Northgate Canyon
Great wilderness run that is better known for the fishing than whitewater. The upper run, Routt Access to Sixmile Gap, has only 5 named rapids in 10 miles. However the rapids are good, and can get very big at the highest levels. Below Sixmile Gap frequent Class II rapids and many camping opportunities allow the option of overnight trips. Other than the occasional riffle, the rapids are done below Prospect/Pickaroon, but the river remains quite scenic through Bennett Peak. Below Bennett the river will be Class I braided channels.
Suggested river levels for paddling this section of the North Platte River are between a bare minimum of 500cfs and a high of 3,000cfs.
River conditions sourced from USGS 06620000, the North Platte River Near Northgate
Remember only watercraft are permitted
at Northgate Canyon.
Run Stats
| Status | Too Low |
| Class Level | III- to III+ |
| Elevation | 7,823 ft |
| Run Length | 9.8 Mi |
| Gradient | 20 FPM |
| Streamflow Discharge | 159 cfs |
| Gage Height | 3.0 ft |
| Air Temperature | 43° |
| River | North Platte River |
| Reporting Streamgage |
North Platte River Near Northgate
USGS 06620000 |
|
Windy Hole
Class III |
|
Cowpie
Class III |
|
Narrows
Class III+ to IV+ |
|
Tootsie Roll
Class III |
|
Stovepipe
Class III |
| Gauge | Streamflow | Stage |
|---|---|---|
|
Grand River Ditch At La Poudre Pass
USGS 09010000 |
-999 cfs | 0.0 ft |
|
L Medicine Bow R At Boles Spring
USGS 06634620 |
97 cfs | 2.4 ft |
|
Encampment River At Mouth
USGS 06625000 |
128 cfs | 2.2 ft |
|
Williams Fork Below Williams Fork Reservoir
USGS 09038500 |
162 cfs | 1.8 ft |
|
Encampment River Ab Hog Park Cr
USGS 06623800 |
34 cfs | 1.2 ft |
|
Joe Wright Creek Below Joe Wright Reservoir
USGS 06746110 |
4 cfs | 1.5 ft |
|
Pioneer Canal Near Woods
USGS 06659501 |
174 cfs | 1.6 ft |
|
Little Laramie River Near Filmore
USGS 06661000 |
671 cfs | 2.9 ft |
|
Medicine Bow R Ab Seminoe Reservoir
USGS 06635000 |
194 cfs | 3.0 ft |
|
Colorado R Below Baker Gulch
USGS 09010500 |
107 cfs | 3.5 ft |
| Snotel Site | Snowpack | 24hr Change |
|---|---|---|
|
Berthoud Summit
SNOTEL 335 |
54" | -2" |
|
vail 3.5 e, co
SNOTEL CO-EG-53 |
20.25" | -0.79" |
|
Rabbit Ears
SNOTEL 709 |
36" | -2" |
|
Whiskey Park
SNOTEL 859 |
56" | -3" |
|
tabernash 2.7 nw, co
SNOTEL CO-GR-68 |
2.18" | -0.74" |
|
Cinnabar Park
SNOTEL 1046 |
45" | -2" |
|
Willow Creek Pass
SNOTEL 869 |
38" | 1" |
|
Kiln
SNOTEL 556 |
25" | -2" |
|
Lost Dog
SNOTEL 940 |
44" | -1" |
|
Lake Irene
SNOTEL 565 |
61" | -2" |
|
Mccoy Park
SNOTEL 1040 |
22" | -3" |
|
Zirkel
SNOTEL 1033 |
38" | -3" |
|
Dry Lake
SNOTEL 457 |
26" | -3" |
|
Chapman Tunnel
SNOTEL 1101 |
32" | -1" |
|
Jackwhacker Gulch
SNOTEL 935 |
33" | -1" |
|
Webber Springs
SNOTEL 852 |
46" | -2" |
|
Beaver Ck Village
SNOTEL 1041 |
18" | -1" |
|
fairplay 2.7 wnw, co
SNOTEL CO-PK-15 |
18.93" | -0.64" |
|
Arapaho Ridge
SNOTEL 1030 |
54" | -1" |
|
Roach
SNOTEL 718 |
43" | -2" |
|
Fremont Pass
SNOTEL 485 |
47" | 0" |
|
Hoosier Pass
SNOTEL 531 |
39" | -2" |
|
Jones Pass
SNOTEL 970 |
38" | -2" |
|
Fool Creek
SNOTEL 1186 |
50" | -2" |
|
Elk River
SNOTEL 467 |
31" | -2" |
|
Rawah
SNOTEL 1032 |
25" | -2" |
|
Little Snake River
SNOTEL 1047 |
50" | -2" |
|
Lynx Pass
SNOTEL 607 |
18" | -2" |
|
Nast Lake
SNOTEL 658 |
11" | -2" |
|
Loveland Basin
SNOTEL 602 |
53" | 0" |
|
co st forest st park
SNOTEL CSFC2 |
1.41" | -1.46" |
|
Middle Fork Camp
SNOTEL 1014 |
21" | -2" |
|
Joe Wright
SNOTEL 551 |
54" | -4" |
|
Grizzly Peak
SNOTEL 505 |
40" | -2" |
|
Old Battle
SNOTEL 673 |
78" | -1" |
|
Laprele Creek
SNOTEL 571 |
29" | -1" |
|
Reno Hill
SNOTEL 716 |
48" | -3" |
|
Tower
SNOTEL 825 |
82" | -1" |
|
Never Summer
SNOTEL 1031 |
44" | -1" |
|
Buckskin Joe
SNOTEL 938 |
28" | 0" |
|
Brooklyn Lake
SNOTEL 367 |
60" | -2" |
|
yampa 5.1 s, co
SNOTEL CO-RT-26 |
5.28" | -1.24" |
|
Summit Ranch
SNOTEL 802 |
19" | -1" |
|
Sand Lake
SNOTEL 731 |
82" | -4" |
|
Copper Mountain
SNOTEL 415 |
32" | -1" |
|
Buffalo Park
SNOTEL 913 |
34" | -1" |
|
Columbine
SNOTEL 408 |
39" | -2" |
|
Phantom Valley
SNOTEL 688 |
19" | -2" |
|
Casper Mtn.
SNOTEL 389 |
39" | -3" |
|
Vail Mountain
SNOTEL 842 |
31" | -1" |
|
Stillwater Creek
SNOTEL 793 |
1" | -1" |
|
frisco 0.5 n, co
SNOTEL CO-SU-4 |
2.52" | -1.29" |
|
climax coop
SNOTEL CLXC2 |
34.33" | -0.77" |
|
Blackhall Mtn
SNOTEL 1119 |
69" | -4" |
|
Med Bow
SNOTEL 1196 |
91" | -3" |
|
Bear River
SNOTEL 1061 |
27" | 0" |
|
Deadman Hill
SNOTEL 438 |
56" | -4" |
|
South Brush Creek
SNOTEL 772 |
19" | -2" |
|
North French Creek
SNOTEL 668 |
69" | -1" |
|
silverthorne 2.1 wsw, co
SNOTEL CO-SU-6 |
13.77" | -0.87" |
|
Elliot Ridge
SNOTEL 1120 |
46" | 0" |
|
Ivanhoe
SNOTEL 547 |
46" | 0" |
| Campground | Campsites | Reservations | Toilets | Showers | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deep Creek | 12 | 10,069 ft | |||
| South Brush Creek | 20 | 8,355 ft | |||
| Bow River | 13 | 8,596 ft | |||
| Pickaroon | 8 | 7,420 ft | |||
| Pike Pole | 6 | 7,565 ft | |||
| Pelton Creek | 16 | 8,240 ft | |||
| Silver Lake | 17 | 10,464 ft | |||
| Lincoln Park | 12 | 8,102 ft | |||
| Sugarloaf | 16 | 10,764 ft | |||
| Six Mile | 9 | 7,890 ft | |||
| Bobbie Thomson | 16 | 8,721 ft | |||
| Holmes | 13 | 9,598 ft | |||
| Ryan Park | 49 | 8,438 ft |
| Ski Area | Snowpack | Air Temperature | 5 Day Forecast |
|---|---|---|---|
| Snowy Range | 60" | 30° | 12.26" |
| River Run | Streamflow | Length | Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northgate Canyon | 159.0cfs | 9.8 Mi | III- to III+ |