Headwaters To Confluence With Medano Creek river run
Headwaters To Confluence With Medano Creek
The segment mileage for the Whitewater River Run is approximately 12 miles, starting at the headwaters near the Great Sand Dunes National Park and ending at the confluence with Medano Creek. Some of the specific river rapids and obstacles include Baby Falls, which is a Class III rapid, and the S-turns, which can be a bit tricky to navigate.
There are specific regulations for this area, such as the requirement for a personal floatation device (PFD) for each person on board, and a permit is required to access the river within the Great Sand Dunes National Park. Additionally, visitors should be aware of the potential hazards of the river, including swift currents, underwater hazards, and cold water temperatures.
Plan your run down to the hour
Same weather feed Snoflo's iOS app uses -- updated continuously from NOAA / yr.no. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram; rain ahead of a run typically lifts flows 12-48 hours later depending on the basin.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks -- the upstream story that drives next week's flows.
Regional streamflow levels
USGS streamgauges around Headwaters To Confluence With Medano Creek -- useful for spotting upstream pulses and gauging which tributary is contributing what.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Huerfano R At Manzanares Xing | 16 cfs | → |
| Cottonwood Creek Near Crestone | 4 cfs | → |
| North Crestone Creek Near Crestone | 11 cfs | → |
| Ute Creek Near Fort Garland | 8 cfs | → |
| Sangre De Cristo Creek Near Fort Garland | 2 cfs | → |
| Huerfano River At Badito | 12 cfs | → |
Plan a longer trip
The closest boat launches, other paddle runs, and campgrounds so a day on the water can grow into a full weekend.
Other river runs
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
- Manzanares Creek
- San Luis Lake
- Mountain Home Reservoir
- Lake Isabel
- Smith Reservoir (Costilla Cty)
- Deweese Reservoir
Whitewater safety
- Check the flow before you run
- Use the linked-gauge card and Regional Flow panel above. Class ratings change with flow -- a Class III at low water can become Class IV+ at high water.
- Know your skill ceiling
- Pick runs comfortably below your ceiling. Cold-water and big-water runs raise the consequences of any mistake.
- Wear the right gear
- Helmet, PFD, drysuit / wetsuit when water is below 60°F. Throw bag, knife, and whistle on your person, not in the boat.
- Scout, set safety, and run with a team
- Scout new rapids on foot, set safety with throw bags above the consequence pool, and run with at least one other competent paddler.
- Respect the river
- Strainers, undercuts, low-head dams, and wood can kill at any class rating. When in doubt, portage.
Set push alerts in the Snoflo app
Save Headwaters To Confluence With Medano Creek as a favorite, set a discharge threshold (e.g. "alert me when flow hits 600 cfs"), and the iOS app pushes the moment the linked gauge crosses.
About Headwaters To Confluence With Medano Creek
What's the optimal flow for Headwaters To Confluence With Medano Creek?
The optimal flow depends on the section and the craft. Check the Run Details panel for the linked gauge and current status.
How fresh is the cfs reading on this page?
The linked USGS streamgauge reports continuously (every 15 minutes); Snoflo refreshes throughout the day. Hover the streamflow sparkline to read individual datapoints.
What's the whitewater class?
See the Run Details panel for the class rating Snoflo tracks for this run. Class ratings change with flow -- a Class III at low water can become Class IV in high water.
Where do I put in / take out?
Tap Directions in the hero above to open driving directions to the put-in. For shuttle planning, check the Nearby Boat Launches panel and the river run operator's site.
Can I get alerts when flows hit the optimal range?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this run, set a discharge threshold, and you'll get a push the moment the gauge crosses.
Other runs near here
Snoflo-tracked paddle runs within driving distance of Headwaters To Confluence With Medano Creek.