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 | 23.8 cfs |
| Gage Height | 2.5 ft |
| Air Temperature | 35° |
| River | Cache La Poudre River |
| Reporting Streamgage |
Clear Creek Near Lawson
USGS 06716500 |
| Gauge | Streamflow | Stage |
|---|---|---|
|
Tenmile Creek Bl North Tenmile C
USGS 09050100 |
32 cfs | 2.1 ft |
|
Blue River Below Dillon
USGS 09050700 |
69 cfs | 0.9 ft |
|
Laramie R Bl Pioneer Canal Nr Woods Landing
USGS 06659502 |
1,010 cfs | 3.2 ft |
|
Fall River Near Idaho Springs
USGS 06717000 |
-999 cfs | -1,310.7 ft |
|
Chicago Creek Blw Devils Canyon Nr Idaho Sprgs Co
USGS 06717400 |
-999 cfs | -1,310.7 ft |
|
Bobtail Creek Near Jones Pass
USGS 09034900 |
1 cfs | 2.3 ft |
|
Cross Creek Near Minturn
USGS 09065100 |
48 cfs | 4.3 ft |
|
Booth Creek Near Minturn
USGS 09066200 |
1 cfs | 3.0 ft |
|
S Clear Cr Abv Lwr Cabin Cr Res Spilwy Nr Georgtwn
USGS 06714500 |
2 cfs | 0.2 ft |
|
Black Gore Creek Near Minturn
USGS 09066000 |
4 cfs | 2.7 ft |
| Snotel Site | Snowpack | 24hr Change |
|---|---|---|
|
nederland 2.61 nne, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-75 |
6.09" | -0.82" |
|
co st forest st park
SNOTEL CSFC2 |
19.18" | -0.23" |
|
Rough And Tumble
SNOTEL 939 |
11" | 0" |
|
lake george 7.2 wnw, co
SNOTEL CO-PK-39 |
0.21" | -0.26" |
|
Windy Peak
SNOTEL 872 |
15" | 2" |
|
nederland 4.8 ene, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-110 |
7.64" | -0.8" |
|
boulder 1.8 w, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-491 |
2.33" | -0.37" |
|
cheesman
SNOTEL CHEC2 |
1.77" | -0.19" |
|
boulder 4.7 ene, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-220 |
2.96" | -0.38" |
|
nathrop 3.3 wsw, co
SNOTEL CO-CF-19 |
0.93" | 0.14" |
|
Niwot
SNOTEL 663 |
34" | 0" |
|
estes park,co
SNOTEL ETSC2 |
3.29" | -0.49" |
|
boulder 2.1 w, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-437 |
2.33" | -0.37" |
|
estes park 10.5 se, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-1019 |
4.69" | -0.5" |
|
Willow Creek Pass
SNOTEL 869 |
36" | -1" |
|
rollinsville 1.1 ssw, co
SNOTEL CO-GL-17 |
12.12" | -0.67" |
|
boulder 2.0 w, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-380 |
3.02" | -0.34" |
|
boulder 4.7 e, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-67 |
2.56" | -0.31" |
|
golden 12.5 nw, co
SNOTEL CO-JF-331 |
8.23" | -1.15" |
|
rollinsville 1.7 e, co
SNOTEL CO-GL-25 |
6.44" | -0.69" |
|
nederland 0.4 wnw, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-322 |
8.42" | -0.59" |
|
cabin creek
SNOTEL GCRC2 |
13.32" | -0.59" |
|
estes park 1.8 s, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-767 |
7.3" | -0.42" |
|
Black Mountain
SNOTEL 1161 |
30" | 1" |
|
Sawtooth
SNOTEL 1251 |
57" | -1" |
|
evergreen 4.2 sse, co
SNOTEL CO-JF-157 |
3.15" | -0.57" |
|
jamestown 2.5 sse, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-343 |
3.21" | -0.64" |
|
Elliot Ridge
SNOTEL 1120 |
51" | -1" |
|
boulder 2.9 s, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-4 |
2.63" | -0.37" |
|
gross reservoir
SNOTEL GRRC2 |
4.45" | -0.85" |
|
Middle Fork Camp
SNOTEL 1014 |
26" | 1" |
|
ward 4.6 ne, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-202 |
11.51" | -0.8" |
|
Med Bow
SNOTEL 1196 |
71" | -1" |
|
florissant 5.0 n, co
SNOTEL CO-TL-19 |
1.29" | -0.42" |
|
lyons 0.3 nne, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-146 |
3.1" | -0.22" |
|
nathrop 1.9 wsw, co
SNOTEL CO-CF-54 |
0.76" | 0.06" |
|
Lake Eldora
SNOTEL 564 |
30" | 0" |
|
estes park 1.7 w, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-1115 |
9.21" | -0.48" |
|
silverthorne 2.1 wsw, co
SNOTEL CO-SU-6 |
24.46" | -0.24" |
|
conifer 5.7 sw, co
SNOTEL CO-JF-222 |
1.47" | -0.32" |
|
hygiene,co
SNOTEL HGIC2 |
1.81" | -0.22" |
|
tabernash 2.7 nw, co
SNOTEL CO-GR-68 |
18.59" | -0.21" |
|
bellvue 5.9 w, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-4 |
2.61" | -0.44" |
|
silverthorne 21 nw, co
SNOTEL CO-SU-35 |
16.35" | -0.15" |
|
Summit Ranch
SNOTEL 802 |
25" | 0" |
|
Laprele Creek
SNOTEL 571 |
20" | 1" |
|
Phantom Valley
SNOTEL 688 |
26" | -2" |
|
conifer 3.2 sw, co
SNOTEL CO-JF-53 |
3.41" | -0.48" |
|
south platte river
SNOTEL ANTC2 |
0.36" | -0.04" |
|
dillon,co
SNOTEL DLLC2 |
11.8" | -0.15" |
|
Michigan Creek
SNOTEL 937 |
28" | 0" |
|
Fremont Pass
SNOTEL 485 |
41" | -1" |
|
amrad
SNOTEL CNRC2 |
3.51" | -0.63" |
|
Wild Basin
SNOTEL 1042 |
42" | 0" |
|
nederland 3.7 ene, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-296 |
8.84" | -0.66" |
|
red feather 5.9 ne, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-329 |
0.51" | -0.62" |
|
boulder 1.6 s, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-14 |
2.63" | -0.36" |
|
lyons 4.8 n, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-50 |
5.01" | -0.21" |
|
glen haven 1.2 n, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-868 |
3.38" | -0.49" |
|
livermore 9.9 wsw, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-897 |
1.06" | -0.6" |
|
evergreen 3.4 wnw, co
SNOTEL CO-CC-22 |
3.04" | -0.59" |
|
evergreen 5 w, co
SNOTEL CO-CC-2 |
3.01" | -0.57" |
|
arvada 3.8 w, co
SNOTEL CO-JF-240 |
2.02" | -0.19" |
|
buena vista,co
SNOTEL BNVC2 |
1.36" | 0.29" |
|
longmont 3.3 sw, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-507 |
2.55" | -0.31" |
|
Hourglass Lake
SNOTEL 1122 |
32" | 3" |
|
Joe Wright
SNOTEL 551 |
53" | 0" |
|
Vail Mountain
SNOTEL 842 |
38" | 2" |
|
la porte 10.0 nnw, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-567 |
0.66" | -0.17" |
|
virginia dale 7.2 ssw, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-672 |
0.16" | -0.47" |
|
georgetown
SNOTEL GEOC2 |
3.14" | -0.49" |
|
Roach
SNOTEL 718 |
45" | 0" |
|
climax coop
SNOTEL CLXC2 |
18.8" | -0.24" |
|
laramie 1se
SNOTEL ADFW4 |
2.63" | -0.1" |
|
ralston reservoir
SNOTEL GDNC2 |
2.64" | -0.04" |
|
Rawah
SNOTEL 1032 |
26" | -1" |
|
fort collins 5.4 wsw, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-623 |
1.87" | -0.26" |
|
berthoud 4.4 wsw, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-922 |
3.46" | -0.14" |
|
Hoosier Pass
SNOTEL 531 |
34" | -1" |
|
evergreen
SNOTEL EVGC2 |
3.35" | -0.53" |
|
Willow Park
SNOTEL 870 |
47" | -2" |
|
aspen springs amrad
SNOTEL ASIC2 |
2.99" | -0.73" |
|
vail 2.6 e, co
SNOTEL CO-EG-19 |
23.03" | -0.22" |
|
grant
SNOTEL GRTC2 |
1.92" | -0.29" |
|
allens park 1.5 ese, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-22 |
12.8" | -0.81" |
|
Deadman Hill
SNOTEL 438 |
49" | 1" |
|
boulder 1.9 se, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-30 |
2.65" | -0.37" |
|
University Camp
SNOTEL 838 |
42" | 1" |
|
Crow Creek
SNOTEL 1045 |
16" | 0" |
|
Echo Lake
SNOTEL 936 |
13" | 0" |
|
High Lonesome
SNOTEL 1187 |
51" | 2" |
|
bailey
SNOTEL BLYC2 |
1.63" | -0.28" |
|
boulder 2.2 nw, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-452 |
2.31" | -0.36" |
|
buford 4se
SNOTEL BFDW4 |
1.12" | -0.57" |
|
Copeland Lake
SNOTEL 412 |
25" | -2" |
|
arvada 4.7 w, co
SNOTEL CO-JF-455 |
2.12" | -0.15" |
|
boulder 1.5 wnw, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-490 |
4.84" | -0.37" |
|
Loveland Basin
SNOTEL 602 |
43" | 0" |
|
evergreen 1.3 nne, co
SNOTEL CO-JF-424 |
3.41" | -0.5" |
|
frisco 0.5 n, co
SNOTEL CO-SU-4 |
17.77" | -0.2" |
|
divide 4nw
SNOTEL DNWC2 |
0.62" | -0.26" |
|
Berthoud Summit
SNOTEL 335 |
38" | 0" |
|
dillon 2.3 se, co
SNOTEL CO-SU-16 |
15.54" | -0.17" |
|
vail 3.5 e, co
SNOTEL CO-EG-53 |
25.48" | -0.24" |
|
estes park 1.8 sse, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-987 |
2.68" | -0.56" |
|
laramie 7sse
SNOTEL CMBW4 |
3.3" | -0.2" |
|
Brooklyn Lake
SNOTEL 367 |
50" | 2" |
|
evergreen 6.5 wsw, co
SNOTEL CO-CC-1 |
3.26" | -0.56" |
|
nederland 5.8 e, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-57 |
8.83" | -0.93" |
|
niwot 0.7 nnw, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-338 |
2.83" | -0.37" |
|
fairplay 2.7 wnw, co
SNOTEL CO-PK-15 |
7.6" | -0.24" |
|
estes park 3.3 ssw, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-247 |
2.79" | -0.63" |
|
niwot 2.3 w, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-248 |
4.41" | -0.18" |
|
Jones Pass
SNOTEL 970 |
37" | 0" |
|
nederland 4.2 e, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-233 |
6.63" | -0.9" |
|
evergreen 2.0 ese, co
SNOTEL CO-JF-395 |
3" | -0.53" |
|
boulder 1.5 nnw, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-496 |
2.45" | -0.35" |
|
Sand Lake
SNOTEL 731 |
60" | 0" |
|
arvada 3.5 wnw, co
SNOTEL CO-JF-457 |
1.99" | -0.19" |
|
Bear Lake
SNOTEL 322 |
41" | -1" |
|
Cinnabar Park
SNOTEL 1046 |
49" | 2" |
| Campground | Campsites | Reservations | Toilets | Showers | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand View | 9 | 10,038 ft | |||
| North Fork Poudre | 9 | 9,159 ft | |||
| Sleeping Elephant | 15 | 7,865 ft | |||
| Big South | 4 | 8,580 ft | |||
| Aspen Glen | 9 | 8,694 ft | |||
| Tunnel | 49 | 8,608 ft | |||
| Arapaho Bay | 84 | 8,337 ft | |||
| Sunset Point | 25 | 8,297 ft | |||
| The Crags - State Forest State Park | 26 | 9,917 ft | |||
| Stillwater | 129 | 8,315 ft | |||
| Timber Creek - Rocky Mountain National Park | 100 | 8,933 ft | |||
| Browns Park | 28 | 8,450 ft | |||
| Big Bend | 8 | 7,717 ft | |||
| Long Draw | 25 | 10,059 ft | |||
| Chambers Lake | 44 | 9,166 ft | |||
| Green Ridge | 78 | 8,360 ft |
| Ski Area | Snowpack | Air Temperature | 5 Day Forecast |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eldora Mountain Resort | 30" | 17° | 1.39" |
| SolVista Basin at Granby Ranch | 51" | 11° | 1.19" |
| Ski Estes Park (Hidden Valley) | 41" | 17° | 1.58" |
| River Run | Streamflow | Length | Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rustic (Upper) | 54.5cfs | 20.0 Mi | III to III+ |
| Upper North Fork | 0.2cfs | 9.0 Mi | IV+ to V- |
| Spencer Heights | 54.5cfs | 2.5 Mi | V- to V |
| Upper Blue (Blue River CG to Columbine Landing) | 242.0cfs | 3.0 Mi | III to IV- |
| NSV | 10.7cfs | 13.0 Mi | V+ |
| Big South | 23.8cfs | 12.0 Mi | V to V+ |