Icy Spanish Fork River: Put in at the Thistle Slide

 

March snow melt near the Thistle Slide.

Most people that come this way are here to try out their new firearm or practice with there old one. The Thistle Slide area is a popular spot for locals to come and practice clay pigeon shooting or honing in that new scope for the hunt. It always has surprised me that the elk herds came through this area so frequently. I have often heard bull elk bugling at dusk and on occasion I have spotted a few. 

The challenge of navigating this small river is enough to get me there. The beautiful landscapes and other displays of nature are the icing on the cake. This 4 mile stretch of river has a few class II and III rapids. However most of this stretch is a tiny river that will meander through tiny channels that have been dug out by the river for milenia. I love the challenge of finding those channels by watching the river follow its least flow of resistance. 

Before you get to the confluence of the Diamond Fork and the Spanish Fork rivers you will pass through the Spanish Fork River Park campground. There is a bridge that divides the main campground and the primitive campground. I have stayed in both but prefer the quiet of the primitive campground that is just south of you after going under the bridge. Most of the time I never have to share it. There used to be a sign there revealing a cost of two dollars for use of the campground. Just talk to the camp host during the regular season to see if there is any cost. 

Kayaking class Diamond Fork river after it passes under the highway and before it goes into the Spanish Fork River.

The rapids on this river are surrounded by private property. We walked around the class III because we were in large cockpit kayaks. Another time.

The Video:

History:

Thistle Slide 1983 (click)

The early spanish explorers called the Spanish Fork River "El Rio de Aquas Calientes" , Possibly because of the Thermal hot spring that eventually mix into the river from a few of its tributaries but more likely because of the dinomited hot spring that no longer exists at the mouth of the canyon that the river flows out of.

Hot spring that flows into the Spanish Fork River. 

Watch out for Russian Olives. (click)