check the tires as you kayak by. Kayaking the river can be a timing thing. The river is still very much in use for life sustaining water as it irrigates many of the farms that line the river. At some of the hottest times of the year the water is greatly diverted into irrigation ditches and magically turned into corn, wheat and potatoes.
Pawapicts on the Spanish Fork River
Water flow:
Mean 122 cfs
Median 109 cfs
Check today:
I would divide the Spanish Fork River into 2 sections: The Mountain Section and The City Section.
The Mountain Section (approximately 3.5 miles)
This typically has a put in near the confluence of the Diamond Fork River and the Spanish Fork River. In fact you can put in at the Diamond Fork River and feed in to the Spanish Fork River at the confluence. There is a tunnel there that diverts the DFR under highway 6. You can start right after the tunnel.
Put in at Diamond Fork River (click) Mountain Section
If you put in at the Thistle Slide you get two extra miles of adventure:
Narrow channels, beaver dams, and shallows (Thistle Slide put in)
There is a section of river that has a class III staircased portion. It is great for someone who is ready to start some white water. I call this section "Kit Carson's Conundrum"
Kit Carson's Conundrum (April 2018)
Below KCC (Kit Carson's Conundrum) May 2018
I recommend covered bridge road for the take out of the Mountain Section. (click)
City Section
Although I call this The City Section it is mostly surrounded by riparian forest and farm land. It does go through the city and passes under some city streets. It is 11 miles or so from Tree line road to Sandy Beach however, you can take out in many places along the way I often will take out just after the Sports Park where bridges cross the river. Wildlife is abundant on the Spanish Fork River;
including waterfowl it is common to see mule deer, marmots and muskrats on this section.
I really like this put in spot. (click)
including waterfowl it is common to see mule deer, marmots and muskrats on this section.
I really like this put in spot. (click)
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