Gore Canyon
Gore Canyon or "Gore" is the run that all kayakers want to hit to consider themselves coming of age. Every state or area has classic runs and Gore is Colorado's crown jewel at the head of the mighty Colorado river. Once the Colorado river has gained some volume after flowing out of Rocky Mountain NP it cuts a rowdy path through Gore Canyon leaving some of the best solid IV and light V rapids in the state.
Suggested river levels for paddling this section of the Colorado River are between a bare minimum of 370cfs and a high of 2,400cfs.
River conditions sourced from USGS 09058000, the Colorado River Near Kremmling
Remember only watercraft are permitted
at Gore Canyon.
Run Stats
| Status | Runnable |
| Class Level | IV to V+ |
| Elevation | 7,356 ft |
| Run Length | 9.0 Mi |
| Gradient | 115 FPM |
| Streamflow Discharge | 861 cfs |
| Gage Height | 5.2 ft |
| Air Temperature | 76° |
| River | Colorado River |
| Reporting Streamgage |
Colorado River Near Kremmling
USGS 09058000 |
|
Applesauce
Class IV+ |
|
Gore Rapid
Class V- to V |
|
Scissors
Class IV to IV+ |
|
Pyrite
Class IV+ |
|
Little Scissors
Class IV |
|
Shawn's Hole (aka Kayaker's Nightmare)
Class IV |
|
Tunnel
Class V- |
|
Toilet Bowl
Class IV+ |
|
Kirshbaum
Class IV+ to V- |
| Gauge | Streamflow | Stage |
|---|---|---|
|
St. Louis Creek Near Fraser
USGS 09026500 |
42 cfs | 1.8 ft |
|
Monte Cristo Diversion Near Hoosier Pass
USGS 09041900 |
7 cfs | 0.6 ft |
|
Bobtail Creek Near Jones Pass
USGS 09034900 |
24 cfs | 3.4 ft |
|
Mccullough-Sp-Diversion Near Hoosier Pass
USGS 09044800 |
29 cfs | 1.3 ft |
|
Willow Creek Below Willow Creek Reservoir
USGS 09021000 |
402 cfs | 4.6 ft |
|
Lake Fork Below Sugar Loaf Reservoir
USGS 07082500 |
16 cfs | 0.5 ft |
|
Lincoln Creek Bl Grizzly Reservoir
USGS 09073005 |
1 cfs | 1.1 ft |
|
Fryingpan River Near Thomasville
USGS 09078600 |
337 cfs | 3.0 ft |
|
Arkansas River Near Leadville
USGS 07081200 |
285 cfs | 6.0 ft |
|
Gore Creek At Mouth
USGS 09066510 |
694 cfs | 8.4 ft |
| Snotel Site | Snowpack | 24hr Change |
|---|---|---|
|
gothic
SNOTEL GTHC2 |
10.47" | -2.15" |
|
climax coop
SNOTEL CLXC2 |
4.73" | -3.55" |
| Campground | Campsites | Reservations | Toilets | Showers | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pumphouse | 14 | 7,491 ft | |||
| Gore Creek | 25 | 8,720 ft | |||
| Elliott Creek | 15 | 8,018 ft | |||
| Willows | 35 | 7,973 ft | |||
| Cataract Creek | 5 | 8,578 ft |
| Ski Area | Snowpack | Air Temperature | 5 Day Forecast |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vail | 40" | 66° | 3.91" |
| Breckenridge Ski Resort | 48" | 62° | 4.82" |
| Ski Cooper | 29" | 59° | 6.11" |
| Beaver Creek Resort | 37" | 74° | 3.94" |
| Copper Mountain Resort | 48" | 62° | 4.82" |
| River Run | Streamflow | Length | Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower Blue (Green Mountain to Spring Creek) | 97.6cfs | 3.8 Mi | II+ to III |
| Pumphouse | 552.0cfs | 14.0 Mi | II- to III+ |
| Upper-Upper Ten Mile | 60.5cfs | 3.0 Mi | III+ to IV- |
| Dowd Chute | 150.0cfs | 1.0 Mi | III+ to IV+ |
| Upper Ten Mile | 60.5cfs | 2.0 Mi | IV+ to V |
| Lower Ten Mile | 60.5cfs | 3.0 Mi | II to III |
| Silverthorne Town Run | 42.4cfs | 0.5 Mi | II to III- |
| Lower Blue (Green Mountain to Spring Creek) | 97.6cfs | 3.8 Mi | II+ to III |
| Lower Blue (Green Mountain to Spring Creek) | 97.6cfs | 3.8 Mi | II+ to III |
| Lower Eagle (Edwards Water Plant to Eagle) | 250.0cfs | 17.0 Mi | III- to III+ |
| Upper Gore Creek | 56.9cfs | 4.0 Mi | II+ to III |
| Lower Blue (Green Mountain to Spring Creek) | 97.6cfs | 3.8 Mi | II+ to III |
| Middle Ten Mile | 60.5cfs | 3.0 Mi | III+ to IV |
| Upper Blue (Blue River CG to Columbine Landing) | 179.0cfs | 3.0 Mi | III to IV- |
| State Bridge to Two Bridges | 552.0cfs | 4.8 Mi | I to II+ |
| State Bridge to Burns | 552.0cfs | 20.0 Mi | I to II+ |
| Upper Gore Creek | 56.9cfs | 4.0 Mi | II+ to III |
| Lower Eagle (Edwards Water Plant to Eagle) | 250.0cfs | 17.0 Mi | III- to III+ |
| Gore Canyon | 552.0cfs | 9.0 Mi | IV to V+ |