Daves Wave

Small groveling knee to thigh high wave surfable 12 months out of the year with a longboard, very high volume board, bodyboard, or surfmat just about every day of the year.


Suggestions

Located mile south of Platte River Trail Parking Lot (E 88th Ave & Colorado Blvd, Thornton, CO) walk south looking for the boat chute wave and CRSA "Dave's Wave" sign on the right side of path. Dave's Wave is surfable twice daily due to guaranteed releases of water and the wave comes in at about 200cfs when the stream gauge marker on the rock above the wave hits the .5 foot dot mark. Go with someone who has surfed the spot before or watch vids of Dave's Wave and use durable fins because they will be hitting the bottom at times. Wave blows out at 400cfs and will be best to find surf elsewhere. For more detailed information visit: http://endlesswaves.net/waves/daves-wave/

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Super Bowl Sunday 2021 (1st half of the game) surfing Dave's Wave with Jimmy Switzer... Air temp dropped from the 50's to well below freezing when the sun set. Ice instantly formed on our wetsuits and bodyboard and surfmat. You know it is bad when you get ice cream headaches not from duck diving but from standing in the freezing winds. It was warmer in the water than out of the water... Cold but a great time. (Pic of Jimmy Switzer ripping it up 2/7/21 on his bodyboard despite the freezing temps)

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In 2020 you had to travel to find surf in Colorado; however, Nathan Ginn had no problems finding surf at Dave's Wave in Thornton, CO on this July 2020 day.

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Chill Foundation at Dave's Wave... Thanks to Nathan, Lyle, Lane, Misty, and the Metro-Denver surf crew for the first ever day of Chill river surfing at Dave's Wave. A complete success. Metro-Denver surfers giving back to river surfing and the general community at large. Just Amazing!!! (Chatfield was releasing a meager 10cfs while Dave's Wave was getting over 200cfs)

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Dave's Wave season is upon us and probably the only spot surfable in Metro-Denver outside a late rainy day. The wave is all-time right now, come surf it!.... Also check out the Dave's Wave PSA (public service announcement) on longboardkook YouTube channel. The truth about the most hated on wave in Denver, hahaha. https://youtu.be/axbZ8chotvU

Area Hydrology

Gauge Streamflow Stage
Big Dry Creek At Mouth Near Fort Lupton
USGS 06720990
24 cfs 4.2 ft
Big Dry Creek At Westminster
USGS 06720820
1 cfs 1.0 ft
Cache La Poudre R A Mo Of Cn
USGS 06752000
23 cfs 2.6 ft
Big Thompson River At Loveland
USGS 06741510
25 cfs 1.0 ft
South Platte River At Henderson
USGS 06720500
252 cfs 3.6 ft
Big Thompson River At Mouth
USGS 06744000
43 cfs 1.3 ft
Boulder Cr At North 75Th St Nr Boulder
USGS 06730200
11 cfs 4.1 ft
Snotel Site Snowpack 24hr Change
evergreen 6.5 wsw, co
SNOTEL CO-CC-1
0.5" 0"
jamestown 2.5 sse, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-343
1.3" 0"
niwot
SNOTEL NIWC2
21" 1"
divide 4nw
SNOTEL DNWC2
1" 0"
nohrsc glen cove
SNOTEL GLNC2
10" 1"
nederland 4.2 e, co
SNOTEL CO-BO-233
0.5" 0"
nohrsc south colony
SNOTEL SCYC2
32" 5"
nohrsc copeland lake
SNOTEL COPC2
2" 0"
Copeland Lake
SNOTEL 412
2" 0"
Niwot
SNOTEL 663
21" 0"

Outdoor Recreation

Campground Campsites Reservations Toilets Showers Elevation
Flat Rocks 19 8,245 ft
Standley Lake None 5,530 ft
Jackson Creek 9 8,179 ft
St. Vrain State Park 87 4,850 ft
Boulder County Fairground None 4,974 ft
Chatfield State Park 193 5,494 ft
Indian Creek 11 7,562 ft
Devils Head 21 8,856 ft
Union Reservoir 42 4,957 ft
Cherry Creek State Park 102 5,646 ft
Ski Area Snowpack Air Temperature 5 Day Forecast
Angel Fire Resort 11" 18° 2.9"
Sandia Peak Ski Area 2" 25° 2.48"
Pajarito Mountain 2" 25° 2.48"
Taos Ski Valley 26" 15° 4.64"
Eldora Mountain Resort 20" 16° 1.21"
Beaver Creek Resort 22" 18° 3.58"
Ski Estes Park (Hidden Valley) 37" 15° 1.92"
Mystic Miner Ski Resort at Deer Mountain 11" 11° 0.74"
Cuchara Mountain Resort 2" 22° 1.69"
Hogadon Ski Area 15" 13° 0.42"
Terry Peak Ski Area 11" 11° 0.74"
Keystone Resort 23" 10° 1.69"
Red River Ski Area 3" 21° 3.8"
SolVista Basin at Granby Ranch 36" 10° 2.31"
Ski Broadmoor 10" 12° 1.37"
Breckenridge Ski Resort 26" 14° 2.1"
Ski Cooper 13" 1.2"
Conquistador Ski Resort 31" 15° 3.36"
Monarch Ski & Snowboard Area 36" 1.29"
Arapahoe Basin 34" 2.87"
Vail 33" 3.95"
Ski Santa Fe 24" 17° 3.2"
Snowy Range 46" 1.18"
Sipapu Ski Area 3" 24° 3.34"
Loveland 34" 2.87"
Echo Mountain Park 7" 14° 1.05"
Copper Mountain Resort 26" 14° 2.1"
River Run Streamflow Length Class