Miracle Wave

Miracle wave is mellow knee to waist high glass wave that is a miracle when it comes in on the average of every three years but oh so zen-like to surf it. The wave is located 100 yards down from the the outflow of the Chatfield Reservoir into the S. Platte River at the Chatfield State Park adjacent to the dog park.


Suggestions

Miracle needs a flow of at least a thousand cfs (1,000cfs). The wave is shallow and the water, well it usually is baked with dash of E.coli and added in parasites like giardiasis and cryptosporidiosis for good measure, so don't drink the water. Bring a longboard to surf Miracle wave and be prepared to fall flat as possible due to the rocks right behind and all along the wave. Last time the wave came in it was 2019 and 2016 before that. Unfortunately with the completion of the expansion of the Chatfield Reservoir in 2020 that increased the ability to hold more water, it will take an epic water event (aka crazy amount of rain) or an incredible snow season for the water managers to open up the gates to dump another 1,000cfs or more of water, but never say never.... The first stream gauge to watch for Miracle and many of the other S. Platte surfable waves is the South Platte River Below Chatfield Reservoir (PLACHACO) but the Union gauge is also a good indicator but it is hours down river from Miracle and you will be missing the wave when it comes in and the flow lasts a day or two if not only a few hours... Find more detailed info at http://endlesswaves.net/waves/miracle-wave/ but stick to checking the surf reports at Snoflo for the inside info of when Miracle is surfable.

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Ethan getting the start of the wave showing up at Miracle in June 2019 and he had it dialed in for sure.... Notice how wide and glassy this urban river wave is in metro Denver.

Area Hydrology

Gauge Streamflow Stage
Fountain Creek Near Pinon
USGS 07106300
91 cfs 3.6 ft
Turkey Creek Nr Stone City
USGS 07099235
0 cfs ft
Arkansas River At Parkdale
USGS 07094500
323 cfs 2.4 ft
Arkansas River At Canon City
USGS 07096000
371 cfs 5.6 ft
Arkansas River At Portland
USGS 07097000
314 cfs 1.5 ft
Turkey Creek Near Fountain Colo
USGS 07099215
2 cfs 2.0 ft
Snotel Site Snowpack 24hr Change
nohrsc brighton 2.1 nnw, co
SNOTEL CO-AD-120
0.5" 0.2"
nohrsc copeland lake
SNOTEL COPC2
13" 0"
fort collins 3.7 s, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-885
0.5" 0.3"
nohrsc berthoud 3.0 nnw, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-1136
0.2" 0.2"
laporte 1.4 nw, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-761
0.8" 0"
estes park 3.3 ssw, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-247
1.2" 0"
Sawtooth
SNOTEL 1251
57" 0"
ruxton park,co
SNOTEL RUXC2
7" 0"
Ute Creek
SNOTEL 1005
12" 0"
loveland 2.3 nw, co
SNOTEL CO-LR-854
0.5" 0.3"

Outdoor Recreation

Campground Campsites Reservations Toilets Showers Elevation
Clear Creek RV Park 36 5,684 ft
Standley Lake None 5,530 ft
Carter Lake - North Side Campgrounds None 5,792 ft
Bear Creek Lake Park 52 5,693 ft
Carter Lake - South Side Campgrounds None 5,711 ft
Union Reservoir 42 4,957 ft
Flatiron Reservoir None 5,483 ft
Meadow Park None 5,349 ft
Boulder County Fairground None 4,974 ft
St. Vrain State Park 87 4,850 ft
Ski Area Snowpack Air Temperature 5 Day Forecast
Keystone Resort 25" 26° 5.06"
Cuchara Mountain Resort 2" 38° 7.24"
SolVista Basin at Granby Ranch 52" 25° 6.95"
Ski Broadmoor 12" 26° 1.94"
Sandia Peak Ski Area 2" 44° 8.61"
Angel Fire Resort 12" 37° 12.42"
Red River Ski Area 4" 38° 16.07"
Snowy Range 55" 15° 5.12"
Sipapu Ski Area 1" 45° 16.94"
Ski Cooper 25" 25° 3.6"
Vail 44" 26° 10.8"
Loveland 43" 21° 7.55"
Conquistador Ski Resort 29" 31° 6.47"
Mystic Miner Ski Resort at Deer Mountain 17" 1.15"
Breckenridge Ski Resort 43" 29° 6.74"
Eldora Mountain Resort 32" 30° 5.67"
Ski Santa Fe 15" 30° 10.25"
Taos Ski Valley 21" 32° 16.92"
Terry Peak Ski Area 17" 1.15"
Monarch Ski & Snowboard Area 42" 22° 5.16"
Beaver Creek Resort 34" 35° 10.17"
Copper Mountain Resort 43" 29° 6.74"
Ski Estes Park (Hidden Valley) 40" 28° 7.08"
Hogadon Ski Area 20" 1.15"
Echo Mountain Park 19" 28° 3.83"
Pajarito Mountain 2" 44° 8.61"
Arapahoe Basin 43" 21° 7.55"
River Run Streamflow Length Class