Upper Narrows


An espresso hair run usually combined with the middle and lower narrows. The main rapids are Supercollider and Whiteline, both easily scoutable from the road. At truly high flows, only those with the proper combination of expert skills and excessive foolishness should attempt this section.

Suggested river levels for paddling this section of the Cache La Poudre River are between a bare minimum of cfs and a high of cfs. River conditions sourced from USGS 06752000, the Cache La Poudre R A Mo Of Cn Remember only watercraft are permitted at Upper Narrows.

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Area Hydrology

Gauge Streamflow Stage
Williams Fork Below Steelman Creek
USGS 09035500 		2 cfs 2.9 ft
South Platte R At 64Th Ave. Commerce City
USGS 06714215 		21 cfs 1.6 ft
Willow Creek Below Willow Creek Reservoir
USGS 09021000 		8 cfs 2.5 ft
Bear Creek At Morrison
USGS 06710500 		9 cfs 5.5 ft
South Platte River Below Union Ave
USGS 06710247 		42 cfs 11.0 ft
South Platte River At Denver
USGS 06714000 		158 cfs 3.0 ft
Bear Creek At Mouth
USGS 06711500 		21 cfs 2.5 ft
St Vrain Cr Blw Boulder Cr At Hwy 119 Nr Longmont
USGS 06730525 		87 cfs 9.7 ft
Little Dry Creek At Westminster
USGS 06719840 		3 cfs 7.3 ft
St. Louis Creek Near Fraser
USGS 09026500 		5 cfs 1.3 ft
Snotel Site Snowpack 24hr Change
loveland 2.3 nw, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-854 		4.73" -0.09"
Crow Creek
SNOTEL 1045 		16" 0"
boulder 4.7 ene, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-220 		2.96" -0.38"
highlands ranch 1.1 ene, co
SNOTEL CO-DG-165 		2.16" -0.37"
erie 1.5 nne, co
SNOTEL CO-WE-511 		1.93" -0.2"
loveland 2.7 e, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-687 		3.09" -0.09"
Bear Lake
SNOTEL 322 		41" -1"
Windy Peak
SNOTEL 872 		15" 2"
evergreen 3.4 wnw, co
SNOTEL CO-CC-22 		3.04" -0.59"
fort collins 1.1 wnw, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-863 		3.31" -0.03"
wheat ridge 2.8 wsw, co
SNOTEL CO-JF-290 		1.88" -0.3"
wheat ridge 0.9 wsw, co
SNOTEL CO-JF-343 		1.99" -0.28"
conifer 3.2 sw, co
SNOTEL CO-JF-53 		3.41" -0.48"
Niwot
SNOTEL 663 		34" 0"
hygiene,co
SNOTEL HGIC2 		1.81" -0.22"
greeley 4.6 wnw, co
SNOTEL CO-WE-318 		1.68" -0.07"
niwot 0.7 nnw, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-338 		2.83" -0.37"
boulder 1.5 wnw, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-490 		4.84" -0.37"
Laprele Creek
SNOTEL 571 		20" 1"
laporte 1.4 nw, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-761 		1.1" -0.06"
virginia dale 7.2 ssw, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-672 		0.16" -0.47"
fcl 3.0 sw, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-391 		4.53" -0.06"
lafayette 0.4 wsw, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-8 		1.94" -0.25"
arvada 3.5 wnw, co
SNOTEL CO-JF-457 		1.99" -0.19"
black forest 6wnw
SNOTEL BKFC2 		0.15" -0.2"
University Camp
SNOTEL 838 		42" 1"
evergreen 1.3 nne, co
SNOTEL CO-JF-424 		3.41" -0.5"
fort collins 9.6 se, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-630 		3.47" -0.09"
boulder 1.6 s, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-14 		2.63" -0.36"
nederland 4.8 ene, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-110 		7.64" -0.8"
allens park 1.5 ese, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-22 		12.8" -0.81"
boulder 1.9 se, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-30 		2.65" -0.37"
carr 0.6 s, co
SNOTEL CO-WE-127 		0.3" -0.09"
denver 2.1 ese, co
SNOTEL CO-DN-25 		1.47" -0.27"
gleneagle 0.4 wnw, co
SNOTEL CO-EP-61 		0.31" -0.22"
fort collins 2.8 w, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-1009 		4.3" -0.04"
parker 2.1 wnw, co
SNOTEL CO-DG-146 		1.43" -0.28"
longmont 3.0 sw, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-435 		2.52" -0.32"
woodland park 1.1 nnw, co
SNOTEL CO-TL-28 		0.35" -0.27"
aspen springs amrad
SNOTEL ASIC2 		2.99" -0.73"
denver 1.1 ne, co
SNOTEL CO-DN-280 		1.5" -0.24"
High Lonesome
SNOTEL 1187 		51" 2"
lakewood 2.2 ese, co
SNOTEL CO-JF-179 		2.49" -0.36"
ralston reservoir
SNOTEL GDNC2 		2.64" -0.04"
parker 3.5 wnw, co
SNOTEL CO-DG-292 		1.39" -0.26"
berthoud
SNOTEL ERTC2 		2.02" -0.14"
Phantom Valley
SNOTEL 688 		26" -2"
longmont 2.1 n, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-143 		3.16" -0.16"
nederland 0.4 wnw, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-322 		8.42" -0.59"
denver 3.2 sse, co
SNOTEL CO-DN-49 		1.61" -0.3"
lafayette 2.5 nw, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-222 		2.39" -0.28"
littleton 6.0 w, co
SNOTEL CO-JF-376 		2.7" -0.34"
erie 0.5 se, co
SNOTEL CO-WE-392 		1.96" -0.23"
bailey
SNOTEL BLYC2 		1.63" -0.28"
colorado springs 5.7 wnw, co
SNOTEL CO-EP-37 		0.29" -0.12"
denver 2.6 ssw, co
SNOTEL CO-DN-231 		1.45" -0.27"
fcl 2.2 nw, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-273 		2.83" -0.08"
nederland 5.8 e, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-57 		8.83" -0.93"
fcl 2.55 ne, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-340 		1.17" -0.03"
lyons 0.3 nne, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-146 		3.1" -0.22"
glen haven 1.2 n, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-868 		3.38" -0.49"
littleton 6.4 w, co
SNOTEL CO-JF-212 		2.33" -0.35"
evergreen 6.5 wsw, co
SNOTEL CO-CC-1 		3.26" -0.56"
Middle Fork Camp
SNOTEL 1014 		26" 1"
fcl 5.6 e, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-393 		2.21" -0.05"
broomfield 2.3 ssw, co
SNOTEL CO-JF-72 		1.98" -0.25"
longmont 1.8 ene, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-352 		2.07" -0.25"
bellvue 5.9 w, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-4 		2.61" -0.44"
nederland 4.2 e, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-233 		6.63" -0.9"
fort collins 3.9 nne, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-112 		5.28" -0.04"
boulder 4.7 e, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-67 		2.56" -0.31"
Hoosier Pass
SNOTEL 531 		34" -1"
nederland 3.7 ene, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-296 		8.84" -0.66"
Black Mountain
SNOTEL 1161 		30" 1"
fort collins 3.7 s, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-885 		2.97" -0.09"
wellington 0.4 nw, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-952 		0.84" -0.06"
Deadman Hill
SNOTEL 438 		49" 1"
highlands ranch 2.5 ssw, co
SNOTEL CO-DG-178 		2.67" -0.41"
aurora 4.2 nnw, co
SNOTEL CO-AD-127 		2" -0.27"
erie 1.7 wnw, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-285 		1.9" -0.24"
estes park 1.7 w, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-1115 		9.21" -0.48"
cheyenne wfo
SNOTEL CYSW4 		1" -2"
fort collins
SNOTEL FORC2 		3.49" -0.04"
Loveland Basin
SNOTEL 602 		43" 0"
highlands ranch 3.2 ese, co
SNOTEL CO-DG-74 		1.45" -0.28"
denver 8 ssw, co
SNOTEL CO-DN-30 		1.9" -0.27"
fairplay 2.7 wnw, co
SNOTEL CO-PK-15 		7.6" -0.24"
estes park 1.8 sse, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-987 		2.68" -0.56"
lyons 4.8 n, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-50 		5.01" -0.21"
fort lupton 7.4 nw, co
SNOTEL CO-WE-326 		1.52" -0.13"
thornton 2.1 n, co
SNOTEL CO-AD-100 		2.16" -0.3"
windsor 3.0 sse, co
SNOTEL CO-WE-507 		1.78" -0.1"
estes park,co
SNOTEL ETSC2 		3.29" -0.49"
cabin creek
SNOTEL GCRC2 		13.32" -0.59"
Roach
SNOTEL 718 		45" 0"
georgetown
SNOTEL GEOC2 		3.14" -0.49"
Copeland Lake
SNOTEL 412 		25" -2"
erie 1.7 wnw, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-455 		1.97" -0.23"
boulder 2.1 w, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-437 		2.33" -0.37"
fort collins 5.5 s, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-1100 		3.47" -0.1"
evergreen 5 w, co
SNOTEL CO-CC-2 		3.01" -0.57"
arvada 3.8 w, co
SNOTEL CO-JF-240 		2.02" -0.19"
lafayette 0.8 wsw, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-266 		1.96" -0.24"
denver/stapleton
SNOTEL DUAC2 		1.81" -0.24"
tabernash 2.7 nw, co
SNOTEL CO-GR-68 		18.59" -0.21"
wellington 0.8 sw, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-1008 		0.86" -0.05"
jamestown 2.5 sse, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-343 		3.21" -0.64"
aurora south
SNOTEL EAGC2 		1.49" -0.28"
nederland 2.61 nne, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-75 		6.09" -0.82"
estes park 3.3 ssw, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-247 		2.79" -0.63"
Sawtooth
SNOTEL 1251 		57" -1"
ward 4.6 ne, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-202 		11.51" -0.8"
Berthoud Summit
SNOTEL 335 		38" 0"
fcl 7.9 ene, co
SNOTEL CO-WE-250 		0.67" -0.04"
Willow Park
SNOTEL 870 		47" -2"
lakewood 1.7 sw, co
SNOTEL CO-JF-333 		2.77" -0.41"
boulder 2.2 nw, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-452 		2.31" -0.36"
south platte river
SNOTEL ANTC2 		0.36" -0.04"
Glen Cove
SNOTEL 1057 		7" -2"
lake george 7.2 wnw, co
SNOTEL CO-PK-39 		0.21" -0.26"
erie 1.6 ne, co
SNOTEL CO-WE-209 		1.81" -0.18"
dillon 2.3 se, co
SNOTEL CO-SU-16 		15.54" -0.17"
wellington 3.7 wnw, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-918 		0.6" -0.06"
estes park 1.8 s, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-767 		7.3" -0.42"
fort collins 4.2 s, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-758 		4.53" -0.06"
amrad
SNOTEL CNRC2 		3.51" -0.63"
evergreen
SNOTEL EVGC2 		3.35" -0.53"
loveland 1.5 n, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-40 		4.91" -0.11"
longmont 1.8 e, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-361 		2.08" -0.26"
Wild Basin
SNOTEL 1042 		42" 0"
Hourglass Lake
SNOTEL 1122 		32" 3"
conifer 5.7 sw, co
SNOTEL CO-JF-222 		1.47" -0.32"
fcl 1.7 sw, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-320 		4.69" -0.05"
Michigan Creek
SNOTEL 937 		28" 0"
buford 4se
SNOTEL BFDW4 		1.12" -0.57"
fcl 3.0 w, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-284 		3.51" -0.03"
fort collins 4.9 n, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-1020 		2.06" -0.08"
cheesman
SNOTEL CHEC2 		1.77" -0.19"
monument 3s
SNOTEL DMDC2 		1.04" -0.29"
berthoud 4.4 wsw, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-922 		3.46" -0.14"
arvada 4.7 w, co
SNOTEL CO-JF-455 		2.12" -0.15"
evergreen 2.0 ese, co
SNOTEL CO-JF-395 		3" -0.53"
fcl 2.3 nw, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-311 		1.15" -0.09"
florissant 5.0 n, co
SNOTEL CO-TL-19 		1.29" -0.42"
la porte 10.0 nnw, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-567 		0.66" -0.17"
grant
SNOTEL GRTC2 		1.92" -0.29"
loveland 2.8 wnw, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-1109 		4.91" -0.12"
gross reservoir
SNOTEL GRRC2 		4.45" -0.85"
dillon,co
SNOTEL DLLC2 		11.8" -0.15"
boulder 1.5 nnw, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-496 		2.45" -0.35"
divide 4nw
SNOTEL DNWC2 		0.62" -0.26"
cripple creek,co
SNOTEL CRIC2 		1.52" -0.19"
longmont 3.3 sw, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-507 		2.55" -0.31"
golden 12.5 nw, co
SNOTEL CO-JF-331 		8.23" -1.15"
boulder 1.8 w, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-491 		2.33" -0.37"
lov 3.4 s, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-472 		4.79" -0.09"
westminster 2.3 sse, co
SNOTEL CO-AD-225 		2.3" -0.34"
Echo Lake
SNOTEL 936 		13" 0"
arvada 2.1 sse, co
SNOTEL CO-JF-427 		2.11" -0.31"
estes park 10.5 se, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-1019 		4.69" -0.5"
boulder 2.0 w, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-380 		3.02" -0.34"
monument 2.1 ene, co
SNOTEL CO-EP-17 		1.03" -0.27"
castle rock 1.7 ssw, co
SNOTEL CO-DG-62 		1.2" -0.28"
highlands ranch 0.6 sse, co
SNOTEL CO-DG-176 		2.13" -0.38"
co st forest st park
SNOTEL CSFC2 		19.18" -0.23"
manitou springs 1.2 ese, co
SNOTEL CO-EP-175 		0.11" -0.09"
windsor 3.8 wsw, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-845 		1.54" -0.16"
Lake Eldora
SNOTEL 564 		30" 0"
westminster 1.6 ne, co
SNOTEL CO-AD-153 		2.2" -0.33"
lafayette 2.3 nw, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-290 		2.28" -0.28"
rollinsville 1.7 e, co
SNOTEL CO-GL-25 		6.44" -0.69"
loveland 3.0 nne, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-104 		3.42" -0.09"
evergreen 4.2 sse, co
SNOTEL CO-JF-157 		3.15" -0.57"
laramie 1se
SNOTEL ADFW4 		2.63" -0.1"
Jones Pass
SNOTEL 970 		37" 0"
livermore 9.9 wsw, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-897 		1.06" -0.6"
boulder 2.9 s, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-4 		2.63" -0.37"
fort collins 2.8 wsw, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-75 		3.8" -0.05"
longmont 5.1 e, co
SNOTEL CO-WE-302 		1.66" -0.16"
laramie 7sse
SNOTEL CMBW4 		3.3" -0.2"
rollinsville 1.1 ssw, co
SNOTEL CO-GL-17 		12.12" -0.67"
thornton 2.3 sse, co
SNOTEL CO-AD-22 		1.99" -0.27"
longmont 8.2 ese, co
SNOTEL CO-WE-203 		3.2" -0.09"
niwot 2.3 w, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-248 		4.41" -0.18"
fort collins 0.9 n, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-849 		3.62" -0.05"
fcl 1.7 se, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-295 		3.71" -0.05"
fort collins 4.6 n, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-762 		0.95" -0.07"
fort collins 5.4 wsw, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-623 		1.87" -0.26"
fort collins 3.4 n, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-653 		1.17" -0.03"
denver 0.4 e, co
SNOTEL CO-DN-175 		1.49" -0.24"
loveland 2.4 nw, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-676 		4.73" -0.09"
englewood 1.4 n, co
SNOTEL CO-AR-292 		1.59" -0.22"
englewood #2
SNOTEL ENLC2 		1.95" -0.29"
fort collins 1.2 nne, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-1137 		2.72" -0.03"
Joe Wright
SNOTEL 551 		53" 0"
firestone
SNOTEL FSNC2 		1.5" -0.13"
denver 6.1 wsw, co
SNOTEL CO-JF-3 		2.6" -0.39"
red feather 5.9 ne, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-329 		0.51" -0.62"
broomfield 3.2 nne, co
SNOTEL CO-BR-32 		2.03" -0.24"
Rawah
SNOTEL 1032 		26" -1"

Outdoor Recreation

Campground Campsites Reservations Toilets Showers Elevation
Dowdy Lake 70 8,176 ft
Narrows 5 6,470 ft
Marys Lake - USBR 270 8,032 ft
Peaceful Valley 17 8,552 ft
Kelly Flats 29 6,751 ft
Meeker Park Overflow 29 8,611 ft
Olive Ridge 56 8,361 ft
Longs Peak - Rocky Mountain National Park 26 9,397 ft
Jacks Gulch 56 8,100 ft
Vedauwoo 28 8,288 ft
Dutch George 20 6,520 ft
West Lake 36 8,254 ft
Hermit Park Open Space None 8,313 ft
Mountain Park 54 6,678 ft
Lower Narrows 8 6,470 ft
Ansel Watrous 16 5,839 ft
Stove Prairie 9 6,068 ft
Ski Area Snowpack Air Temperature 5 Day Forecast
Eldora Mountain Resort 30" 17° 1.39"
Ski Estes Park (Hidden Valley) 41" 17° 1.58"
River Run Streamflow Length Class
Upper Narrows 54.5cfs 0.5 Mi V- to V+
NSV 10.7cfs 13.0 Mi V+
October Hole 10.7cfs None Mi II
Lower Boulder Canyon 40.2cfs None Mi IV- to V-
Upper South Boulder Creek 5.57cfs None Mi V+
Filter Plant 3.92cfs None Mi II to III+
Steven's Gulch to Bridges Take Out 54.5cfs 12.0 Mi III- to IV+
Rustic (Upper) 54.5cfs 20.0 Mi III to III+
SSV - Confluence to Picnic Grounds 10.7cfs 5.0 Mi V to V+
Lower Narrows 54.5cfs 0.5 Mi V- to V+
Main Section 47.8cfs 3.0 Mi IV+ to V
Filter Plant 3.92cfs None Mi II to III+
Upper North Fork 0.2cfs 9.0 Mi IV+ to V-
Middle Narrows 54.5cfs 1.0 Mi IV to V-
Lower North Fork 54.5cfs 11.0 Mi III
Gnar Section 187.0cfs 1.0 Mi V+
Upper South Boulder Creek 5.57cfs None Mi V+