The Fryingpan River is a tributary of the Roaring Fork River, approximately 42 miles long, in Eagle and Pitkin counties in Colorado, United States. The name originated when all but two of a group of trappers were killed by Utes; one survivor was injured and stayed in a cave while the other went to summon help after hanging a frying pan in a tree so he could find th…The Fryingpan River is a tributary of the Roaring Fork River, approximately 42 miles long, in Eagle and Pitkin counties in Colorado, United States. The name originated when all but two of a group of trappers were killed by Utes; one survivor was injured and stayed in a cave while the other went to summon help after hanging a frying pan in a tree so he could find the cave again.