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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David

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)

  • 02-07-2021
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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.

  • 07-15-2020
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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)

  • 2022-08-03
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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

  • 2022-09-12

Area Hydrology

Gauge Streamflow Stage
Sand Crk Abv Burlington Ditch Nr Commerce City
USGS 06714360 		12 cfs 3.7 ft
Big Dry Creek At Westminster
USGS 06720820 		1 cfs 1.5 ft
Cache La Poudre R A Mo Of Cn
USGS 06752000 		66 cfs 2.9 ft
Bear Creek At Mouth
USGS 06711500 		40 cfs 2.7 ft
South Platte River Below Union Ave
USGS 06710247 		18 cfs 10.7 ft
Bear Creek Above Evergreen
USGS 06710385 		34 cfs 4.2 ft
Big Thompson River At Loveland
USGS 06741510 		18 cfs 0.8 ft
St Vrain Cr Blw Boulder Cr At Hwy 119 Nr Longmont
USGS 06730525 		105 cfs 9.8 ft
Left Hand Creek Near Boulder
USGS 06724500 		5 cfs 0.2 ft
North Fork Cache La Poudre R. At Livermore
USGS 06751490 		4 cfs 6.9 ft
Snotel Site Snowpack 24hr Change
Copeland Lake
SNOTEL 412 		18" 0"
Glen Cove
SNOTEL 1057 		8" 1"
South Colony
SNOTEL 773 		69" 4"
Crow Creek
SNOTEL 1045 		22" 0"
Niwot
SNOTEL 663 		42" 3"

Outdoor Recreation

Campground Campsites Reservations Toilets Showers Elevation
Chatfield State Park 193 5,494 ft
Cherry Creek State Park 102 5,646 ft
Union Reservoir 42 4,957 ft
St. Vrain State Park 87 4,850 ft
Ski Area Snowpack Air Temperature 5 Day Forecast
River Run Streamflow Length Class
Golden Whitewater Park 3.92cfs 0.75 Mi II+
Filter Plant 3.92cfs None Mi II to III+
Tunnel 1 to Golden Whitewater Park 60.7cfs None Mi III- to III+
Idledale to Morrison 11.2cfs 3.0 Mi IV+ to V
Filter Plant 3.92cfs None Mi II to III+
October Hole 37.8cfs None Mi II