Crystal Mill Falls
This is a park and huck at the famous Crystal Mills Falls, the scene adorning many a Colorado postcard. As we pulled over with all the other tourists and began unloading boats, I told my buddies, "Normally I never kayak just for the photos, but this one, it's just for the photo." At low flows this drop is fairly easy, but beginner and intermediate boaters should still take heed as getting flipped in the upper slot and running this one upside down could result in a serious injury. At higher flows, a strong hole forms on river left at the base of the falls, which frequently doles out beatdowns and swims.
Suggested river levels for paddling this section of the Crystal River are between a bare minimum of 400cfs and a high of 2,000cfs.
River conditions sourced from USGS 09081600, the Crystal River Ab Avalanche C
Remember only watercraft are permitted
at Crystal Mill Falls.
Run Stats
| Status | Too Low |
| Class Level | V- to V |
| Elevation | 6,920 ft |
| Streamflow Discharge | 227 cfs |
| Gage Height | 1.5 ft |
| Air Temperature | 80° |
| River | Crystal River |
| Reporting Streamgage |
Crystal River Ab Avalanche C
USGS 09081600 |
| Gauge | Streamflow | Stage |
|---|---|---|
|
Tomichi Creek At Gunnison
USGS 09119000 |
286 cfs | 2.5 ft |
|
N.F. Gunnison R Blw Leroux Cr
USGS 09135950 |
90 cfs | 7.8 ft |
|
West Divide Creek Near Raven
USGS 09089500 |
4 cfs | 1.3 ft |
|
Terror Creek At Mouth Near Bowie
USGS 09132995 |
2 cfs | ft |
|
Roaring Fork River At Glenwood Springs
USGS 09085000 |
814 cfs | 2.9 ft |
|
Castle Creek At Aspen
USGS 09075400 |
43 cfs | ft |
|
Muddy Creek At Bardine
USGS 09131500 |
136 cfs | 4.4 ft |
|
Lake Fork At Gateview
USGS 09124500 |
344 cfs | 2.4 ft |
|
Minnesota Creek Near Paonia
USGS 09134000 |
4 cfs | ft |
|
Crystal River Ab Avalanche C
USGS 09081600 |
227 cfs | 1.5 ft |
| Snotel Site | Snowpack | 24hr Change |
|---|---|---|
|
Cochetopa Pass
SNOTEL 1059 |
1" | 0" |
|
Overland Res.
SNOTEL 675 |
1" | 1" |
|
Stump Lakes
SNOTEL 797 |
2" | 1" |
|
Vallecito
SNOTEL 843 |
1" | 1" |
|
Lily Pond
SNOTEL 580 |
6" | -5" |
|
Brumley
SNOTEL 369 |
189" | 0" |
|
Moon Pass
SNOTEL 1124 |
1" | 0" |
|
Grayback
SNOTEL 1058 |
3" | 1" |
|
Mccoy Park
SNOTEL 1040 |
1" | 0" |
| Campground | Campsites | Reservations | Toilets | Showers | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Redstone | 17 | 7,299 ft | |||
| Gothic | 4 | 9,657 ft | |||
| Avalanche | 13 | 7,320 ft | |||
| Lake Irwin | 32 | 10,400 ft | |||
| Lost Lake | 19 | 9,621 ft |
| Ski Area | Snowpack | Air Temperature | 5 Day Forecast |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aspen Mountain | 0" | 64° | 0" |
| Crested Butte Mountain Resort | 0" | 66° | 0" |
| Sunlight Mountain Resort | -1" | 68° | 0" |
| Snowmass | 0" | 63° | 0" |
| Buttermilk Mountain | 0" | 63° | 0" |
| Aspen Highlands | 0" | 63° | 0" |
| River Run | Streamflow | Length | Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oh Be Joyful | 653.0cfs | 1.0 Mi | V |
| Two Rivers to South Canyon | 2270.0cfs | 5.0 Mi | II+ to III |
| Avalanche Down | 227.0cfs | 12.0 Mi | III |
| Barrel Springs | 1840.0cfs | 4.0 Mi | IV+ to V+ |
| Grizzly Creek to Two Rivers Park | 1840.0cfs | 6.0 Mi | II to III |
| Bogan Canyon | 227.0cfs | 6.85 Mi | III to III+ |
| Barrel Springs | 1840.0cfs | 4.0 Mi | IV+ to V+ |
| Glenwood Springs Whitewater Park | 2270.0cfs | 0.25 Mi | II to IV- |
| Castle Creek | 366.0cfs | 2.0 Mi | IV+ to V- |
| Waterfall to Confluence | 513.0cfs | 1.0 Mi | V- |
| Crystal Mill Falls | 227.0cfs | None Mi | V- to V |
| Carbondale to Westbank (Pink to Black) | 814.0cfs | 7.0 Mi | II |
| Shoshone (Power Plant to Grizzly Creek) | 1840.0cfs | 1.7 Mi | III- to IV |
| Cemetery | 814.0cfs | 12.0 Mi | II+ to III+ |
| Shoshone (Power Plant to Grizzly Creek) | 1840.0cfs | 1.7 Mi | III- to IV |
| Catherine Store Section | 513.0cfs | 4.0 Mi | II to II+ |