...THIS IS A PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR IN AND IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO THE FOOTHILLS, BETWEEN 5500 AND 9000 FEET, FOR BOULDER AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES ON FRIDAY... Strong west winds of 30-40 mph with gusts as high as 85 mph in the foothills of Boulder and northern Jefferson Counties will continue until early evening. Relative humidity values had dropped into the upper single digits and lower teens. Thus, the Particularly Dangerous Situation will remain in place til around 5-6 pm, with only a slow improvement thereafter as winds slowly weaken. Red Flag conditions, however, will persist through the rest of the evening as we remain in a near record warm, dry, and windy airmass along the Front Range through midnight. In fact, strong, gusty winds will persist through much of the night with only a slow improvement in humidity values. Thus, near critical Red Flag conditions will occur into early Saturday morning. While most of the Denver metro area has seen lighter winds prevail most of the day, a period of strong, gusty winds is expected to develop this evening and likely last past midnight, producing Red Flag conditions there. * THIS IS A PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR THE FRONT RANGE FOOTHILLS. * AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zones 215 and 216. * TIMING...Until midnight MST tonight. * WINDS...West 25 to 40 mph with gusts up to 85 mph. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 10 percent. * IMPACTS...Conditions will be favorable for rapid fire spread. Avoid outdoor burning and any activity that may produce a spark and start a fast moving wildfire.
The North Fork of the South Platte River, also known as the Whitewater River Run, starts at the small community of Insmont and flows for approximately 16 miles to the take-out point at the Estabrook picnic area.
Wind
Humidity
This stretch of river is rated as a Class III-IV and is best navigated at a flow range of 250-800 cubic feet per second (cfs).
This section of river offers an exciting and challenging run for experienced kayakers and rafters. The rapids on this stretch include Zig Zag, Devil's Slide, Hole in the Wall, and Staircase. These rapids can be technical and require good boat control and the ability to make precise moves.
The North Fork of the South Platte River is regulated by the Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Rafters and kayakers are required to wear personal flotation devices and follow all safety guidelines outlined by the agency. Additionally, this section of river is closed to boating from November 1st through May 31st to protect wintering wildlife.
In summary, the North Fork of the South Platte River offers a challenging and exciting run for experienced boaters with a range of Class III-IV rapids. The ideal streamflow range is between 250-800 cfs and boaters must follow all Colorado Parks and Wildlife regulations for safety and conservation purposes.
| Last Updated | 2025-11-13 |
| River Levels | 859 cfs (3.72 ft) |
| Percent of Normal | 122% |
| Status | |
| Class Level | iii-iv |
| Elevation | ft |
| Streamflow Discharge | cfs |
| Gauge Height | ft |
| Reporting Streamgage | USGS 06707500 |
| Location | Reservations | Toilets |
|---|---|---|
Green Mountain Campground
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Green Mountain
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Meadows Group Campground
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Buffalo
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Lost Park
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Lost Park Campground
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