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 | 142 cfs |
| Gage Height | 1.1 ft |
| Air Temperature | 57° |
| River | Crystal River |
| Reporting Streamgage |
Crystal River Ab Avalanche C
USGS 09081600 |
| Gauge | Streamflow | Stage |
|---|---|---|
|
Roaring Fork River Near Emma
USGS 09081000 |
213 cfs | 4.8 ft |
|
Colorado River Near Dotsero
USGS 09070500 |
1,290 cfs | 2.7 ft |
|
Colorado River Below Glenwood Springs
USGS 09085100 |
1,770 cfs | 4.1 ft |
|
Missouri Creek Near Gold Park
USGS 09063900 |
1 cfs | 1.4 ft |
|
Beaver Creek At Avon
USGS 09067000 |
3 cfs | 2.0 ft |
|
Gunnison River Near Gunnison
USGS 09114500 |
435 cfs | 1.3 ft |
|
Roaring Fork River At Glenwood Springs
USGS 09085000 |
460 cfs | 2.4 ft |
|
Fryingpan River Near Thomasville
USGS 09078600 |
56 cfs | 2.1 ft |
|
Minnesota Creek Near Paonia
USGS 09134000 |
4 cfs | ft |
|
Taylor River Below Taylor Park Reservoir
USGS 09109000 |
89 cfs | 3.5 ft |
| Snotel Site | Snowpack | 24hr Change |
|---|---|---|
|
Grayback
SNOTEL 1058 |
12" | -1" |
|
Kiln
SNOTEL 556 |
25" | -2" |
|
Overland Res.
SNOTEL 675 |
18" | -2" |
|
Nast Lake
SNOTEL 658 |
11" | -2" |
|
Mineral Creek
SNOTEL 629 |
34" | -1" |
|
Wager Gulch
SNOTEL 1188 |
22" | 0" |
|
Park Cone
SNOTEL 680 |
27" | -1" |
|
pagosa springs 9.1 nnw, co
SNOTEL CO-MN-1 |
7.11" | -1.26" |
|
Upper San Juan
SNOTEL 840 |
60" | -1" |
|
Idarado
SNOTEL 538 |
27" | -2" |
|
Red Mountain Pass
SNOTEL 713 |
54" | -1" |
|
Independence Pass
SNOTEL 542 |
39" | -1" |
|
Weminuche Creek
SNOTEL 1160 |
34" | -3" |
|
Mccoy Park
SNOTEL 1040 |
22" | -3" |
|
pitkin 1.1 sw, co
SNOTEL CO-GN-59 |
2.17" | -1.29" |
|
Trapper Lake
SNOTEL 827 |
12" | -1" |
|
Schofield Pass
SNOTEL 737 |
57" | -1" |
|
Beartown
SNOTEL 327 |
45" | 0" |
|
Tower
SNOTEL 825 |
82" | -1" |
|
Lost Dog
SNOTEL 940 |
44" | -1" |
|
Stump Lakes
SNOTEL 797 |
39" | -1" |
|
Buffalo Park
SNOTEL 913 |
34" | -1" |
|
Upper Taylor
SNOTEL 1141 |
30" | -1" |
|
Bear River
SNOTEL 1061 |
27" | 0" |
|
Rabbit Ears
SNOTEL 709 |
36" | -2" |
|
Brumley
SNOTEL 369 |
35" | -1" |
|
Ripple Creek
SNOTEL 717 |
54" | -2" |
|
Cochetopa Pass
SNOTEL 1059 |
9" | -2" |
|
Upper Rio Grande
SNOTEL 839 |
3" | -3" |
|
crested butte 6.2 n, co
SNOTEL CO-GN-18 |
33.42" | -1.14" |
|
Columbine
SNOTEL 408 |
39" | -2" |
|
Middle Creek
SNOTEL 624 |
47" | -1" |
|
Lynx Pass
SNOTEL 607 |
18" | -2" |
|
Vallecito
SNOTEL 843 |
32" | -2" |
|
Bison Lake
SNOTEL 345 |
53" | 0" |
|
North Lost Trail
SNOTEL 669 |
29" | -2" |
|
Molas Lake
SNOTEL 632 |
33" | -2" |
|
gothic
SNOTEL GTHC2 |
38.7" | -0.41" |
|
yampa 5.1 s, co
SNOTEL CO-RT-26 |
5.28" | -1.24" |
|
Wolf Creek Summit
SNOTEL 874 |
74" | -1" |
|
Butte
SNOTEL 380 |
26" | 0" |
|
Crosho
SNOTEL 426 |
18" | -50" |
|
Chapman Tunnel
SNOTEL 1101 |
32" | -1" |
|
Dry Lake
SNOTEL 457 |
26" | -3" |
|
Slumgullion
SNOTEL 762 |
37" | -1" |
|
Ivanhoe
SNOTEL 547 |
46" | 0" |
|
Mc Clure Pass
SNOTEL 618 |
20" | -1" |
|
Moon Pass
SNOTEL 1124 |
20" | 0" |
|
Beaver Ck Village
SNOTEL 1041 |
18" | -1" |
|
Zirkel
SNOTEL 1033 |
38" | -3" |
|
Lily Pond
SNOTEL 580 |
28" | -2" |
|
Burro Mountain
SNOTEL 378 |
26" | -2" |
| Campground | Campsites | Reservations | Toilets | Showers | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Redstone | 17 | 7,299 ft | |||
| Lost Lake | 19 | 9,621 ft | |||
| Avalanche | 13 | 7,320 ft | |||
| Gothic | 4 | 9,657 ft | |||
| Lake Irwin | 32 | 10,400 ft |
| Ski Area | Snowpack | Air Temperature | 5 Day Forecast |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buttermilk Mountain | 30" | 45° | 11.69" |
| Snowmass | 30" | 45° | 11.69" |
| Sunlight Mountain Resort | 20" | 49° | 5.77" |
| Aspen Mountain | 39" | 45° | 11.37" |
| Aspen Highlands | 30" | 45° | 11.69" |
| Crested Butte Mountain Resort | 26" | 42° | 10.75" |
| River Run | Streamflow | Length | Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glenwood Springs Whitewater Park | 1770.0cfs | 0.25 Mi | II to IV- |
| Crystal Mill Falls | 142.0cfs | None Mi | V- to V |
| Carbondale to Westbank (Pink to Black) | 460.0cfs | 7.0 Mi | II |
| Avalanche Down | 142.0cfs | 12.0 Mi | III |
| Bogan Canyon | 142.0cfs | 6.85 Mi | III to III+ |
| Catherine Store Section | 213.0cfs | 4.0 Mi | II to II+ |
| Waterfall to Confluence | 213.0cfs | 1.0 Mi | V- |
| Grizzly Creek to Two Rivers Park | 1290.0cfs | 6.0 Mi | II to III |
| Oh Be Joyful | 435.0cfs | 1.0 Mi | V |
| Barrel Springs | 1290.0cfs | 4.0 Mi | IV+ to V+ |
| Cemetery | 460.0cfs | 12.0 Mi | II+ to III+ |
| Two Rivers to South Canyon | 1770.0cfs | 5.0 Mi | II+ to III |
| Barrel Springs | 1290.0cfs | 4.0 Mi | IV+ to V+ |
| Castle Creek | 140.0cfs | 2.0 Mi | IV+ to V- |
| Shoshone (Power Plant to Grizzly Creek) | 1290.0cfs | 1.7 Mi | III- to IV |
| Shoshone (Power Plant to Grizzly Creek) | 1290.0cfs | 1.7 Mi | III- to IV |