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 | 42 cfs |
Gage Height | 3.9 ft |
Air Temperature | 33° |
River | Big Thompson |
Reporting Streamgage |
Laramie River At Laramie
USGS 06660000 |
Gauge | Streamflow | Stage |
---|---|---|
Ranch Creek Near Fraser
USGS 09032000 |
4 cfs | 4.6 ft |
Big Thompson River At Loveland
USGS 06741510 |
9 cfs | 0.7 ft |
Cherry Creek Below Cherry Creek Lake
USGS 06713000 |
36 cfs | 4.7 ft |
South Platte River At Waterton
USGS 06708000 |
21 cfs | 0.6 ft |
West Fork Clear Creek Abv Mouth Nr Empire
USGS 06716100 |
17 cfs | 4.3 ft |
Grand River Ditch At La Poudre Pass
USGS 09010000 |
-999 cfs | 0.0 ft |
South Platte River Below Union Ave
USGS 06710247 |
89 cfs | 11.2 ft |
Boulder Creek At Mouth
USGS 06730500 |
51 cfs | 9.8 ft |
Colorado River Bl Shadow Mountain Reservoir
USGS 09015000 |
20 cfs | 1.4 ft |
South Platte R At 64Th Ave. Commerce City
USGS 06714215 |
9 cfs | 1.4 ft |
Snotel Site | Snowpack | 24hr Change |
---|---|---|
wellington 0.4 nw, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-952 |
1.7" | 0" |
fcl 3.0 w, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-284 |
3.84" | 3.18" |
fcl 2.3 nw, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-311 |
3.29" | 2.75" |
bellvue 5.9 w, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-4 |
5.28" | 3.53" |
englewood #2
SNOTEL ENLC2 |
0.54" | 0" |
Phantom Valley
SNOTEL 688 |
20" | 3" |
rollinsville 1.7 e, co
SNOTEL CO-GL-25 |
3.69" | 2.36" |
cr66
SNOTEL GEYC2 |
0.62" | 0" |
fcl 2.55 ne, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-340 |
2.76" | 2.36" |
Windy Peak
SNOTEL 872 |
34" | -1" |
fort collins 4.6 n, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-762 |
2.53" | 2.2" |
erie 1.7 wnw, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-285 |
0.64" | 0" |
broomfield 3.2 nne, co
SNOTEL CO-BR-32 |
0.69" | 0" |
florissant 5.0 n, co
SNOTEL CO-TL-19 |
0.62" | 0.09" |
woodland park 1.1 nnw, co
SNOTEL CO-TL-28 |
0.11" | 0.05" |
fort collins 5.4 wsw, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-623 |
5.32" | 4.46" |
fort collins
SNOTEL FORC2 |
3.19" | 2.72" |
boulder 1.5 nnw, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-496 |
1.01" | 0" |
berthoud 4.4 wsw, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-922 |
3.24" | 2.91" |
fort lupton 7.4 nw, co
SNOTEL CO-WE-326 |
0.11" | 0" |
greeley 2.6 w, co
SNOTEL CO-WE-171 |
0.59" | 0" |
tabernash 2.7 nw, co
SNOTEL CO-GR-68 |
0.36" | 0" |
denver 6.1 wsw, co
SNOTEL CO-JF-3 |
0.35" | 0" |
rollinsville 1.1 ssw, co
SNOTEL CO-GL-17 |
12.99" | 2.67" |
conifer 3.2 sw, co
SNOTEL CO-JF-53 |
4.5" | 2.5" |
longmont 3.3 sw, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-507 |
0.51" | 0" |
greeley 4.6 wnw, co
SNOTEL CO-WE-318 |
0.65" | 0" |
Hourglass Lake
SNOTEL 1122 |
41" | 6" |
cabin creek
SNOTEL GCRC2 |
20.91" | 4.1" |
longmont 8.2 ese, co
SNOTEL CO-WE-203 |
0.12" | 0" |
ralston reservoir
SNOTEL GDNC2 |
2.39" | 2.25" |
Willow Park
SNOTEL 870 |
58" | 3" |
lyons 4.8 n, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-50 |
6.67" | 5.46" |
longmont 3.0 sw, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-435 |
0.48" | 0" |
colorado springs 6.9 ne, co
SNOTEL CO-EP-282 |
0.68" | 0" |
cripple creek,co
SNOTEL CRIC2 |
0.07" | 0" |
Berthoud Summit
SNOTEL 335 |
59" | 6" |
estes park 1.8 s, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-767 |
6.5" | 3.31" |
evergreen 5 w, co
SNOTEL CO-CC-2 |
5.48" | 3.83" |
evergreen
SNOTEL EVGC2 |
3.45" | 2.63" |
virginia dale 7.2 ssw, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-672 |
4.86" | 3.73" |
nederland 5.8 e, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-57 |
4.54" | 2.66" |
Never Summer
SNOTEL 1031 |
49" | 7" |
estes park 3.3 ssw, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-247 |
7.49" | 3.73" |
glen haven 1.2 n, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-868 |
5.65" | 2.58" |
highlands ranch 3.2 ese, co
SNOTEL CO-DG-74 |
2.17" | 0" |
aurora 5 se
SNOTEL AUOC2 |
0.49" | 0" |
grant
SNOTEL GRTC2 |
7.58" | 2.98" |
lakewood 1.7 sw, co
SNOTEL CO-JF-333 |
0.47" | 0" |
lake george 7.2 wnw, co
SNOTEL CO-PK-39 |
1.35" | 0.15" |
boulder 2.9 s, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-4 |
0.96" | 0" |
erie 1.7 wnw, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-455 |
0.72" | 0" |
lafayette 2.5 nw, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-222 |
0.4" | 0" |
gleneagle 0.4 wnw, co
SNOTEL CO-EP-61 |
1.02" | 0" |
fcl 2.2 nw, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-273 |
3.22" | 2.7" |
longmont 2.1 n, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-143 |
0.49" | 0" |
University Camp
SNOTEL 838 |
55" | 4" |
fort collins 5.5 s, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-1100 |
3.84" | 3.27" |
arvada 3.5 wnw, co
SNOTEL CO-JF-457 |
0.53" | 0" |
aurora 4.0 sse, co
SNOTEL CO-AR-259 |
0.42" | 0" |
monument 2.1 ene, co
SNOTEL CO-EP-17 |
1.21" | 0" |
co st forest st park
SNOTEL CSFC2 |
2.29" | 2.25" |
monument 3s
SNOTEL DMDC2 |
0.81" | 0" |
nederland 2.61 nne, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-75 |
6.13" | 3.25" |
Michigan Creek
SNOTEL 937 |
36" | 0" |
lyons 0.3 nne, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-146 |
4.7" | 4.13" |
lafayette 0.4 wsw, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-8 |
1.24" | 0" |
parker 3.5 wnw, co
SNOTEL CO-DG-292 |
1.18" | 0" |
westminster 2.3 sse, co
SNOTEL CO-AD-225 |
1.17" | 0" |
wellington 0.8 sw, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-1008 |
1.71" | 0" |
estes park 10.5 se, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-1019 |
9.48" | 6.28" |
fcl 3.0 sw, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-391 |
4.4" | 3.7" |
Copeland Lake
SNOTEL 412 |
10" | 4" |
wellington 3.7 wnw, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-918 |
1.69" | 0" |
Wild Basin
SNOTEL 1042 |
43" | 0" |
allens park 1.5 ese, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-22 |
12.21" | 7.12" |
loveland 2.3 nw, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-854 |
4.56" | 3.82" |
windsor 3.0 sse, co
SNOTEL CO-WE-507 |
1.01" | 0" |
fcl 5.6 e, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-393 |
2.6" | 0" |
erie 1.5 nne, co
SNOTEL CO-WE-511 |
0.16" | 0" |
nederland 4.8 ene, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-110 |
4.98" | 2.77" |
fcl 7.9 ene, co
SNOTEL CO-WE-250 |
2.59" | 0" |
Rawah
SNOTEL 1032 |
23" | 6" |
evergreen 3.4 wnw, co
SNOTEL CO-CC-22 |
5.47" | 3.88" |
nederland 3.7 ene, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-296 |
5.43" | 2.94" |
carr 0.6 s, co
SNOTEL CO-WE-127 |
1.58" | 0" |
highlands ranch 1.1 ene, co
SNOTEL CO-DG-165 |
1.96" | 0" |
laramie 1se
SNOTEL ADFW4 |
0.79" | 0.21" |
denver 0.4 e, co
SNOTEL CO-DN-175 |
0.43" | 0" |
fort collins 0.9 n, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-849 |
3.15" | 2.71" |
fort collins 4.2 s, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-758 |
1.94" | 0" |
fort collins 2.8 wsw, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-75 |
4.19" | 3.52" |
windsor 3.8 wsw, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-845 |
1.73" | 0" |
boulder 2.1 w, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-437 |
1.53" | 1.22" |
evergreen 4.2 sse, co
SNOTEL CO-JF-157 |
4.54" | 3.17" |
Jackwhacker Gulch
SNOTEL 935 |
39" | 3" |
niwot 2.3 w, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-248 |
0.67" | 0" |
red feather 5.9 ne, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-329 |
5.57" | 3.71" |
lafayette 2.3 nw, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-290 |
1.34" | 0" |
hygiene,co
SNOTEL HGIC2 |
0.66" | 0" |
erie 1.6 ne, co
SNOTEL CO-WE-209 |
0.14" | 0" |
black forest 6wnw
SNOTEL BKFC2 |
1" | 0" |
littleton 6.4 w, co
SNOTEL CO-JF-212 |
1.44" | 1.19" |
lov 3.4 s, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-472 |
2.65" | 2.06" |
nederland 0.4 wnw, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-322 |
5.74" | 3.27" |
fort collins 2.8 w, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-1009 |
3.93" | 3.29" |
laporte 1.4 nw, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-761 |
2.93" | 2.46" |
boulder 2.0 w, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-380 |
1.43" | 1.13" |
fcl 1.7 se, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-295 |
3.4" | 2.91" |
wheat ridge 2.8 wsw, co
SNOTEL CO-JF-290 |
0.34" | 0" |
boulder 4.7 ene, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-220 |
0.55" | 0" |
south platte river
SNOTEL ANTC2 |
2.42" | -0.32" |
cheyenne wfo
SNOTEL CYSW4 |
1.95" | 1.65" |
cheesman
SNOTEL CHEC2 |
1.02" | 0" |
Sawtooth
SNOTEL 1251 |
63" | 4" |
laramie 7sse
SNOTEL CMBW4 |
0.93" | 0.33" |
boulder 1.5 wnw, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-490 |
1.41" | 1.17" |
golden 12.5 nw, co
SNOTEL CO-JF-331 |
3.71" | 2.56" |
lafayette 0.8 wsw, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-266 |
1.35" | 0" |
loveland 1.5 n, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-40 |
3.95" | 3.31" |
nederland 4.2 e, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-233 |
4.68" | 2.68" |
loveland 2.7 e, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-687 |
1.79" | 0" |
fort collins 3.7 s, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-885 |
3.81" | 3.26" |
estes park,co
SNOTEL ETSC2 |
5.8" | 2.92" |
aurora 2.1 ese, co
SNOTEL CO-AR-313 |
0.5" | 0" |
lakewood 2.2 ese, co
SNOTEL CO-JF-179 |
1.41" | 0" |
fort collins 1.2 nne, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-1137 |
3.02" | 2.59" |
boulder 2.2 nw, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-452 |
2.23" | 1.87" |
Bear Lake
SNOTEL 322 |
57" | 8" |
fort collins 3.9 nne, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-112 |
2.32" | 0" |
nunn 1.2 ene, co
SNOTEL CO-WE-345 |
2.01" | 0" |
broomfield 2.3 ssw, co
SNOTEL CO-JF-72 |
1.3" | 0" |
Crow Creek
SNOTEL 1045 |
12" | 0" |
aurora south
SNOTEL EAGC2 |
0.86" | 0" |
loveland 3.0 nne, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-104 |
2.07" | 1.51" |
estes park 1.8 sse, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-987 |
6.43" | 3.25" |
evergreen 6.5 wsw, co
SNOTEL CO-CC-1 |
6.02" | 4.06" |
highlands ranch 2.5 ssw, co
SNOTEL CO-DG-178 |
1.9" | 0" |
berthoud
SNOTEL ERTC2 |
1.63" | 1.33" |
aspen springs amrad
SNOTEL ASIC2 |
3.7" | 2.65" |
parker 2.1 wnw, co
SNOTEL CO-DG-146 |
0.82" | 0" |
la porte 10.0 nnw, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-567 |
3.42" | 3.18" |
longmont 1.8 ene, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-352 |
0.38" | 0" |
longmont 5.1 e, co
SNOTEL CO-WE-302 |
0.24" | 0" |
livermore 9.9 wsw, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-897 |
5.22" | 3.74" |
bailey
SNOTEL BLYC2 |
3.18" | 1.1" |
evergreen 2.0 ese, co
SNOTEL CO-JF-395 |
3.84" | 2.77" |
Loveland Basin
SNOTEL 602 |
60" | 5" |
Jones Pass
SNOTEL 970 |
39" | 6" |
longmont 1.8 e, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-361 |
0.34" | 0" |
arvada 4.7 w, co
SNOTEL CO-JF-455 |
0.5" | 0" |
evergreen 1.3 nne, co
SNOTEL CO-JF-424 |
3.68" | 2.84" |
highlands ranch 0.6 sse, co
SNOTEL CO-DG-176 |
2.03" | 0" |
gross reservoir
SNOTEL GRRC2 |
2.96" | 2.16" |
boulder 1.8 w, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-491 |
1.53" | 1.22" |
westminster 1.6 ne, co
SNOTEL CO-AD-153 |
1" | 0" |
firestone
SNOTEL FSNC2 |
0.14" | 0" |
fcl 1.7 sw, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-320 |
3.97" | 3.34" |
amrad
SNOTEL CNRC2 |
5.56" | 3.34" |
fort collins 9.6 se, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-630 |
1.66" | 0" |
boulder 1.6 s, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-14 |
1.07" | 0.99" |
loveland 2.4 nw, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-676 |
4.56" | 3.82" |
fort collins 4.9 n, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-1020 |
2.44" | 2.13" |
ward 4.6 ne, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-202 |
11.48" | 6.42" |
castle rock 1.7 ssw, co
SNOTEL CO-DG-62 |
0.91" | 0.89" |
fort collins 1.1 wnw, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-863 |
3.51" | 2.97" |
jamestown 2.5 sse, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-343 |
6.12" | 3.61" |
denver 8 ssw, co
SNOTEL CO-DN-30 |
0.99" | 0" |
fort collins 3.4 n, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-653 |
2.76" | 2.36" |
buford 4se
SNOTEL BFDW4 |
2.6" | 2.07" |
estes park 1.7 w, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-1115 |
6.41" | 2.99" |
conifer 5.7 sw, co
SNOTEL CO-JF-222 |
3.78" | 1.72" |
boulder 1.9 se, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-30 |
0.7" | 0" |
loveland 2.8 wnw, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-1109 |
4.93" | 4.16" |
georgetown
SNOTEL GEOC2 |
4.14" | 2.84" |
boulder 4.7 e, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-67 |
0.64" | 0" |
niwot 0.7 nnw, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-338 |
0.55" | 0" |
littleton 6.0 w, co
SNOTEL CO-JF-376 |
0.26" | 0.13" |
thornton 2.1 n, co
SNOTEL CO-AD-100 |
0.26" | 0" |
Campground | Campsites | Reservations | Toilets | Showers | Elevation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Narrows | 5 | 6,470 ft | |||
Meadow Park | None | 5,349 ft | |||
Reverends Ridge - Golden Gate State Park | 106 | 9,105 ft | |||
Peaceful Valley | 17 | 8,552 ft | |||
Dutch George | 20 | 6,520 ft | |||
Stove Prairie | 9 | 6,068 ft | |||
Kelly Flats | 29 | 6,751 ft | |||
Ansel Watrous | 16 | 5,839 ft | |||
Pinewood Reservoir | 22 | 6,604 ft | |||
Hermit Park Open Space | None | 8,313 ft | |||
Mountain Park | 54 | 6,678 ft | |||
Lower Narrows | 8 | 6,470 ft | |||
Flatiron Reservoir | None | 5,483 ft | |||
Kelly Dahl | 46 | 8,615 ft |
Ski Area | Snowpack | Air Temperature | 5 Day Forecast |
---|---|---|---|
Ski Estes Park (Hidden Valley) | 57" | 27° | 14.19" |
Eldora Mountain Resort | 26" | 26° | 14.44" |
Echo Mountain Park | 31" | 22° | 12.94" |
River Run | Streamflow | Length | Class |
---|---|---|---|
Steven's Gulch to Bridges Take Out | 56.4cfs | 12.0 Mi | III- to IV+ |
Upper South Boulder Creek | 11.0cfs | None Mi | V+ |
Tunnel 1 to Golden Whitewater Park | 49.5cfs | None Mi | III- to III+ |
SSV - Confluence to Picnic Grounds | 55.4cfs | 5.0 Mi | V to V+ |
Filter Plant | 1.66cfs | None Mi | II to III+ |
Lower Boulder Canyon | 50.8cfs | None Mi | IV- to V- |
Upper Narrows | 56.4cfs | 0.5 Mi | V- to V+ |
Gnar Section | 141.0cfs | 1.0 Mi | V+ |
Idledale to Morrison | 23.7cfs | 3.0 Mi | IV+ to V |
October Hole | 55.4cfs | None Mi | II |
Lower Narrows | 72.4cfs | 0.5 Mi | V- to V+ |
Upper South Boulder Creek | 11.0cfs | None Mi | V+ |
Golden Whitewater Park | 1.66cfs | 0.75 Mi | II+ |
Upper Clear Creek | 49.5cfs | 2.5 Mi | IV- to IV+ |
Filter Plant | 1.66cfs | None Mi | II to III+ |
Lower North Fork | 72.4cfs | 11.0 Mi | III |
NSV | 55.4cfs | 13.0 Mi | V+ |
Main Section | 46.8cfs | 3.0 Mi | IV+ to V |
Rustic (Upper) | 56.4cfs | 20.0 Mi | III to III+ |
Middle Narrows | 56.4cfs | 1.0 Mi | IV to V- |
Upper North Fork | 69.7cfs | 9.0 Mi | IV+ to V- |