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 | 142 cfs |
| Gage Height | 2.3 ft |
| Air Temperature | 47° |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|
|
Michigan River Near Cameron Pass
USGS 06614800 |
0 cfs | 2.3 ft |
|
Joe Wright Creek Below Joe Wright Reservoir
USGS 06746110 |
2 cfs | 1.5 ft |
|
Yampa River Above Stagecoach Reservoir
USGS 09237450 |
33 cfs | 2.2 ft |
|
Encampment River Ab Hog Park Cr
USGS 06623800 |
10 cfs | 1.5 ft |
|
Colorado River Bl Shadow Mountain Reservoir
USGS 09015000 |
48 cfs | 1.6 ft |
|
Elk River Near Milner
USGS 09242500 |
110 cfs | 1.8 ft |
|
South Brush Creek Near Saratoga
USGS 06622900 |
18 cfs | 2.7 ft |
|
Sand Creek At Colorado-Wyoming State Line
USGS 06659580 |
3 cfs | 0.5 ft |
|
Willow Creek Below Willow Creek Reservoir
USGS 09021000 |
8 cfs | 2.6 ft |
|
Grand River Ditch At La Poudre Pass
USGS 09010000 |
-999 cfs | 0.2 ft |
| Snotel Site | Snowpack | 24hr Change |
|---|---|---|
|
Rawah
SNOTEL 1032 |
3" | -1" |
|
Berthoud Summit
SNOTEL 335 |
14" | 0" |
|
Roach
SNOTEL 718 |
9" | 0" |
|
Vail Mountain
SNOTEL 842 |
10" | 0" |
|
Reno Hill
SNOTEL 716 |
9" | 0" |
|
Willow Creek Pass
SNOTEL 869 |
7" | 0" |
|
Stillwater Creek
SNOTEL 793 |
13" | -1" |
|
Zirkel
SNOTEL 1033 |
8" | -1" |
|
Med Bow
SNOTEL 1196 |
24" | -2" |
|
Bear River
SNOTEL 1061 |
3" | 1" |
|
silverthorne 2.1 wsw, co
SNOTEL CO-SU-6 |
4.69" | -1.08" |
|
Michigan Creek
SNOTEL 937 |
12" | 0" |
|
Rabbit Ears
SNOTEL 709 |
15" | 0" |
|
Deadman Hill
SNOTEL 438 |
15" | 0" |
|
Kiln
SNOTEL 556 |
19" | 0" |
|
Phantom Valley
SNOTEL 688 |
1" | 0" |
|
Loveland Basin
SNOTEL 602 |
19" | 0" |
|
Lake Irene
SNOTEL 565 |
16" | 0" |
|
Arapaho Ridge
SNOTEL 1030 |
18" | -1" |
|
Blackhall Mtn
SNOTEL 1119 |
20" | -1" |
|
co st forest st park
SNOTEL CSFC2 |
0.7" | -1.41" |
|
Dry Lake
SNOTEL 457 |
11" | 0" |
|
Brooklyn Lake
SNOTEL 367 |
10" | 0" |
|
tabernash 2.7 nw, co
SNOTEL CO-GR-68 |
0.04" | -0.56" |
|
Buckskin Joe
SNOTEL 938 |
1" | 0" |
|
Jones Pass
SNOTEL 970 |
11" | -1" |
|
Lost Dog
SNOTEL 940 |
10" | -1" |
|
Columbine
SNOTEL 408 |
11" | 0" |
|
vail 2.6 e, co
SNOTEL CO-EG-19 |
2.64" | -1.23" |
|
Mccoy Park
SNOTEL 1040 |
2" | 0" |
|
Hoosier Pass
SNOTEL 531 |
13" | 0" |
|
Ivanhoe
SNOTEL 547 |
26" | 3" |
|
Old Battle
SNOTEL 673 |
22" | -1" |
|
Laprele Creek
SNOTEL 571 |
2" | 0" |
|
Jackwhacker Gulch
SNOTEL 935 |
9" | 0" |
|
Long Draw Resv
SNOTEL 1123 |
14" | -1" |
|
Webber Springs
SNOTEL 852 |
8" | -1" |
|
frisco 0.5 n, co
SNOTEL CO-SU-4 |
0.08" | -0.99" |
|
vail 3.5 e, co
SNOTEL CO-EG-53 |
4.91" | -0.83" |
|
Grizzly Peak
SNOTEL 505 |
18" | 1" |
|
North French Creek
SNOTEL 668 |
23" | 1" |
|
Tower
SNOTEL 825 |
33" | -1" |
|
Cinnabar Park
SNOTEL 1046 |
13" | 0" |
|
Nast Lake
SNOTEL 658 |
1" | 1" |
|
climax coop
SNOTEL CLXC2 |
11.16" | -0.31" |
|
Elliot Ridge
SNOTEL 1120 |
8" | 0" |
|
Little Snake River
SNOTEL 1047 |
8" | 1" |
|
Never Summer
SNOTEL 1031 |
17" | 1" |
|
yampa 5.1 s, co
SNOTEL CO-RT-26 |
2.73" | -0.29" |
|
South Brush Creek
SNOTEL 772 |
3" | 0" |
|
Fool Creek
SNOTEL 1186 |
18" | 0" |
|
Sand Lake
SNOTEL 731 |
20" | -1" |
|
Whiskey Park
SNOTEL 859 |
20" | 4" |
|
Middle Fork Camp
SNOTEL 1014 |
3" | 0" |
|
Fremont Pass
SNOTEL 485 |
18" | -1" |
|
Chapman Tunnel
SNOTEL 1101 |
11" | -1" |
|
Elk River
SNOTEL 467 |
5" | -1" |
| Campground | Campsites | Reservations | Toilets | Showers | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Brush Creek | 20 | 8,355 ft | |||
| Six Mile | 9 | 7,890 ft | |||
| Silver Lake | 17 | 10,464 ft | |||
| Pike Pole | 6 | 7,565 ft | |||
| Sugarloaf | 16 | 10,764 ft | |||
| Ryan Park | 49 | 8,438 ft | |||
| Lincoln Park | 12 | 8,102 ft | |||
| Bow River | 13 | 8,596 ft | |||
| Bobbie Thomson | 16 | 8,721 ft | |||
| Holmes | 13 | 9,598 ft | |||
| Pelton Creek | 16 | 8,240 ft | |||
| Deep Creek | 12 | 10,069 ft | |||
| Pickaroon | 8 | 7,420 ft |
| Ski Area | Snowpack | Air Temperature | 5 Day Forecast |
|---|---|---|---|
| Snowy Range | 10" | 35° | 0" |
| River Run | Streamflow | Length | Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northgate Canyon | 142.0cfs | 9.8 Mi | III- to III+ |