Lower Boulder Canyon
As a Boulder local, I have a love hate relationship with Boulder creek. It's Boulder's main artery and so much fun at elusive high flows, but so rocky and poor quality at low flows. Why people insist on dropping everything to run this stretch of "almost" whitewater at 200 cfs is beyond me, especially since there are almost always better options with just a little extra driving. Maybe it's the hords of slightly intoxicated college girls in bikinis tubing through the sticky whitewater park in town. For me, the run gets good when the tubing ban goes into effect for the creek (about 500 cfs).
Suggested river levels for paddling this section of the Boulder Creek are between a bare minimum of 250cfs and a high of 1,300cfs.
River conditions sourced from USGS 06730500, the Boulder Creek At Mouth
Remember only watercraft are permitted
at Lower Boulder Canyon.
Run Stats
| Status | Too Low |
| Class Level | IV- to V- |
| Elevation | 4,860 ft |
| Streamflow Discharge | 50.8 cfs |
| Gage Height | 9.8 ft |
| Air Temperature | 37° |
| River | Boulder Creek |
| Reporting Streamgage |
Boulder Creek At Mouth
USGS 06730500 |
| Gauge | Streamflow | Stage |
|---|---|---|
|
Bear Creek Above Bear Creek Lake Near Morrison
USGS 06710605 |
7 cfs | 3.8 ft |
|
S Platte R Ab 11-Mile Canyon Re
USGS 06695000 |
134 cfs | 1.2 ft |
|
Little Dry Creek At Westminster
USGS 06719840 |
1 cfs | 7.3 ft |
|
Boulder Creek Near Orodell
USGS 06727000 |
13 cfs | 1.7 ft |
|
West Cr. Abv Shrewsbury Gulch Nr Westcreek Co
USGS 06701700 |
10 cfs | 5.2 ft |
|
Laramie River Near Glendevey
USGS 06657500 |
34 cfs | 0.9 ft |
|
N Frk Cache La Poudre R Blw Halligan Res Nr V Dal
USGS 06751150 |
84 cfs | 2.8 ft |
|
Cherry Creek At Denver
USGS 06713500 |
82 cfs | 3.9 ft |
|
Buckhorn Creek Near Masonville
USGS 06739500 |
42 cfs | 7.2 ft |
|
Fraser River At Upper Sta
USGS 09022000 |
3 cfs | 0.5 ft |
| Snotel Site | Snowpack | 24hr Change |
|---|---|---|
|
loveland 2.4 nw, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-676 |
4.56" | 3.82" |
|
fcl 5.6 e, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-393 |
2.6" | 0" |
|
lafayette 2.3 nw, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-290 |
1.34" | 0" |
|
cheyenne wfo
SNOTEL CYSW4 |
1.95" | 1.65" |
|
erie 1.6 ne, co
SNOTEL CO-WE-209 |
0.14" | 0" |
|
fcl 1.7 sw, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-320 |
3.97" | 3.34" |
|
fort collins 3.4 n, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-653 |
2.76" | 2.36" |
|
conifer 5.7 sw, co
SNOTEL CO-JF-222 |
3.78" | 1.72" |
|
hygiene,co
SNOTEL HGIC2 |
0.66" | 0" |
|
westminster 2.3 sse, co
SNOTEL CO-AD-225 |
1.17" | 0" |
|
Loveland Basin
SNOTEL 602 |
60" | 5" |
|
lafayette 2.5 nw, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-222 |
0.4" | 0" |
|
fort collins 3.7 s, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-885 |
3.81" | 3.26" |
|
aurora south
SNOTEL EAGC2 |
0.86" | 0" |
|
englewood #2
SNOTEL ENLC2 |
0.54" | 0" |
|
estes park 1.8 sse, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-987 |
6.43" | 3.25" |
|
red feather 5.9 ne, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-329 |
5.57" | 3.71" |
|
evergreen 4.2 sse, co
SNOTEL CO-JF-157 |
4.54" | 3.17" |
|
firestone
SNOTEL FSNC2 |
0.14" | 0" |
|
Willow Park
SNOTEL 870 |
58" | 3" |
|
nunn 1.2 ene, co
SNOTEL CO-WE-345 |
2.01" | 0" |
|
windsor 3.0 sse, co
SNOTEL CO-WE-507 |
1.01" | 0" |
|
eaton 1.8 se, co
SNOTEL CO-WE-441 |
0.54" | 0" |
|
littleton 6.0 w, co
SNOTEL CO-JF-376 |
0.26" | 0.13" |
|
erie 1.7 wnw, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-455 |
0.72" | 0" |
|
niwot 0.7 nnw, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-338 |
0.55" | 0" |
|
nederland 3.7 ene, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-296 |
5.43" | 2.94" |
|
arvada 3.5 wnw, co
SNOTEL CO-JF-457 |
0.53" | 0" |
|
fort collins 4.6 n, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-762 |
2.53" | 2.2" |
|
niwot 2.3 w, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-248 |
0.67" | 0" |
|
fort collins 3.9 nne, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-112 |
2.32" | 0" |
|
longmont 1.8 e, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-361 |
0.34" | 0" |
|
cheyenne 7ne
SNOTEL GRAW4 |
1.9" | 1.62" |
|
boulder 2.2 nw, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-452 |
2.23" | 1.87" |
|
monument 2.1 ene, co
SNOTEL CO-EP-17 |
1.21" | 0" |
|
boulder 1.8 w, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-491 |
1.53" | 1.22" |
|
buford 4se
SNOTEL BFDW4 |
2.6" | 2.07" |
|
Crow Creek
SNOTEL 1045 |
12" | 0" |
|
berthoud 4.4 wsw, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-922 |
3.24" | 2.91" |
|
University Camp
SNOTEL 838 |
55" | 4" |
|
Jones Pass
SNOTEL 970 |
39" | 6" |
|
colorado springs 6.9 ne, co
SNOTEL CO-EP-282 |
0.68" | 0" |
|
evergreen 6.5 wsw, co
SNOTEL CO-CC-1 |
6.02" | 4.06" |
|
arvada 4.7 w, co
SNOTEL CO-JF-455 |
0.5" | 0" |
|
evergreen 1.3 nne, co
SNOTEL CO-JF-424 |
3.68" | 2.84" |
|
grant
SNOTEL GRTC2 |
7.58" | 2.98" |
|
fcl 2.2 nw, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-273 |
3.22" | 2.7" |
|
Hourglass Lake
SNOTEL 1122 |
41" | 6" |
|
south platte river
SNOTEL ANTC2 |
2.42" | -0.32" |
|
nederland 0.4 wnw, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-322 |
5.74" | 3.27" |
|
gross reservoir
SNOTEL GRRC2 |
2.96" | 2.16" |
|
fort collins 2.8 wsw, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-75 |
4.19" | 3.52" |
|
cabin creek
SNOTEL GCRC2 |
20.91" | 4.1" |
|
estes park 1.7 w, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-1115 |
6.41" | 2.99" |
|
fcl 7.9 ene, co
SNOTEL CO-WE-250 |
2.59" | 0" |
|
boulder 1.5 nnw, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-496 |
1.01" | 0" |
|
wellington 0.4 nw, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-952 |
1.7" | 0" |
|
laporte 1.4 nw, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-761 |
2.93" | 2.46" |
|
fort collins 5.5 s, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-1100 |
3.84" | 3.27" |
|
berthoud
SNOTEL ERTC2 |
1.63" | 1.33" |
|
jamestown 2.5 sse, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-343 |
6.12" | 3.61" |
|
black forest 3.8 w, co
SNOTEL CO-EP-396 |
1.07" | 0" |
|
allens park 1.5 ese, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-22 |
12.21" | 7.12" |
|
fcl 1.7 se, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-295 |
3.4" | 2.91" |
|
highlands ranch 0.6 sse, co
SNOTEL CO-DG-176 |
2.03" | 0" |
|
thornton 2.1 n, co
SNOTEL CO-AD-100 |
0.26" | 0" |
|
wellington 0.8 sw, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-1008 |
1.71" | 0" |
|
evergreen
SNOTEL EVGC2 |
3.45" | 2.63" |
|
lyons 0.3 nne, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-146 |
4.7" | 4.13" |
|
denver 6.1 wsw, co
SNOTEL CO-JF-3 |
0.35" | 0" |
|
longmont 1.8 ene, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-352 |
0.38" | 0" |
|
broomfield 3.2 nne, co
SNOTEL CO-BR-32 |
0.69" | 0" |
|
denver 0.4 e, co
SNOTEL CO-DN-175 |
0.43" | 0" |
|
franktown 3e
SNOTEL FNKC2 |
0.94" | 0" |
|
fort collins 0.9 n, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-849 |
3.15" | 2.71" |
|
Wild Basin
SNOTEL 1042 |
43" | 0" |
|
greeley 2.6 w, co
SNOTEL CO-WE-171 |
0.59" | 0" |
|
Hayden Pass
SNOTEL 1102 |
33" | -3" |
|
georgetown
SNOTEL GEOC2 |
4.14" | 2.84" |
|
cripple creek,co
SNOTEL CRIC2 |
0.07" | 0" |
|
castle rock 1.7 ssw, co
SNOTEL CO-DG-62 |
0.91" | 0.89" |
|
westminster 1.6 ne, co
SNOTEL CO-AD-153 |
1" | 0" |
|
parker 2.1 wnw, co
SNOTEL CO-DG-146 |
0.82" | 0" |
|
estes park 1.8 s, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-767 |
6.5" | 3.31" |
|
estes park,co
SNOTEL ETSC2 |
5.8" | 2.92" |
|
fort collins 4.9 n, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-1020 |
2.44" | 2.13" |
|
the pinery, co
SNOTEL CO-DG-294 |
0.43" | 0" |
|
fcl 3.0 sw, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-391 |
4.4" | 3.7" |
|
longmont 2.1 n, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-143 |
0.49" | 0" |
|
tabernash 2.7 nw, co
SNOTEL CO-GR-68 |
0.36" | 0" |
|
Sawtooth
SNOTEL 1251 |
63" | 4" |
|
Phantom Valley
SNOTEL 688 |
20" | 3" |
|
highlands ranch 2.5 ssw, co
SNOTEL CO-DG-178 |
1.9" | 0" |
|
boulder 1.6 s, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-14 |
1.07" | 0.99" |
|
greeley 4.6 wnw, co
SNOTEL CO-WE-318 |
0.65" | 0" |
|
amrad
SNOTEL CNRC2 |
5.56" | 3.34" |
|
fort collins 1.2 nne, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-1137 |
3.02" | 2.59" |
|
carr 0.6 s, co
SNOTEL CO-WE-127 |
1.58" | 0" |
|
lyons 4.8 n, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-50 |
6.67" | 5.46" |
|
erie 1.5 nne, co
SNOTEL CO-WE-511 |
0.16" | 0" |
|
Berthoud Summit
SNOTEL 335 |
59" | 6" |
|
cr66
SNOTEL GEYC2 |
0.62" | 0" |
|
franktown 3.6 ese, co
SNOTEL CO-DG-293 |
1.22" | 0" |
|
wheat ridge 2.8 wsw, co
SNOTEL CO-JF-290 |
0.34" | 0" |
|
boulder 1.9 se, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-30 |
0.7" | 0" |
|
livermore 9.9 wsw, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-897 |
5.22" | 3.74" |
|
fcl 3.0 w, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-284 |
3.84" | 3.18" |
|
evans
SNOTEL ENSC2 |
0.53" | 0" |
|
laramie 1se
SNOTEL ADFW4 |
0.79" | 0.21" |
|
longmont 3.3 sw, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-507 |
0.51" | 0" |
|
fort collins 2.8 w, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-1009 |
3.93" | 3.29" |
|
lakewood 2.2 ese, co
SNOTEL CO-JF-179 |
1.41" | 0" |
|
rollinsville 1.1 ssw, co
SNOTEL CO-GL-17 |
12.99" | 2.67" |
|
black forest 6wnw
SNOTEL BKFC2 |
1" | 0" |
|
greeley 3.9 ene, co
SNOTEL CO-WE-3 |
0.52" | 0" |
|
boulder 2.1 w, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-437 |
1.53" | 1.22" |
|
nederland 4.8 ene, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-110 |
4.98" | 2.77" |
|
loveland 2.7 e, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-687 |
1.79" | 0" |
|
nederland 2.61 nne, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-75 |
6.13" | 3.25" |
|
aurora 5 se
SNOTEL AUOC2 |
0.49" | 0" |
|
estes park 3.3 ssw, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-247 |
7.49" | 3.73" |
|
nunn 6.5 ne, co
SNOTEL CO-WE-409 |
1.83" | 0" |
|
woodland park 1.1 nnw, co
SNOTEL CO-TL-28 |
0.11" | 0.05" |
|
hudson 4.8 wsw, co
SNOTEL CO-WE-187 |
0.42" | 0" |
|
ralston reservoir
SNOTEL GDNC2 |
2.39" | 2.25" |
|
cheesman
SNOTEL CHEC2 |
1.02" | 0" |
|
parker 3.5 wnw, co
SNOTEL CO-DG-292 |
1.18" | 0" |
|
laramie 7sse
SNOTEL CMBW4 |
0.93" | 0.33" |
|
virginia dale 7.2 ssw, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-672 |
4.86" | 3.73" |
|
boulder 4.7 ene, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-220 |
0.55" | 0" |
|
lafayette 0.8 wsw, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-266 |
1.35" | 0" |
|
golden 12.5 nw, co
SNOTEL CO-JF-331 |
3.71" | 2.56" |
|
lov 3.4 s, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-472 |
2.65" | 2.06" |
|
bellvue 5.9 w, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-4 |
5.28" | 3.53" |
|
windsor 3.8 wsw, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-845 |
1.73" | 0" |
|
longmont 5.1 e, co
SNOTEL CO-WE-302 |
0.24" | 0" |
|
Copeland Lake
SNOTEL 412 |
10" | 4" |
|
boulder 2.0 w, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-380 |
1.43" | 1.13" |
|
conifer 3.2 sw, co
SNOTEL CO-JF-53 |
4.5" | 2.5" |
|
loveland 2.8 wnw, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-1109 |
4.93" | 4.16" |
|
erie 1.7 wnw, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-285 |
0.64" | 0" |
|
Michigan Creek
SNOTEL 937 |
36" | 0" |
|
lakewood 1.7 sw, co
SNOTEL CO-JF-333 |
0.47" | 0" |
|
colorado springs 7ne
SNOTEL CSEC2 |
0.53" | 0" |
|
nederland 5.8 e, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-57 |
4.54" | 2.66" |
|
estes park 10.5 se, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-1019 |
9.48" | 6.28" |
|
longmont 8.2 ese, co
SNOTEL CO-WE-203 |
0.12" | 0" |
|
ward 4.6 ne, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-202 |
11.48" | 6.42" |
|
fcl 2.3 nw, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-311 |
3.29" | 2.75" |
|
aurora 4.0 sse, co
SNOTEL CO-AR-259 |
0.42" | 0" |
|
evergreen 5 w, co
SNOTEL CO-CC-2 |
5.48" | 3.83" |
|
highlands ranch 1.1 ene, co
SNOTEL CO-DG-165 |
1.96" | 0" |
|
fort collins 1.1 wnw, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-863 |
3.51" | 2.97" |
|
gleneagle 0.4 wnw, co
SNOTEL CO-EP-61 |
1.02" | 0" |
|
fort collins 5.4 wsw, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-623 |
5.32" | 4.46" |
|
lake george 7.2 wnw, co
SNOTEL CO-PK-39 |
1.35" | 0.15" |
|
glen haven 1.2 n, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-868 |
5.65" | 2.58" |
|
monument 3s
SNOTEL DMDC2 |
0.81" | 0" |
|
aurora 2.1 ese, co
SNOTEL CO-AR-313 |
0.5" | 0" |
|
fort collins 4.2 s, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-758 |
1.94" | 0" |
|
evergreen 3.4 wnw, co
SNOTEL CO-CC-22 |
5.47" | 3.88" |
|
rollinsville 1.7 e, co
SNOTEL CO-GL-25 |
3.69" | 2.36" |
|
loveland 3.0 nne, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-104 |
2.07" | 1.51" |
|
boulder 4.7 e, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-67 |
0.64" | 0" |
|
loveland 1.5 n, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-40 |
3.95" | 3.31" |
|
longmont 3.0 sw, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-435 |
0.48" | 0" |
|
highlands ranch 3.2 ese, co
SNOTEL CO-DG-74 |
2.17" | 0" |
|
bailey
SNOTEL BLYC2 |
3.18" | 1.1" |
|
lafayette 0.4 wsw, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-8 |
1.24" | 0" |
|
fort lupton 7.4 nw, co
SNOTEL CO-WE-326 |
0.11" | 0" |
|
Bear Lake
SNOTEL 322 |
57" | 8" |
|
Jackwhacker Gulch
SNOTEL 935 |
39" | 3" |
|
fort collins
SNOTEL FORC2 |
3.19" | 2.72" |
|
loveland 2.3 nw, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-854 |
4.56" | 3.82" |
|
littleton 6.4 w, co
SNOTEL CO-JF-212 |
1.44" | 1.19" |
|
aspen springs amrad
SNOTEL ASIC2 |
3.7" | 2.65" |
|
la porte 10.0 nnw, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-567 |
3.42" | 3.18" |
|
aurora 7.3 se, co
SNOTEL CO-AR-207 |
0.69" | 0" |
|
colorado springs 10 ne
SNOTEL CMHC2 |
0.89" | 0" |
|
evergreen 2.0 ese, co
SNOTEL CO-JF-395 |
3.84" | 2.77" |
|
boulder 2.9 s, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-4 |
0.96" | 0" |
|
nederland 4.2 e, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-233 |
4.68" | 2.68" |
|
fort collins 9.6 se, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-630 |
1.66" | 0" |
|
wellington 3.7 wnw, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-918 |
1.69" | 0" |
|
boulder 1.5 wnw, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-490 |
1.41" | 1.17" |
|
fcl 2.55 ne, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-340 |
2.76" | 2.36" |
|
florissant 5.0 n, co
SNOTEL CO-TL-19 |
0.62" | 0.09" |
|
broomfield 2.3 ssw, co
SNOTEL CO-JF-72 |
1.3" | 0" |
|
denver 8 ssw, co
SNOTEL CO-DN-30 |
0.99" | 0" |
| Campground | Campsites | Reservations | Toilets | Showers | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flatiron Reservoir | None | 5,483 ft | |||
| Aspen Meadow - Golden Gate Canyon State Park | 35 | 9,000 ft | |||
| Meadow Park | None | 5,349 ft | |||
| Inlet Bay - Horsetooth Reservoir | None | 5,437 ft | |||
| Pinewood Reservoir | 22 | 6,604 ft | |||
| Clear Creek RV Park | 36 | 5,684 ft | |||
| Bear Creek Lake Park | 52 | 5,693 ft | |||
| South Bay - Horsetooth Reservoir | None | 5,435 ft | |||
| Carter Lake - North Side Campgrounds | None | 5,792 ft | |||
| Carter Lake - South Side Campgrounds | None | 5,711 ft |
| Ski Area | Snowpack | Air Temperature | 5 Day Forecast |
|---|---|---|---|
| Echo Mountain Park | 31" | 22° | 12.94" |
| Eldora Mountain Resort | 26" | 26° | 14.44" |
| River Run | Streamflow | Length | Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| Filter Plant | 1.66cfs | None Mi | II to III+ |
| Main Section | 46.8cfs | 3.0 Mi | IV+ to V |
| Golden Whitewater Park | 1.66cfs | 0.75 Mi | II+ |
| Lower Boulder Canyon | 50.8cfs | None Mi | IV- to V- |
| Lower North Fork | 72.4cfs | 11.0 Mi | III |
| October Hole | 55.4cfs | None Mi | II |
| Idledale to Morrison | 23.7cfs | 3.0 Mi | IV+ to V |
| Gnar Section | 141.0cfs | 1.0 Mi | V+ |
| Upper South Boulder Creek | 11.0cfs | None Mi | V+ |
| NSV | 55.4cfs | 13.0 Mi | V+ |
| Steven's Gulch to Bridges Take Out | 56.4cfs | 12.0 Mi | III- to IV+ |
| Upper Clear Creek | 49.5cfs | 2.5 Mi | IV- to IV+ |
| Upper Narrows | 56.4cfs | 0.5 Mi | V- to V+ |
| Upper South Boulder Creek | 11.0cfs | None Mi | V+ |
| Filter Plant | 1.66cfs | None Mi | II to III+ |
| Tunnel 1 to Golden Whitewater Park | 49.5cfs | None Mi | III- to III+ |
| Middle Narrows | 56.4cfs | 1.0 Mi | IV to V- |
| SSV - Confluence to Picnic Grounds | 55.4cfs | 5.0 Mi | V to V+ |
| Lower Narrows | 72.4cfs | 0.5 Mi | V- to V+ |