Waterton Canyon

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Run Length

1.3 miles

Average Gradient

74 fpm

Difficulty

Class III+

Recommended Flow

>300 cfs

River

South Platte River

Location

Conifer, Colorado, United States

Author

Joshua Mack

Current Flow & Weather

554 cfs

N/A

Drainage

South Platte

Elevation

6100ft to 6000ft

Waterton is popular Front Range run. The whitewater is okay, the shuttle is your shoulder, but at least the season is long. The Waterton put-in is at the confluence of the North Fork and South Fork of the South Platte.

The run starts mellow and gradually builds in intensity. The first rapids are easy class III but they are long and continuous. If you swim here, it may take a while to catch your boat. At the end of the continuous section is the vertical blender hole, which may be playable at some levels. The bottom section of the run contains larger rapids (III+) but they are pool drop so most novices have an easier time here than on the upper section. The second of these pool drop rapids has a surf wave at the top at 500-700 cfs and a cartwheel hole at the bottom at 300-500. There are a couple more rapids before you find yourself in a lake.

Because the best whitewater is at the bottom of the run and you have to walk the shuttle up to your car, I suggest spending some time playing in the bottom drops and/or running them several times to make the most of you day.

Flow Information:
300 is the minimum to have a good time. More is better. At high water (1000 cfs) the run is full of boils and big waves. Its fun but goes really fast. Waterton benefits from the combined artificial flows of the north and south forks. Because of this, Waterton has the longest season of any run near Denver. It will typically run April into October, sometimes earlier or later.

PS- the drive to Waterton (along both the N & S forks) has been the scene of some nasty carnage and pissed off locals, so don’t drive too fast.

Difficulty Information:
- III+ < 900 cfs
- IV > 900 cfs

Waterton Canyon Kayaking from Chadwick Shoults on Vimeo.

Waterton

Paddler:Paul Hemming Photographer:Laura Hemming

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	Put-In Take Highway 285 to Conifer, go south on S. Foxton Road (RD 97) for 14.2 miles till you reach the confluence, turn left into the parking lot before crossing the bridge.
	Green Bridge Class III+ This rapid gets its name from the wide ledge across most of the river. For a good boof, head right for the centre rock, but to avoid the ledge, run far left (right against the bank). At high water levels a sneak exists on the right hand side too - if it's there, this right line is better for duckies.
	Avalanche Class III+ A big rock right in the middle of the river, with nice keeper eddies on the sides. Run just barely left of the main rock, and watch out for the small but sharp rock right below it - a fast move right is a good idea. A short wave train follows this, good fun for rocket moves.
	Man-eater Class III+ A big but very fun final hole on this section, with good eddy service. The hole can look a little daunting, but makes for fun play and a lot of air if you hit it right.
	Take-Out Huff it back to the parking lot.

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Trip Report

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	Uncharacteristically high, proceed with caution.
	Powerful, pushy and unforgiving.
	Ideal flow conditions.
	Boney with potential for boat abuse.
	Not enough water to float a boat.
	Please let us know.
	No gauge, visual required.