Cross Mountain Gorge


Cross Mountain Gorge is a fun run through a beautiful desert canyon in northeastern Colorado not far from Craig.  This run often attracts the attention of antsy Colorado and Utah boaters since it is one of the first decent sections in Colorado to start running in the early season, often as early as March.  At low water expect mostly easy class II and III with a couple rapids in the IV- range and a stretch of flatwater on ingress and egress to the gorge.  At high water, the run is big water class V with a downright impressive hole at the Osterizer rapid.  Under 3000 cfs, the run is still manageable, but expect some big water class IV with a few juicier rapids at the upper end of that range.

Suggested river levels for paddling this section of the Yampa River are between a bare minimum of 300cfs and a high of 13,000cfs. River conditions sourced from USGS 09244490, the Yampa River Above Elkhead Creek Near Hayden Remember only watercraft are permitted at Cross Mountain Gorge.

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Area Hydrology

Gauge Streamflow Stage
White R Ab Crooked Wash Nr White River City
USGS 09306224 		1,510 cfs ft
Yellow Creek Near White River
USGS 09306255 		116 cfs 7.2 ft
White River Below Boise Creek
USGS 09306290 		463 cfs 3.2 ft
Piceance Creek At White River
USGS 09306222 		11 cfs 2.2 ft
White River Near Meeker
USGS 09304500 		269 cfs 2.5 ft
Yampa River Near Maybell
USGS 09251000 		415 cfs 2.5 ft
Little Snake River Near Lily
USGS 09260000 		102 cfs 1.7 ft
Piceance Creek Bl Ryan Gulch
USGS 09306200 		2 cfs 3.7 ft
White River Below North Elk Creek Near Buford
USGS 09304115 		200 cfs 2.0 ft
Yampa River At Deerlodge Park
USGS 09260050 		465 cfs 2.8 ft
Snotel Site Snowpack 24hr Change
Park Reservoir
SNOTEL 682 		65" -1"
collbran 2sw
SNOTEL CBRC2 		7.48" -0.07"
rifle 3.2 ene, co
SNOTEL CO-GF-28 		5.89" -0.07"
cedaredge 1.3 e, co
SNOTEL CO-DL-54 		1.12" -0.03"
Mesa Lakes
SNOTEL 622 		41" 0"
cedaredge 3e
SNOTEL CEDC2 		1.26" -0.02"