Lower Boulder Creek river run
Lower Boulder Creek
The segment mileage for Lower Boulder Creek is approximately 6.5 miles, and the run takes about 2-3 hours to complete. The river is narrow and fast-paced, with many boulder gardens and tight corners. There are several significant rapids in this section, including The Squeeze, The Toilet Bowl, and The Meat Grinder. These rapids offer challenging maneuvers for experienced paddlers.
There are several regulations that visitors to Lower Boulder Creek should be aware of. Permits are required for commercial use of the river, and visitors should always pack out their trash and leave no trace. Additionally, visitors should be aware of private property boundaries and avoid trespassing. The river is also closed to paddlers during high water conditions, which is typically in the spring and early summer.
Overall, Lower Boulder Creek is a thrilling and challenging whitewater run for experienced paddlers. Visitors should be aware of the specific streamflow range, class rating, segment mileage, and regulations for the area before planning a trip.
Plan your run down to the hour
Same weather feed Snoflo's iOS app uses -- updated continuously from NOAA / yr.no. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram; rain ahead of a run typically lifts flows 12-48 hours later depending on the basin.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks -- the upstream story that drives next week's flows.
Regional streamflow levels
USGS streamgauges around Lower Boulder Creek -- useful for spotting upstream pulses and gauging which tributary is contributing what.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Escalante River Near Escalante | 0 cfs | → |
| Pine Creek Near Escalante | 1 cfs | → |
| Fremont River Near Bicknell | 53 cfs | → |
| East Fork Sevier River Near Kingston | 201 cfs | → |
| Sevier River Near Kingston | 10 cfs | → |
| Paria River Near Kanab | 0 cfs | → |
Plan a longer trip
The closest boat launches, other paddle runs, and campgrounds so a day on the water can grow into a full weekend.
Campgrounds
- Calf Creek Recreation Area
- Calf Creek
- Durffey Mesa Dispersed - Burr Trail Rd - Grand Staircase Nat Mon
- Deer Creek- Burr Trail Rd - Grand Staircase Nat Mon
- Steep Creek Bench - Burr Trail Rd - Grand Staircase Nat Mon
- Little Spencer Flat Dispersed - Grand Staircase Nat Mon
Fishing spots
Whitewater safety
- Check the flow before you run
- Use the linked-gauge card and Regional Flow panel above. Class ratings change with flow -- a Class III at low water can become Class IV+ at high water.
- Know your skill ceiling
- Pick runs comfortably below your ceiling. Cold-water and big-water runs raise the consequences of any mistake.
- Wear the right gear
- Helmet, PFD, drysuit / wetsuit when water is below 60°F. Throw bag, knife, and whistle on your person, not in the boat.
- Scout, set safety, and run with a team
- Scout new rapids on foot, set safety with throw bags above the consequence pool, and run with at least one other competent paddler.
- Respect the river
- Strainers, undercuts, low-head dams, and wood can kill at any class rating. When in doubt, portage.
Set push alerts in the Snoflo app
Save Lower Boulder Creek as a favorite, set a discharge threshold (e.g. "alert me when flow hits 600 cfs"), and the iOS app pushes the moment the linked gauge crosses.
About Lower Boulder Creek
What's the optimal flow for Lower Boulder Creek?
The optimal flow depends on the section and the craft. Check the Run Details panel for the linked gauge and current status.
How fresh is the cfs reading on this page?
The linked USGS streamgauge reports continuously (every 15 minutes); Snoflo refreshes throughout the day. Hover the streamflow sparkline to read individual datapoints.
What's the whitewater class?
See the Run Details panel for the class rating Snoflo tracks for this run. Class ratings change with flow -- a Class III at low water can become Class IV in high water.
Where do I put in / take out?
Tap Directions in the hero above to open driving directions to the put-in. For shuttle planning, check the Nearby Boat Launches panel and the river run operator's site.
Can I get alerts when flows hit the optimal range?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this run, set a discharge threshold, and you'll get a push the moment the gauge crosses.
Other runs near here
Snoflo-tracked paddle runs within driving distance of Lower Boulder Creek.