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Colorado | Gunnison River / Gunnison County

Gunnison RiverAlmont to North Bridge

A guarded approximately 8.2-mile Class II Gunnison River town-run segment from the Almont access to the Garlic Mike’s / North Bridge / Shady Island access, paired with direct USGS 09114500 telemetry.

Route location

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Plan this route

DistanceApproximately 8.2 river miles from Almont to Garlic Mike’s / North Bridge
DifficultyModerate
Typical timeAllow a daylight window of roughly 2–4 hours depending on flow
ShuttleCar shuttle
The Gunnison River flows past the Spann Diversion near Gunnison, Colorado.
Route photoGunnison River corridor context at Spann Diversion; not a specific endpoint imagePhoto by U.S. Geological Survey

Need to know

Why this call
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Route overview

Trip details

Access rules, camping, seasonal conditions and trip length.

Distance, difficulty, rules and camping
On-water distanceApproximately 8.2 river miles from Almont to Garlic Mike’s / North BridgeAlmont to North Bridge
DifficultymoderateMostly Class II moving water on the Almont-to-North-Bridge section, with the route ending before the Gunnison Whitewater Park. Do not infer that the downstream Class III features are included or appropriate for this route.
ShuttleCar shuttleStage the North Bridge / Shady Island takeout first, then drive back to the Almont access. Confirm current parking, landing, signage, private-property boundaries, and road conditions before unloading.
PermitsNone notedNo route-specific permit claim is made. Follow current Colorado boating/PFD rules, posted access notices, private-property restrictions, and local road or facility rules.
CampingDay tripNo on-route camping is included. Use separately verified developed camping or lawful lodging; do not camp at either access, bridge, whitewater feature, or private bank.
SeasonMay-SepSnowmelt and summer storms drive variable conditions. The gauge is continuous, but cold water, bridges, wood, private-bank boundaries, and access remain field conditions; check reading and trend every trip.

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 Class II Gunnison town-run segment with direct 09114500 discharge, 350–3000 cfs runnable planning context, named Almont and North Bridge accesses, and a mandatory exit before the whitewater park.

Access map

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Start

Put-in

Almont access
Open mapDirections to put-in

American Whitewater identifies Almont as the put-in and Garlic Mike’s / North Bridge / Shady Island as the 8.17-mile downstream access. Verify current landing, parking, signs, and lawful access on site.

Finish

Take-out

Garlic Mike’s / North Bridge / Shady Island Boat Ramp
Open mapDirections to take-out

End at the North Bridge / Shady Island access. The Gunnison Whitewater Park and downstream Psychedelic Falls are separate route features and are not included in this scored segment.

Road shuttle

Driving shuttle routeShuttle in Apple MapsOpenStreetMap
Access notes and hazards

Access caveats

  • American Whitewater identifies Almont as the put-in and Garlic Mike’s / North Bridge / Shady Island as the 8.17-mile downstream access. Verify current landing, parking, signs, and lawful access on site.
  • End at the North Bridge / Shady Island access. The Gunnison Whitewater Park and downstream Psychedelic Falls are separate route features and are not included in this scored segment.
  • The local boating guide states that many Gunnison Valley rivers run through private property and that riverbed ownership can be private. Do not scout, stop, or exit on unverified banks.
  • If either endpoint is closed, occupied, unsafe, unclear, or inconsistent with current access signs, the route is unavailable. Use a separately verified campground or lodging reservation.

Watch for

  • USGS 09114500 below 350 cfs, above 3000 cfs, rapidly changing, unavailable, or inconsistent with the physical river; the AW band is planning context, not a guarantee
  • cold water, wood/strainers, fast current, bridge clearance, private banks, limited recovery, and changing weather
  • the North Bridge / Shady Island takeout and the boundary before the Gunnison Whitewater Park

Plan this paddle

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Conditions

Water levels, gauge history, and hourly forecast

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Gauge detail

Water-level history and forecastDetailed view

Gauge

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Weather

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Route gallery

Photos

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The Gunnison River flows past the Spann Diversion near Gunnison, Colorado.
Gunnison River corridor context at Spann Diversion; not a specific endpoint imagePhoto by U.S. Geological Survey
USGS public domain

Score & sources

Why this score

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Data status
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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.

Why
  • Checking data sources and update times.
Data behind the scoreWater levels, published guidance and update times

These readings and published water-level limits help explain today’s score.

Gauge siteGunnison River near Gunnison, CO
DischargeChecking
Gauge heightChecking
24h trendChecking
24h changeChecking
Current bandChecking
Rain last 24hChecking
Rain last 72hChecking
Air tempChecking
Water tempChecking
WindChecking
GustsChecking
Rain timingChecking
Preferred range350 cfs to 3,000 cfs
Low threshold350 cfs
High threshold3,000 cfs
Evidence strength behind the rangeOfficial and local sources
Gauge observedChecking
Paddle Today updatedChecking
Main source behind this scoreAmerican Whitewater Gunnison Town Run 350–3000 cfs runnable planning band
Gauge sourceChecking
Weather sourceChecking
Rainfall sourceChecking
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 Gunnison corridorAlmont to Garlic Mike’s / North Bridge / Shady Island; approximately 8.17 miles; primarily Class II

    American Whitewater lists the Almont-to-Blue-Mesa town run and specifically identifies the Almont and North Bridge access sequence; the local guide describes Almont-to-Gunnison family-friendly Class I–II boating.

    Source

  • Direct live gauge and flow gateUSGS 09114500; 350 cfs minimum and 3000 cfs maximum runnable planning bounds

    USGS provides direct discharge telemetry near Gunnison. American Whitewater embeds the 350–3000 cfs recreational planning band; use scouting and physical hazards to override any numeric plan.

    Source

  • Endpoint accessAmerican Whitewater Almont access to Garlic Mike’s / North Bridge / Shady Island Boat Ramp

    The two named access records provide the endpoint identities and coordinates. Reconfirm current parking, landing, signs, and private-bank boundaries before launching.

    Source

  • Safety boundaryClass II moving water, cold water, wood, bridges, private banks, and mandatory North Bridge exit

    Keep the route bounded above the separate Gunnison Whitewater Park and Psychedelic Falls features; scout from lawful locations and do not extend the route by inference.

    Source

  • Camping and logisticsNearby developed campground/basecamp only; no on-route camping

    No route-specific riverside camping is established. Use separately verified lawful lodging or developed camping and obey current facility and landowner restrictions.

    Source

  • Duplicate separationDistinct Gunnison River 09114500 corridor, separate from the East River 09112200 and Taylor River 09110000 routes

    This segment begins at the Almont Gunnison confluence access and ends at North Bridge before the whitewater park, so it is not a duplicate of the upstream Taylor or East River routes.

    Source

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Keep exploring

More routes to check next

Compare another stretch on this river, or explore different rivers within 75 straight-line miles.

More in Colorado

All 48 routes
Colorado route guideBrowse every tracked Colorado route.Gunnison River / Gunnison CountyJump to routes in this region.

More on Gunnison River

All 3
Chukar Boat Launch to Gunnison Forks Day-Use Recreation SiteGunnison Gorge National Conservation Area / Montrose CountyHard · Approximately 13.5 river milesGunnison Whitewater ParkGunnison River / Gunnison CountyHard · Approximately 0.2 engineered river miles; American Whitewater lists the downstream access at approximately 0.5 miles

Nearby routes within 75 miles

Taylor RiverFive Mile Access to Almont · about 4 straight-line mi awayModerate · Approximately 5 river miles from Five Mile Access to AlmontEast RiverCrested Butte South to Almont · about 10 straight-line mi awayModerate · Approximately 12 river miles from CB South to Almont, with an optional Roaring Judy exit around 7.5 milesTaylor RiverAbove Todd’s Slot to below Todd’s Slot · about 10 straight-line mi awayModerate · Approximately 0.54 river miles from above Todd’s Slot to below Todd’s SlotTaylor RiverCR 748 Bridge to Pieplant Ranch / CR 742.8 access · about 22 straight-line mi awayModerate · Approximately 3 river miles

Quick answers

Gunnison River paddling FAQ

What water level is best for the Almont to North Bridge route on the Gunnison River?

Paddle Today watches Gunnison River near Gunnison, CO and treats 350 cfs to 3,000 cfs as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.

Where does the Almont to North Bridge route on the Gunnison River start and end?

This route starts at Almont access and ends at Garlic Mike’s / North Bridge / Shady Island Boat Ramp, Approximately 8.2 river miles from Almont to Garlic Mike’s / North Bridge on the water.

Is the Almont to North Bridge route on the Gunnison River suitable for beginners?

This is listed as a moderate route. Expect more planning than an easy float, and use the live score, route notes, and source links before committing.

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