The Upper
The upper section of Lake Creek is around 8 miles long. Since Highway 82 parallels Lake Creek you can choose how much you want to run. Since this is class V to V+ you can make this an all day hair fest or do some park and drops.
Suggested river levels for paddling this section of the Lake Creek are between a bare minimum of 150cfs and a high of 700cfs.
River conditions sourced from USGS 07084500, the Lake Creek Above Twin Lakes Reservoir
Remember only watercraft are permitted
at The Upper.
Run Stats
| Status | Too Low |
| Class Level | V to V+ |
| Elevation | 9,315 ft |
| Run Length | 8.0 Mi |
| Gradient | 125 FPM |
| Streamflow Discharge | 41.3 cfs |
| Gage Height | 2.4 ft |
| Air Temperature | 54° |
| River | Lake Creek |
| Reporting Streamgage |
Lake Creek Above Twin Lakes Reservoir
USGS 07084500 |
|
Tombstone Drop
Class V to V+ |
|
Not In My Back Yard (NIMBY)
Class V to V+ |
| Gauge | Streamflow | Stage |
|---|---|---|
|
Keystone Gulch Near Dillon
USGS 09047700 |
2 cfs | 2.0 ft |
|
Hunter Creek Near Aspen
USGS 09074000 |
8 cfs | 1.1 ft |
|
East Fork Eagle River Near Climax
USGS 09061600 |
0 cfs | 0.2 ft |
|
Tarryall Creek At Upper Station
USGS 06696980 |
7 cfs | 5.0 ft |
|
Arkansas River At Salida
USGS 07091500 |
226 cfs | 2.6 ft |
|
Lincoln Creek Bl Grizzly Reservoir
USGS 09073005 |
1 cfs | 1.1 ft |
|
Missouri Creek Near Gold Park
USGS 09063900 |
2 cfs | 1.4 ft |
|
Tenmile Creek Bl North Tenmile C
USGS 09050100 |
26 cfs | 1.8 ft |
|
Blue River Near Dillon
USGS 09046600 |
57 cfs | 4.6 ft |
|
Arkansas River Near Wellsville
USGS 07093700 |
298 cfs | 3.1 ft |
| Snotel Site | Snowpack | 24hr Change |
|---|---|---|
|
Saint Elmo
SNOTEL 1100 |
2" | 0" |
|
Tower
SNOTEL 825 |
6" | 1" |
|
Rawah
SNOTEL 1032 |
2" | -1" |
|
Elk River
SNOTEL 467 |
1" | 0" |
|
Brumley
SNOTEL 369 |
1" | 1" |
|
Rabbit Ears
SNOTEL 709 |
1" | -1" |
|
gothic
SNOTEL GTHC2 |
4.64" | -0.34" |
|
Hoosier Pass
SNOTEL 531 |
3" | 0" |
|
Lost Dog
SNOTEL 940 |
1" | 2" |
|
Columbine
SNOTEL 408 |
1" | 1" |
|
Chapman Tunnel
SNOTEL 1101 |
1" | 0" |
|
climax coop
SNOTEL CLXC2 |
1.39" | -0.33" |
|
Wolf Creek Summit
SNOTEL 874 |
10" | 0" |
|
Buffalo Park
SNOTEL 913 |
2" | 0" |
|
Crosho
SNOTEL 426 |
11" | 1" |
|
Park Cone
SNOTEL 680 |
2" | 0" |
|
Independence Pass
SNOTEL 542 |
2" | -1" |
|
Dry Lake
SNOTEL 457 |
2" | 0" |
|
Summit Ranch
SNOTEL 802 |
1" | 1" |
|
Arapaho Ridge
SNOTEL 1030 |
7" | 0" |
|
Fremont Pass
SNOTEL 485 |
6" | 1" |
|
Roach
SNOTEL 718 |
4" | 1" |
|
Willow Creek Pass
SNOTEL 869 |
2" | 1" |
|
Never Summer
SNOTEL 1031 |
5" | 1" |
|
Cochetopa Pass
SNOTEL 1059 |
1" | 0" |
|
Vail Mountain
SNOTEL 842 |
1" | 2" |
|
Ivanhoe
SNOTEL 547 |
15" | 0" |
|
Grayback
SNOTEL 1058 |
2" | -1" |
|
Upper San Juan
SNOTEL 840 |
2" | -1" |
|
Kiln
SNOTEL 556 |
10" | -1" |
| Campground | Campsites | Reservations | Toilets | Showers | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gold Park | 11 | 9,246 ft | |||
| Dorchester | 10 | 9,925 ft | |||
| Twin Peaks | 37 | 9,615 ft | |||
| Gold Creek | 6 | 10,005 ft | |||
| Elbert Creek | 17 | 10,095 ft | |||
| Pitkin | 22 | 9,362 ft | |||
| Lost Man | 10 | 10,513 ft | |||
| Lodgepole - Almont | 16 | 8,905 ft | |||
| Comanche | 4 | 8,962 ft | |||
| Mayqueen | 27 | 9,884 ft | |||
| Yeoman Park | 24 | 9,062 ft | |||
| Cold Spring | 6 | 8,954 ft | |||
| Dinner Station | 22 | 9,613 ft | |||
| Halfmoon | 7 | 10,294 ft | |||
| Chapman | 84 | 8,598 ft | |||
| Quartz | 10 | 9,849 ft | |||
| Rivers End | 15 | 9,356 ft | |||
| Lakeview - Almont | 35 | 9,556 ft | |||
| Portal | 5 | 10,576 ft | |||
| Lottis Creek | 27 | 9,068 ft | |||
| Elk Wallow | 7 | 8,829 ft | |||
| Middle Quartz | 7 | 10,230 ft | |||
| Fulford Cave | 7 | 9,422 ft | |||
| Mirror Lake - Almont | 10 | 11,007 ft | |||
| Halfmoon West | 16 | 9,932 ft | |||
| Parry Peak | 26 | 9,430 ft | |||
| Tigiwon | 9 | 9,994 ft |
| Ski Area | Snowpack | Air Temperature | 5 Day Forecast |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ski Cooper | -182" | 44° | 0.22" |
| Beaver Creek Resort | 0" | 55° | 1.25" |
| Monarch Ski & Snowboard Area | 0" | 40° | 0.56" |
| Vail | 1" | 46° | 1.2" |
| Aspen Highlands | -1" | 48° | 1.74" |
| Buttermilk Mountain | -1" | 48° | 1.74" |
| Aspen Mountain | 2" | 50° | 1.3" |
| River Run | Streamflow | Length | Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower Blue (Green Mountain to Spring Creek) | 394.0cfs | 3.8 Mi | II+ to III |
| The Upper | 41.3cfs | 8.0 Mi | V to V+ |
| Lower Blue (Green Mountain to Spring Creek) | 394.0cfs | 3.8 Mi | II+ to III |
| Castle Creek | 121.0cfs | 2.0 Mi | IV+ to V- |
| Lower Eagle (Edwards Water Plant to Eagle) | 65.4cfs | 17.0 Mi | III- to III+ |
| Pine Creek (Granite to Numbers) | 148.0cfs | 6.0 Mi | III+ to V- |
| Lower (Bottom Four) | 41.3cfs | 1.0 Mi | V to V+ |
| Lower Blue (Green Mountain to Spring Creek) | 394.0cfs | 3.8 Mi | II+ to III |
| Upper Gore Creek | 13.7cfs | 4.0 Mi | II+ to III |
| Numbers | 148.0cfs | 4.9 Mi | III+ to IV+ |
| Clear Creek of the Arkansas | 9.8cfs | 2.5 Mi | IV+ to V- |
| Lower Eagle (Edwards Water Plant to Eagle) | 65.4cfs | 17.0 Mi | III- to III+ |
| Dowd Chute | 31.6cfs | 1.0 Mi | III+ to IV+ |
| Lower Blue (Green Mountain to Spring Creek) | 394.0cfs | 3.8 Mi | II+ to III |
| State Bridge to Burns | 716.0cfs | 20.0 Mi | I to II+ |
| Upper Gore Creek | 13.7cfs | 4.0 Mi | II+ to III |