Big South
Ask a seasoned Colorado kayaker what their favorite run in the state is, and more times than not you’ll hear the words “Big South” in their response. High up the Cache La Poudre river drainage, melting off the eastern slope of Rocky Mountain National Park, this gem funnels its way through relatively unspoiled high altitude forests and meadows. In California, this run might blend in with the crowd, but in Colorado, this stands out as a long stretch of quality whitewater in a wilderness setting. It’s not uncommon to find East coast boaters staked out at this run on a summer road trip and Fort Collins locals always abound.
Suggested river levels for paddling this section of the Cache La Poudre River are between a bare minimum of 150cfs and a high of 800cfs.
River conditions sourced from USGS 06716500, the Clear Creek Near Lawson
Remember only watercraft are permitted
at Big South.
Run Stats
| Status | Too Low |
| Class Level | V to V+ |
| Elevation | 8,091 ft |
| Run Length | 12.0 Mi |
| Streamflow Discharge | 44 cfs |
| Gage Height | 2.7 ft |
| Air Temperature | 71° |
| River | Cache La Poudre River |
| Reporting Streamgage |
Clear Creek Near Lawson
USGS 06716500 |
| Gauge | Streamflow | Stage |
|---|---|---|
|
S Clear Cr Abv Lwr Cabin Cr Res Spilwy Nr Georgtwn
USGS 06714500 |
5 cfs | 0.5 ft |
|
Blue River Below Green Mountain Reservoir
USGS 09057500 |
159 cfs | 3.3 ft |
|
Chicago Creek Blw Devils Canyon Nr Idaho Sprgs Co
USGS 06717400 |
7 cfs | 0.7 ft |
|
Bear Creek At Morrison
USGS 06710500 |
15 cfs | 5.7 ft |
|
Elk Creek At Upper Station
USGS 09025300 |
0 cfs | 5.0 ft |
|
Pioneer Canal Near Woods
USGS 06659501 |
174 cfs | 1.6 ft |
|
Michigan River At Walden
USGS 06617100 |
9 cfs | 1.2 ft |
|
Booth Creek Near Minturn
USGS 09066200 |
0 cfs | 2.9 ft |
|
Grand River Ditch At La Poudre Pass
USGS 09010000 |
0 cfs | 0.0 ft |
|
Williams Fork Near Leal
USGS 09036000 |
33 cfs | 1.6 ft |
| Snotel Site | Snowpack | 24hr Change |
|---|---|---|
|
Hoosier Pass
SNOTEL 531 |
1" | 0" |
|
Lake Irene
SNOTEL 565 |
1" | 0" |
|
Willow Creek Pass
SNOTEL 869 |
1" | 1" |
|
Never Summer
SNOTEL 1031 |
1" | 0" |
|
Saint Elmo
SNOTEL 1100 |
1" | 0" |
|
Rawah
SNOTEL 1032 |
6" | 0" |
|
Laprele Creek
SNOTEL 571 |
1" | 0" |
|
Brooklyn Lake
SNOTEL 367 |
1" | 0" |
|
Loveland Basin
SNOTEL 602 |
1" | 1" |
|
Vail Mountain
SNOTEL 842 |
1" | 0" |
|
Echo Lake
SNOTEL 936 |
1" | 0" |
|
Black Mountain
SNOTEL 1161 |
1" | 1" |
|
Fremont Pass
SNOTEL 485 |
1" | 0" |
|
Crow Creek
SNOTEL 1045 |
1" | 1" |
|
Arapaho Ridge
SNOTEL 1030 |
1" | 0" |
|
Stillwater Creek
SNOTEL 793 |
1" | 1" |
|
Jackwhacker Gulch
SNOTEL 935 |
1" | 1" |
| Campground | Campsites | Reservations | Toilets | Showers | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Browns Park | 28 | 8,450 ft | |||
| Chambers Lake | 44 | 9,166 ft | |||
| Aspen Glen | 9 | 8,694 ft | |||
| Long Draw | 25 | 10,059 ft | |||
| The Crags - State Forest State Park | 26 | 9,917 ft | |||
| Timber Creek - Rocky Mountain National Park | 100 | 8,933 ft | |||
| Green Ridge | 78 | 8,360 ft | |||
| Sunset Point | 25 | 8,297 ft | |||
| Tunnel | 49 | 8,608 ft | |||
| Sleeping Elephant | 15 | 7,865 ft | |||
| Big South | 4 | 8,580 ft | |||
| Arapaho Bay | 84 | 8,337 ft | |||
| Stillwater | 129 | 8,315 ft | |||
| Big Bend | 8 | 7,717 ft | |||
| Grand View | 9 | 10,038 ft | |||
| North Fork Poudre | 9 | 9,159 ft |
| Ski Area | Snowpack | Air Temperature | 5 Day Forecast |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ski Estes Park (Hidden Valley) | -1" | 65° | 0" |
| Eldora Mountain Resort | -1" | 66° | 0" |
| SolVista Basin at Granby Ranch | 0" | 61° | 0" |
| River Run | Streamflow | Length | Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rustic (Upper) | 76.7cfs | 20.0 Mi | III to III+ |
| Spencer Heights | 76.7cfs | 2.5 Mi | V- to V |
| Big South | 44.0cfs | 12.0 Mi | V to V+ |
| Upper Blue (Blue River CG to Columbine Landing) | 109.0cfs | 3.0 Mi | III to IV- |
| NSV | 17.4cfs | 13.0 Mi | V+ |
| Upper North Fork | 66.2cfs | 9.0 Mi | IV+ to V- |