Main Section
Run from below the Gnar Section to Idylwilde Dam.
Suggested river levels for paddling this section of the Big Thompson are between a bare minimum of 300cfs and a high of 1,100cfs.
River conditions sourced from USGS 06660000, the Laramie River At Laramie
Remember only watercraft are permitted
at Main Section.
Run Stats
| Status | Too Low |
| Class Level | IV+ to V |
| Elevation | 7,128 ft |
| Run Length | 3.0 Mi |
| Streamflow Discharge | 37.7 cfs |
| Gage Height | 3.9 ft |
| Air Temperature | 53° |
| River | Big Thompson |
| Reporting Streamgage |
Laramie River At Laramie
USGS 06660000 |
| Gauge | Streamflow | Stage |
|---|---|---|
|
Coal Creek Near Plainview
USGS 06730300 |
0 cfs | 0.0 ft |
|
Harvard Gulch At Harvard Park
USGS 06711575 |
2 cfs | 10.2 ft |
|
Grand River Ditch At La Poudre Pass
USGS 09010000 |
0 cfs | 0.0 ft |
|
Bear Creek Above Evergreen
USGS 06710385 |
22 cfs | 4.4 ft |
|
Cabin Creek Near Fraser
USGS 09032100 |
4 cfs | 1.8 ft |
|
Left Hand Creek Near Boulder
USGS 06724500 |
6 cfs | 0.3 ft |
|
South Platte R At 64Th Ave. Commerce City
USGS 06714215 |
12 cfs | 1.5 ft |
|
East Plum Cr Blw Haskins Gulch Nr Castle Rock
USGS 06708800 |
2 cfs | 3.7 ft |
|
St. Vrain Creek At Mouth
USGS 06731000 |
158 cfs | 1.8 ft |
|
Bobtail Creek Near Jones Pass
USGS 09034900 |
2 cfs | 2.4 ft |
| Snotel Site | Snowpack | 24hr Change |
|---|---|---|
|
Rawah
SNOTEL 1032 |
8" | -1" |
|
Jones Pass
SNOTEL 970 |
2" | -6" |
|
laramie 1se
SNOTEL ADFW4 |
1.77" | -0.53" |
|
Deadman Hill
SNOTEL 438 |
3" | 0" |
|
Never Summer
SNOTEL 1031 |
7" | 0" |
|
Crow Creek
SNOTEL 1045 |
3" | 1" |
|
Jackwhacker Gulch
SNOTEL 935 |
5" | 0" |
|
buford 4se
SNOTEL BFDW4 |
1.24" | -0.72" |
|
aspen springs amrad
SNOTEL ASIC2 |
0.24" | -0.43" |
|
Lake Eldora
SNOTEL 564 |
4" | 1" |
|
nederland 4.8 ene, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-110 |
0.35" | -0.38" |
|
Hourglass Lake
SNOTEL 1122 |
3" | -181" |
|
rollinsville 1.1 ssw, co
SNOTEL CO-GL-17 |
1.02" | -0.36" |
|
georgetown
SNOTEL GEOC2 |
0.47" | -0.24" |
|
Willow Park
SNOTEL 870 |
4" | -2" |
|
monument 2.1 ene, co
SNOTEL CO-EP-17 |
0.37" | -0.34" |
|
divide 4nw
SNOTEL DNWC2 |
0.11" | -0.35" |
|
red feather 5.9 ne, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-329 |
0.63" | -0.7" |
|
woodland park 1.1 nnw, co
SNOTEL CO-TL-28 |
0.49" | -0.12" |
|
Phantom Valley
SNOTEL 688 |
2" | 0" |
|
tabernash 2.7 nw, co
SNOTEL CO-GR-68 |
1.05" | -0.3" |
|
Black Mountain
SNOTEL 1161 |
4" | 1" |
|
ward 4.6 ne, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-202 |
0.93" | -0.42" |
|
Bear Lake
SNOTEL 322 |
3" | 0" |
|
Windy Peak
SNOTEL 872 |
4" | 0" |
|
Sawtooth
SNOTEL 1251 |
5" | 0" |
|
University Camp
SNOTEL 838 |
3" | 0" |
|
Lake Irene
SNOTEL 565 |
7" | -1" |
|
dillon 2.3 se, co
SNOTEL CO-SU-16 |
2.78" | 1.32" |
|
laramie 7sse
SNOTEL CMBW4 |
2.02" | -0.56" |
|
rollinsville 1.7 e, co
SNOTEL CO-GL-25 |
0.06" | -0.29" |
|
Long Draw Resv
SNOTEL 1123 |
6" | -176" |
|
Loveland Basin
SNOTEL 602 |
10" | -1" |
|
Berthoud Summit
SNOTEL 335 |
6" | 1" |
|
co st forest st park
SNOTEL CSFC2 |
4.01" | -0.47" |
|
Wild Basin
SNOTEL 1042 |
3" | 0" |
|
Grizzly Peak
SNOTEL 505 |
7" | 1" |
|
Echo Lake
SNOTEL 936 |
2" | 0" |
|
High Lonesome
SNOTEL 1187 |
6" | 0" |
|
cripple creek,co
SNOTEL CRIC2 |
0.09" | 0.03" |
|
cabin creek
SNOTEL GCRC2 |
1.69" | -0.01" |
| Campground | Campsites | Reservations | Toilets | Showers | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dutch George | 20 | 6,520 ft | |||
| Narrows | 5 | 6,470 ft | |||
| Kelly Dahl | 46 | 8,615 ft | |||
| Stove Prairie | 9 | 6,068 ft | |||
| Lower Narrows | 8 | 6,470 ft | |||
| Ansel Watrous | 16 | 5,839 ft | |||
| Meadow Park | None | 5,349 ft | |||
| Pinewood Reservoir | 22 | 6,604 ft | |||
| Flatiron Reservoir | None | 5,483 ft | |||
| Peaceful Valley | 17 | 8,552 ft | |||
| Hermit Park Open Space | None | 8,313 ft | |||
| Mountain Park | 54 | 6,678 ft | |||
| Kelly Flats | 29 | 6,751 ft | |||
| Reverends Ridge - Golden Gate State Park | 106 | 9,105 ft |
| Ski Area | Snowpack | Air Temperature | 5 Day Forecast |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ski Estes Park (Hidden Valley) | 3" | 48° | 1.17" |
| Eldora Mountain Resort | 4" | 49° | 0.61" |
| Echo Mountain Park | 2" | 46° | 0" |
| River Run | Streamflow | Length | Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Whitewater Park | 22.9cfs | 0.75 Mi | II+ |
| Upper Clear Creek | 68.6cfs | 2.5 Mi | IV- to IV+ |
| NSV | 19.2cfs | 13.0 Mi | V+ |
| Upper North Fork | 15.4cfs | 9.0 Mi | IV+ to V- |
| Lower Narrows | 83.3cfs | 0.5 Mi | V- to V+ |
| Steven's Gulch to Bridges Take Out | 83.3cfs | 12.0 Mi | III- to IV+ |
| Filter Plant | 22.9cfs | None Mi | II to III+ |
| October Hole | 19.2cfs | None Mi | II |
| Gnar Section | 342.0cfs | 1.0 Mi | V+ |
| Lower North Fork | 83.3cfs | 11.0 Mi | III |
| Upper South Boulder Creek | 79.5cfs | None Mi | V+ |
| Middle Narrows | 83.3cfs | 1.0 Mi | IV to V- |
| Rustic (Upper) | 83.3cfs | 20.0 Mi | III to III+ |
| Main Section | 37.7cfs | 3.0 Mi | IV+ to V |
| Upper Narrows | 83.3cfs | 0.5 Mi | V- to V+ |
| Idledale to Morrison | 15.5cfs | 3.0 Mi | IV+ to V |
| Lower Boulder Canyon | 29.6cfs | None Mi | IV- to V- |
| Filter Plant | 22.9cfs | None Mi | II to III+ |
| SSV - Confluence to Picnic Grounds | 19.2cfs | 5.0 Mi | V to V+ |
| Upper South Boulder Creek | 79.5cfs | None Mi | V+ |
| Tunnel 1 to Golden Whitewater Park | 68.6cfs | None Mi | III- to III+ |