UPPER COLORADO RIVER SPECIAL RECREATION MANAGEMENT AREA

Map of river - Pumphouse to State Bridge

Upper Colorado River Recreation Guide (.pdf)

River Flow data (USGS Web site)

Private Boater Information

Canoeing the Upper Colorado River

Headwaters to the Blue River

Rating: Class I-II

Land Status: Private, DOW, BLM

Fishing: See Fishing webpage  

Notes:

This section of river is mostly private with a few BLM and DOW fishing access sites.  Please know where you are and respect private property.

Upper Gore Canyon

Rating: Class V, Expert

Mileage: 5.5 miles

Land Status: Private, BLM

Designate Launch/Takeout Site:

*Confluence

*Pumphouse ($3 per vehicle)

Notes: Boating is not recommended through Gore Canyon due to dangerous Class V whitewater with boulder fields, waterfalls, strong currents, and steep gradients.  The steep canyon sides and cliffs make rescue and portaging nearly impossible.  A few commercial outfitters do offer raft trips down this section of river, for a list please see below: 

Adventure Company

Blazing Adventures, LLC

Gore Range Anventures, INC. dba Lakota

Timberline Tours, INC.

Liquid Decent

Up the Creek Expiditions

Pumphouse to Radium

Rating: Class II-III, Intermediate

Mileage: 4.5 miles

Land Status: BLM

Designate Launch/Takeout Site: 

*Pumphouse ($3 per vehicle-pass good at both Pumphouse and Radium)

*Radium ($3 per vehicle)

Notes:

Mainly Class II water, Needle's Eye Rapid is Class III with two large holes above 4000 cfs.  This section is heavily used (about 60,000 visitors annually) by private and commercial boaters.  Recreation Sites are congested at times.

Radium to Rancho del Rio

Rating: Class II-III, Intermediate

Mileage: 6.5 miles

Land Status: Private, BLM

Designate Launch/Takeout Site:

*Radium ($3 per vehicle- pass good at both Pumphouse and Radium)

*Rancho del Rio (private takeout, $1 per person)

Notes:

Mainly Class II water, Yarmony Rapid located in Red Gore Canyon is a Class III rapid.

Rancho del Rio to State Bridge

Rating: Class II

Mileage: 4 miles

Land Status: BLM, private at put-in and take-out

Designate Launch/ Takeout Site:

*Rancho del Rio (private takeout, $1 per person)

*State Bridge (private takeout, $3 per person)