Numbers
The Numbers is a classic stretch of class IV whitewater on the Arkansas River upstream of Buena Vista. When the water is high and the sun is out, this is about as good as class IV boating gets in Colorado. At low and medium flows expect to see a lot of kayakers and rafters playing their way down the river. At higher flows, you may have the run all to yourself, even on a weekend.
Suggested river levels for paddling this section of the Arkansas River are between a bare minimum of 200cfs and a high of 5,000cfs.
River conditions sourced from USGS 07087050, the Arkansas River Below Granite
Remember only watercraft are permitted
at Numbers.
Run Stats
| Status | Too Low |
| Class Level | III+ to IV+ |
| Elevation | 8,629 ft |
| Run Length | 4.9 Mi |
| Gradient | 70 FPM |
| Streamflow Discharge | 130 cfs |
| Gage Height | 11.0 ft |
| Air Temperature | 73° |
| River | Arkansas River |
| Reporting Streamgage |
Arkansas River Below Granite
USGS 07087050 |
|
Number 1
Class IV- to IV+ |
|
Number 1 1/2
Class III+ to IV+ |
|
Number 2
Class III+ to IV+ |
|
Number 3
Class III+ to IV+ |
|
Top Number 4
Class III+ to IV+ |
|
Number 4 1/2
Class III+ to IV+ |
|
Number 5
Class IV- to IV+ |
|
Number 5 1/2
Class III+ to IV |
|
Number 6
Class IV to V |
|
Number 7
Class IV to V |
| Gauge | Streamflow | Stage |
|---|---|---|
|
Clear Creek Abv West Fork Clear Creek Nr Empire Co
USGS 06715000 |
30 cfs | 3.7 ft |
|
Blue River At Blue River
USGS 09046490 |
12 cfs | 0.7 ft |
|
Snake River Near Montezuma
USGS 09047500 |
22 cfs | 1.2 ft |
|
Arkansas River Below Empire Gulch Near Malta
USGS 07083710 |
85 cfs | 3.0 ft |
|
Fryingpan River At Meredith
USGS 09080100 |
29 cfs | 1.8 ft |
|
Wurtz Ditch Near Tenneessee Pass
USGS 09062500 |
0 cfs | -0.7 ft |
|
Tenmile Creek Bl North Tenmile C
USGS 09050100 |
25 cfs | 1.8 ft |
|
Gore Creek At Upper Station
USGS 09065500 |
3 cfs | 2.1 ft |
|
Arkansas River Near Nathrop
USGS 07091200 |
233 cfs | 3.6 ft |
|
Fraser River At Winter Park
USGS 09024000 |
15 cfs | 1.0 ft |
| Snotel Site | Snowpack | 24hr Change |
|---|---|---|
|
Vail Mountain
SNOTEL 842 |
1" | 0" |
|
Willow Creek Pass
SNOTEL 869 |
1" | 1" |
|
Lake Irene
SNOTEL 565 |
1" | 0" |
|
Kiln
SNOTEL 556 |
10" | 0" |
|
Never Summer
SNOTEL 1031 |
1" | 0" |
|
Hoosier Pass
SNOTEL 531 |
1" | 0" |
|
Lily Pond
SNOTEL 580 |
2" | 1" |
|
Loveland Basin
SNOTEL 602 |
1" | 1" |
|
Fremont Pass
SNOTEL 485 |
1" | 0" |
|
Arapaho Ridge
SNOTEL 1030 |
1" | 0" |
|
Ivanhoe
SNOTEL 547 |
11" | 0" |
|
Grayback
SNOTEL 1058 |
1" | -1" |
|
Jackwhacker Gulch
SNOTEL 935 |
1" | 1" |
|
Wolf Creek Summit
SNOTEL 874 |
1" | 1" |
|
Saint Elmo
SNOTEL 1100 |
1" | 0" |
|
Rawah
SNOTEL 1032 |
6" | 0" |
|
Stillwater Creek
SNOTEL 793 |
1" | 1" |
|
Park Cone
SNOTEL 680 |
1" | 1" |
| Campground | Campsites | Reservations | Toilets | Showers | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monarch Park | 37 | 10,478 ft | |||
| Collegiate Peaks | 56 | 9,837 ft | |||
| Angel of Shavano | 20 | 9,147 ft | |||
| Fourmile | 14 | 10,824 ft | |||
| Tabor | 44 | 9,897 ft | |||
| Kite Lake | 5 | 12,043 ft | |||
| Father Dyer | 26 | 9,953 ft | |||
| Weston Pass | 14 | 10,277 ft | |||
| Iron City | 15 | 9,928 ft | |||
| Mount Princeton | 19 | 8,618 ft | |||
| North Fork Reservoir | 9 | 11,459 ft | |||
| Camp Hale Memorial | 21 | 9,318 ft | |||
| Molly Brown | 49 | 9,897 ft | |||
| Matchless | 17 | 9,903 ft | |||
| Belle of Colorado | 19 | 9,924 ft | |||
| Horseshoe | 19 | 10,538 ft | |||
| Railroad Bridge - Arkansas Headwaters State Rec Area | None | 8,039 ft | |||
| Cascade | 22 | 9,033 ft | |||
| Garfield | 8 | 9,912 ft | |||
| Cottonwood Lake | 24 | 9,586 ft | |||
| Baby Doe | 50 | 9,913 ft | |||
| Chalk Lake | 19 | 8,743 ft | |||
| Dexter | 24 | 9,271 ft | |||
| Silver Dollar | 43 | 9,905 ft |
| Ski Area | Snowpack | Air Temperature | 5 Day Forecast |
|---|---|---|---|
| Copper Mountain Resort | -1" | 64° | 0" |
| Vail | 1" | 63° | 0" |
| Monarch Ski & Snowboard Area | 0" | 57° | 0" |
| Ski Cooper | 0" | 58° | 0" |
| Beaver Creek Resort | 0" | 71° | 0" |
| Loveland | 1" | 51° | 0" |
| Breckenridge Ski Resort | -1" | 64° | 0" |
| Keystone Resort | 1" | 59° | 0" |
| River Run | Streamflow | Length | Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower (Bottom Four) | 16.3cfs | 1.0 Mi | V to V+ |
| Clear Creek of the Arkansas | 11.0cfs | 2.5 Mi | IV+ to V- |
| Upper Blue (Blue River CG to Columbine Landing) | 109.0cfs | 3.0 Mi | III to IV- |
| Buena Vista Whitewater Park | 130.0cfs | 1.0 Mi | II+ to III+ |
| Numbers | 130.0cfs | 4.9 Mi | III+ to IV+ |
| Salida Town Run (Stone Bridge to Salida WW Park) | 130.0cfs | 12.0 Mi | II to III |
| Lower Snake | 21.9cfs | 4.0 Mi | III to III+ |
| The Upper | 16.3cfs | 8.0 Mi | V to V+ |
| Milk Run | 130.0cfs | 4.0 Mi | II+ to III- |
| Salida Whitewater Park | 130.0cfs | None Mi | III- to III+ |
| Upper Gore Creek | 12.8cfs | 4.0 Mi | II+ to III |
| Silverthorne Town Run | 39.4cfs | 0.5 Mi | II to III- |
| Middle Ten Mile | 25.4cfs | 3.0 Mi | III+ to IV |
| Upper-Upper Ten Mile | 25.4cfs | 3.0 Mi | III+ to IV- |
| Pine Creek (Granite to Numbers) | 130.0cfs | 6.0 Mi | III+ to V- |
| Upper Gore Creek | 12.8cfs | 4.0 Mi | II+ to III |
| Breckenridge Whitewater Park (Town Run) | 103.0cfs | 0.25 Mi | II+ to III |
| Dowd Chute | 50.4cfs | 1.0 Mi | III+ to IV+ |
| Upper Ten Mile | 25.4cfs | 2.0 Mi | IV+ to V |
| Fractions | 130.0cfs | 7.0 Mi | III to III+ |
| Browns Canyon (Fisherman's Bridge to Stone Bridge) | 130.0cfs | 13.0 Mi | III to IV- |
| Lower Ten Mile | 25.4cfs | 3.0 Mi | II to III |
| Salida to Rincon | 130.0cfs | 10.0 Mi | II+ to III |