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
Colorado River Below Lake Granby
USGS 09019000 		21 cfs 3.2 ft
Straight Cr Blw Laskey Gulch Nr Dillon
USGS 09051050 		4 cfs 4.1 ft
West Fork Clear Creek Abv Mouth Nr Empire
USGS 06716100 		9 cfs 4.1 ft
South Platte River Below Union Ave
USGS 06710247 		24 cfs 10.9 ft
Grand River Ditch At La Poudre Pass
USGS 09010000 		-999 cfs 0.3 ft
South Platte River At Fort Lupton
USGS 06721000 		186 cfs 3.3 ft
South Platte River At Denver
USGS 06714000 		121 cfs 2.9 ft
Fourmile Creek At Orodell
USGS 06727500 		1 cfs 4.4 ft
South Platte River At Englewood
USGS 06711565 		41 cfs 1.4 ft
Bobtail Creek Near Jones Pass
USGS 09034900 		1 cfs 2.3 ft
Snotel Site Snowpack 24hr Change
Black Mountain
SNOTEL 1161 		28" 0"
longmont 3.0 sw, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-435 		0.33" -0.11"
Roach
SNOTEL 718 		41" -2"
fcl 3.0 sw, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-391 		2.38" -0.15"
Jones Pass
SNOTEL 970 		35" 0"
fort collins 2.8 wsw, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-75 		1.92" -0.23"
Niwot
SNOTEL 663 		23" 0"
cheesman
SNOTEL CHEC2 		0.01" -1.41"
berthoud 4.4 wsw, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-922 		1.18" -0.05"
Phantom Valley
SNOTEL 688 		26" 0"
Berthoud Summit
SNOTEL 335 		36" -1"
fort collins
SNOTEL FORC2 		1.74" -0.16"
University Camp
SNOTEL 838 		33" 0"
nederland 5.8 e, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-57 		1.15" -0.8"
Lake Eldora
SNOTEL 564 		22" -1"
lyons 0.3 nne, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-146 		0.56" -0.42"
fcl 1.7 sw, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-320 		2.2" -0.41"
Middle Fork Camp
SNOTEL 1014 		26" 1"
amrad
SNOTEL CNRC2 		1.12" -0.52"
fort collins 0.9 n, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-849 		1.76" -0.12"
Hoosier Pass
SNOTEL 531 		32" -1"
loveland 2.8 wnw, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-1109 		1.96" -0.08"
loveland 1.5 n, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-40 		2.3" -0.22"
niwot 2.3 w, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-248 		1.12" -0.11"
fcl 1.7 se, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-295 		1.78" -0.14"
High Lonesome
SNOTEL 1187 		49" -1"
fort collins 3.9 nne, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-112 		4.46" -0.09"
Echo Lake
SNOTEL 936 		6" -2"
Bear Lake
SNOTEL 322 		36" 0"
Grizzly Peak
SNOTEL 505 		42" -1"
fort collins 3.7 s, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-885 		0.99" -0.27"
fort collins 1.1 wnw, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-863 		1.34" -0.25"
cabin creek
SNOTEL GCRC2 		9.86" -0.51"
ward 4.6 ne, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-202 		2.72" -0.63"
fcl 2.2 nw, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-273 		0.56" -0.4"
conifer 5.7 sw, co
SNOTEL CO-JF-222 		1.13" -0.4"
monument 3s
SNOTEL DMDC2 		0.31" -1.3"
estes park 1.8 s, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-767 		3.58" -0.85"
Joe Wright
SNOTEL 551 		52" -2"
longmont 2.1 n, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-143 		1.56" -0.02"
loveland 2.4 nw, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-676 		2.02" -0.11"
co st forest st park
SNOTEL CSFC2 		21.01" -0.47"
Loveland Basin
SNOTEL 602 		42" -1"
laramie 7sse
SNOTEL CMBW4 		3.07" -0.45"
rollinsville 1.7 e, co
SNOTEL CO-GL-25 		1.75" -0.48"
Hourglass Lake
SNOTEL 1122 		26" -1"
loveland 2.3 nw, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-854 		2.02" -0.11"
nederland 2.61 nne, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-75 		1.25" -0.57"
Glen Cove
SNOTEL 1057 		2" 2"
fcl 3.0 w, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-284 		1.61" -0.1"
conifer 3.2 sw, co
SNOTEL CO-JF-53 		1.94" -0.48"
estes park 1.7 w, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-1115 		5.75" -0.62"
tabernash 2.7 nw, co
SNOTEL CO-GR-68 		16.22" -0.26"
fort collins 1.2 nne, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-1137 		1.52" -0.14"
fort collins 2.8 w, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-1009 		2.3" -0.14"
Stillwater Creek
SNOTEL 793 		21" 0"
Fool Creek
SNOTEL 1186 		42" 0"
nederland 4.8 ene, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-110 		3.78" -0.55"
fort collins 3.4 n, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-653 		0.69" -0.3"
Wild Basin
SNOTEL 1042 		38" 0"
nederland 3.7 ene, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-296 		2.08" -0.44"
fairplay 2.7 wnw, co
SNOTEL CO-PK-15 		4.81" -0.43"
longmont 1.8 ene, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-352 		0.44" -0.08"
laramie 1se
SNOTEL ADFW4 		1.35" -0.49"
Laprele Creek
SNOTEL 571 		16" 0"
fort collins 4.2 s, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-758 		2.66" -0.08"
Long Draw Resv
SNOTEL 1123 		46" -1"
Copeland Lake
SNOTEL 412 		19" -1"
dillon 2.3 se, co
SNOTEL CO-SU-16 		15.1" -0.36"
berthoud
SNOTEL ERTC2 		0.73" -0.07"
loveland 2.7 e, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-687 		1.18" -0.08"
nederland 0.4 wnw, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-322 		4" -0.69"
fort collins 5.5 s, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-1100 		0.82" -0.35"
fcl 5.6 e, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-393 		1.28" -0.07"
longmont 8.2 ese, co
SNOTEL CO-WE-203 		2.06" -0.01"
Rawah
SNOTEL 1032 		26" 0"
lyons 4.8 n, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-50 		1.98" -0.3"
lov 3.4 s, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-472 		2.61" -0.05"
loveland 3.0 nne, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-104 		1.8" -0.25"
allens park 1.5 ese, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-22 		8.48" -0.62"
Windy Peak
SNOTEL 872 		13" 0"
Crow Creek
SNOTEL 1045 		12" 0"
dillon,co
SNOTEL DLLC2 		11.29" -0.28"
Sawtooth
SNOTEL 1251 		49" -1"
Willow Park
SNOTEL 870 		43" -1"
longmont 1.8 e, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-361 		1.09" -0.02"
Deadman Hill
SNOTEL 438 		47" -2"
monument 2.1 ene, co
SNOTEL CO-EP-17 		0.11" -1.08"
fcl 2.55 ne, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-340 		0.69" -0.3"
rollinsville 1.1 ssw, co
SNOTEL CO-GL-17 		7.24" -0.58"
erie 1.6 ne, co
SNOTEL CO-WE-209 		0.34" -0.14"
fort collins 9.6 se, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-630 		1.66" -0.04"

Outdoor Recreation

Campground Campsites Reservations Toilets Showers Elevation
Meeker Park Overflow 29 8,611 ft
Narrows 5 6,470 ft
Vedauwoo 28 8,288 ft
Dowdy Lake 70 8,176 ft
Kelly Flats 29 6,751 ft
Stove Prairie 9 6,068 ft
Ansel Watrous 16 5,839 ft
Marys Lake - USBR 270 8,032 ft
Olive Ridge 56 8,361 ft
Longs Peak - Rocky Mountain National Park 26 9,397 ft
Jacks Gulch 56 8,100 ft
West Lake 36 8,254 ft
Mountain Park 54 6,678 ft
Peaceful Valley 17 8,552 ft
Lower Narrows 8 6,470 ft
Hermit Park Open Space None 8,313 ft
Dutch George 20 6,520 ft
Ski Area Snowpack Air Temperature 5 Day Forecast
Eldora Mountain Resort 22" 32° 3.42"
Ski Estes Park (Hidden Valley) 36" 31° 5.48"
River Run Streamflow Length Class
Middle Narrows 54.5cfs 1.0 Mi IV to V-
Lower Boulder Canyon 40.2cfs None Mi IV- to V-
NSV 9.49cfs 13.0 Mi V+
Filter Plant 122.0cfs None Mi II to III+
Filter Plant 122.0cfs None Mi II to III+
Upper Narrows 54.5cfs 0.5 Mi V- to V+
Steven's Gulch to Bridges Take Out 54.5cfs 12.0 Mi III- to IV+
Lower North Fork 54.5cfs 11.0 Mi III
Main Section 47.8cfs 3.0 Mi IV+ to V
Upper South Boulder Creek 5.57cfs None Mi V+
October Hole 9.49cfs None Mi II
SSV - Confluence to Picnic Grounds 9.49cfs 5.0 Mi V to V+
Upper South Boulder Creek 5.57cfs None Mi V+
Rustic (Upper) 54.5cfs 20.0 Mi III to III+
Upper North Fork 0.2cfs 9.0 Mi IV+ to V-
Gnar Section 237.0cfs 1.0 Mi V+
Lower Narrows 54.5cfs 0.5 Mi V- to V+