Whitewater
Kayaking & Rafting in
Colorado
#1.
Colorado River: Kremmling
to Pumphouse (Gore Canyon)
If you are looking for an
enjoyable raft or kayak
run, Gore Canyon is not
for you. Through this gorge
the Colorado River resembles
a cascade. The biggest obstacle
in Gore Canyon is not the
Colorado'...
From the guidebook "Floater's
Guide To Colorado"
Running
the Rivers of North America
Radium, CO - Whitewater
Paddling - 11 miles
#2. South Fork of
the South Platte River:
Deckers to North Fork Confluence
Below Deckers, the South
Platte Canyon is a favorite
resort and fishing area.
Although the rapids are
generally light, landowners
have thrown up fences and
"No Trespassing"
signs in several places
al...
From the guidebook "Floater's
Guide To Colorado"
Running
the Rivers of North America
Deckers, CO - Whitewater
Paddling - 14 miles
#3. Colorado River:
Pumphouse to State Bridge
Colorado's most popular
raft trip is chiefly a commercial
operator's mecca, but private
rafters, kayakers, and open
canoeists can also enjoy
the relaxing, intermediate
water. The BLM has not slapped
...
From the guidebook "Floater's
Guide To Colorado"
Running
the Rivers of North America
Radium, CO - Whitewater
Paddling - 14 miles
#4. Arkansas River:
Granite to Pueblo Reservoir
The Arkansas in this stretch
tumbles through the most
difficult whitewater on
the river outside the Royal
Gorge. An average gradient
of 60 feet per mile and
a channel filled with granite
boulders mak...
From the guidebook "Floater's
Guide To Colorado"
Running
the Rivers of North America
Granite, CO - Whitewater
Paddling - 129 miles
#5. Lake Fork of
the Gunnison: BLM Campground
to Blue Mesa Reservoir (Lower
Lake Fork Canyon)
Below Gateview the Lake
Fork departs from the lava-bed
country of its upper reaches
and knifes into the region's
basement rock, the Black
Canyon Schist. The character
of the valley shifts abruptly
to...
From the guidebook "Floater's
Guide To Colorado"
Running
the Rivers of North America
Gateview, CO - Whitewater
Paddling - 5 miles
#6. Williams Fork:
Horseshoe Campground to
Williams Fork Reservoir
The river clips along with
a steady gradient of 50
to 75 feet per mile, resulting
in swift class II to IV
water. Two miles downriver
from Horseshoe Campground
lies a rugged, three-mile-long
canyon wi...
From the guidebook "Floater's
Guide To Colorado"
Running
the Rivers of North America
Parshall, CO - Whitewater
Paddling - 9 miles
#7. Animas River:
Silverton to Rockwood (Upper
Run)
The Animas River Canyon
is safe only for expert
kayakers - and then only
at moderate water levels.
Attempts to run the canyon
in rafts have sometimes
been attended with tragic
results; the continuous...
From the guidebook "Floater's
Guide To Colorado"
Running
the Rivers of North America
Silverton, CO - Whitewater
Paddling - 28 miles
#8. Green River:
Gates of Lodore To Split
Mountain Boat Ramp (Lodore,
Whirlpool and Split Mountain
Canyons)
The run through Dinosaur
National Monument takes
two to four days. Although
permits can be difficult
to get due to heavy demand,
there are usually many cancellations,
especially late in the summer.
...
From the guidebook "Floater's
Guide To Colorado"
Running
the Rivers of North America
Lodore, CO - Whitewater
Paddling - 45 miles
#9. Blue River:
Dillon Reservoir to Green
Mountain
The Blue River occupies
a pastoral valley between
soaring monarchs of the
Gore Range to the west and
the Williams Fork Mountains
to the east. It is swift
and cold but not overbearing,
rated class I a...
From the guidebook "Floater's
Guide To Colorado"
Running
the Rivers of North America
Dillon, CO - Whitewater
Paddling - 20 miles
#10. Gunnison River:
Almont to Blue Mesa Reservoir
The first mile below Almont
has some class II whitewater.
The only significant rapids
below this first mile lie
nine miles downriver along
the flank of the Palisades,
a volcanic ridge west of
Gunniso...
From the guidebook "Floater's
Guide To Colorado"
Running
the Rivers of North America
Almont, CO - Whitewater
Paddling - 18 miles
More whitewater
paddling and rafting in
Colorado Running
the Rivers of North America
