Horn Creek Rapid

Horn Creek Rapid loomed ahead with a deep, throaty roar that echoed off the narrow canyon walls and signaled one of the bigger drops of this stretch. The river funneled tightly between sheer cliffs, and the horizon line disappeared sharply as the current gathered speed and power. We lined up the dory carefully for the narrow chute on the right, knowing that precision mattered here. As we dropped in, a towering wave rose quickly in front of us, lifting the bow high before slamming us into a deep trough where cold water exploded over the deck and drenched us from head to toe. The rapid was short but fierce, with sharp hydraulics and big, crashing waves packed close together. Each wave hit with a heavy punch, and we worked the oars hard to stay centered in the boiling, frothing current. The canyon walls stood tight and steep around us, magnifying the sound and force of the water as we drove through the core of the rapid. When we finally punched out into the calmer pool below, our hearts were pounding and the grin of relief and excitement spread across every face in the boat. Horn Creek was all about sharp focus, clean lines and a full-body reminder of the river’s raw power.