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Colorado | De Beque Canyon / Cameo
Colorado RiverBeavertail Mountain cutoff to Roller Dam take-out
A guarded approximately 1.2-mile expert-only Colorado River high-water wave reach from the Beavertail Mountain cutoff access to the Roller Dam take-out, paired directly with USGS 09095500 near Cameo.
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Need to know
Why this call
Route overview
Trip details
Access rules, camping, seasonal conditions and trip length.
Distance, difficulty, rules and camping
Plan ahead
Tomorrow and the weekend
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Plan
Plan your trip
Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.
Route logistics
Access and shuttle
A guarded expert Big Sur high-water wave reach with direct 09095500 telemetry, 18,000–30,000 cfs planning bounds and a 20,000–24,000 cfs preferred band, named access points, a hard Roller Dam take-out, and no endpoint camping.
Access map
Put-in
Beavertail Mountain cutoff / Beaver Tail Tunnel parking accessUse only the American Whitewater Beavertail/Beaver Tail Tunnel parking access and Roller Dam take-out contexts after confirming current signs, legal parking, river entry, and the physical landing. Coordinates are approximate planning anchors.
Take-out
Roller Dam take-out accessAmerican Whitewater’s put-in directions require an eastbound I-70 parking area and a walk under the overpass on the concrete bike path. Do not stop in travel lanes, cross I-70, walk active railroad tracks, or substitute private access.
Road shuttle
Access notes and hazards
Access caveats
- Use only the American Whitewater Beavertail/Beaver Tail Tunnel parking access and Roller Dam take-out contexts after confirming current signs, legal parking, river entry, and the physical landing. Coordinates are approximate planning anchors.
- American Whitewater’s put-in directions require an eastbound I-70 parking area and a walk under the overpass on the concrete bike path. Do not stop in travel lanes, cross I-70, walk active railroad tracks, or substitute private access.
- The Roller Dam is the mandatory endpoint boundary. Exit before the structure; a high-flow wave is not permission to approach, run, or swim toward the dam.
- No on-route camping is established. Stage a lawful shuttle and separate lodging/campground plan before the high-flow window; do not rely on an overnight vehicle or riverbank camp.
Watch for
- USGS 09095500 below 18,000 cfs, above 30,000 cfs, rapidly rising/falling, unavailable, or inconsistent with the feature’s current visual shape and local advice
- Powerful high-water current, wave hydraulics, cold water, floating debris, strainers, limited recovery, I-70/railroad exposure, and the Roller Dam
- Eastbound parking/path legality, access closures, take-out visibility, safety-boat positioning, daylight, and failure to exit before the dam
Plan this paddle
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Conditions
Water levels, gauge history, and hourly forecast
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USGS measurements
More about this gauge
These measurements come from the gauge station. Water depth and current can differ along your trip.
River camera · USGS
View at the gauge
Colorado River near Cameo, CO. This view may be outside your paddling reach. Images are periodic and do not establish safe conditions.
Gauge detail
Water-level history and forecastDetailed view
Gauge
Recent trend
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Route gallery
Photos
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Score & sources
Why this score
See the gauge, weather, and source notes behind today’s call.
Why this scoreData reliability: checking
This rating reflects whether the gauge measures this part of the river, whether published water-level guidance is available, and how recently the data was updated.
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Data behind the scoreWater levels, published guidance and update times
These readings and published water-level limits help explain today’s score.
| Gauge site | Colorado River near Cameo, CO |
| Discharge | Checking |
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| 24h trend | Checking |
| 24h change | Checking |
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| Rain last 24h | Checking |
| Rain last 72h | Checking |
| Air temp | Checking |
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| Preferred range | 20,000 cfs to 24,000 cfs |
| Low threshold | 18,000 cfs |
| High threshold | 30,000 cfs |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Official and local sources |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | Big Sur/Cameo high-water planning band: 18,000–30,000 cfs |
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NotesWhat to know before you go
These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.
- Named public corridorBig Sur / Cameo-Lucky 7; approximately 1.2 miles; Class III
American Whitewater names Big Sur/Cameo, the Class III rating, the 1.2-mile reach, the direct Colorado River near Cameo gauge, and both access points. BoaterBeta independently names the Beaver Tail Tunnel-to-Roller Dam segment.
- Direct live gauge and high-water gateUSGS 09095500; 18,000 cfs minimum, 20,000–24,000 cfs preferred, 30,000 cfs maximum planning band
USGS provides continuous discharge and gage-height telemetry. BoaterBeta publishes 18,000/20,000–24,000/30,000 cfs guidance, while American Whitewater identifies the feature around 20,000 cfs and the federal basin study provides an independent high-flow survey range. These values are planning cues, not a safety envelope.
- Lawful endpoint accessBeavertail Mountain cutoff parking/path access to Roller Dam take-out
American Whitewater documents the eastbound I-70 parking/path approach and publishes approximate put-in and take-out coordinates. Verify current legal parking, carry-down, landing, closures, and dam restrictions before entering.
- Safety boundaryExpert Class III high-water feature with mandatory Roller Dam exit
American Whitewater identifies the high-water Class III feature; Rock2Rapid warns of fast current, limited shore recovery, and the danger of ending up near the dam or illegal railroad corridor. Preserve the high-water rescue and hard-stop warnings.
- Camping and logisticsNo endpoint camping; roadside/dam-adjacent day use only
The named access contexts are a highway parking/path and dam-adjacent take-out. No camping evidence clears the route; use separate lawful lodging or a designated campground and stage the take-out before the high-flow window.
- Duplicate separationDistinct Cameo high-water feature below the Glenwood/South Canyon route family
This route is separate from the existing Grizzly Creek-to-Two Rivers and Two Rivers-to-South Canyon corridors: it uses the direct Cameo station 09095500, a different named high-water feature, and a separate Beaver Tail/Roller Dam endpoint pair.
Verify it yourselfCheck the source links
Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
- American Whitewater Big Sur/Cameo reach
- American Whitewater Big Sur put-in access
- American Whitewater Big Sur take-out access
- USGS 09095500 monitoring location
- USGS 09095500 current conditions
- BoaterBeta Big Sur flow history
- Colorado River Basin high-flow recreation study
- Big Sur high-water safety context
- USGS public-domain Cameo webcam image
Paddler reports
Recent notes from paddlers
A few quick notes from people who were on this route recently.
Reports
Paddler reports
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Quick answers
Colorado River paddling FAQ
What water level is best for the Beavertail Mountain cutoff to Roller Dam take-out route on the Colorado River?
Paddle Today watches Colorado River near Cameo, CO and treats 20,000 cfs to 24,000 cfs as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.
Where does the Beavertail Mountain cutoff to Roller Dam take-out route on the Colorado River start and end?
This route starts at Beavertail Mountain cutoff / Beaver Tail Tunnel parking access and ends at Roller Dam take-out access, Approximately 1.2 river miles on the water.
Is the Beavertail Mountain cutoff to Roller Dam take-out route on the Colorado River suitable for beginners?
This is listed as a hard route. Treat the live score as a planning aid, then confirm conditions, hazards, access, and group skill before launching.
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