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Colorado | Lower Colorado River / Glenwood Springs
Colorado RiverTwo Rivers Park to South Canyon River Access
A guarded approximately 5-mile lower Colorado River reach from Glenwood Springs’ Two Rivers Park to BLM’s South Canyon River Access. RiverBrain rates the named reach Class II+ to III and confirms the direct USGS 09085100 condition gauge.
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Route location
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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 public city-to-BLM lower Colorado reach with a 1,000 cfs minimum-only check at USGS 09085100, Class II+/III hazards, seasonal South Canyon access, no endpoint camping, and a short I-70 shuttle.
Access map
Put-in
Two Rivers Park Colorado River boat rampUse only the City of Glenwood Springs Two Rivers concrete ramp and the BLM South Canyon ramp as endpoints.
Take-out
BLM South Canyon River Access boat rampTwo Rivers is a high-use city park: follow 6 a.m.–10 p.m. hours, 30-minute ramp parking, no overnight parking/camping, and current commercial-permit rules.
Road shuttle
Access notes and hazards
Access caveats
- Use only the City of Glenwood Springs Two Rivers concrete ramp and the BLM South Canyon ramp as endpoints.
- Two Rivers is a high-use city park: follow 6 a.m.–10 p.m. hours, 30-minute ramp parking, no overnight parking/camping, and current commercial-permit rules.
- South Canyon is closed November 15 through May 15 and is 4WD-recommended; park in the upper parking area as BLM directs.
- The 1,000 cfs value is a conservative low-acceptable planning floor, not a runnable guarantee or upper limit. Require current scouting and rescue readiness.
Watch for
- USGS 09085100 below 1,000 cfs, rapidly rising, unavailable, or inconsistent with the local river visual
- Glenwood whitewater-park features, bridge columns, South Canyon Rapid, bridge pylons, cold water, wood/debris, and strong current
- South Canyon seasonal closure, 4WD road conditions, city ramp parking/permit rules, commercial traffic, and a failed daylight or rescue plan
Plan this paddle
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Conditions
Water levels, gauge history, and hourly forecast
Check the forecast and local water levels before launching.
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 Below Glenwood Springs, 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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Gauge source
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Hourly forecast
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Route gallery
Photos
Check each caption: some photos show the surrounding area rather than this exact trip.
Sources
Data and sources
Read the access and hazard notes and check the linked guides. We do not issue a daily score for this trip.
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 corridorTwo Rivers to South Canyon; approximately 5 miles; Class II+ to III
RiverBrain independently names and maps the exact reach; NRP corroborates Class II(III) above South Canyon and Class I below it.
- Direct live gauge and flow gateUSGS 09085100; 1,000 cfs minimum-only
USGS provides direct continuous discharge and stage telemetry below Glenwood Springs. RiverBrain and BoaterBeta both associate this gauge with a 1,000 cfs minimum; use it conservatively as a floor only.
- Lawful endpoint accessCity of Glenwood Springs Two Rivers Park to BLM South Canyon River Access
The city documents its concrete Two Rivers ramp and commercial permit rules; BLM documents the South Canyon concrete ramp, parking, restroom, 4WD recommendation, and seasonal closure.
- Safety boundaryExperienced Class II+/III only; PFD/cold-water/rescue readiness; no runnable claim
RiverBrain identifies South Canyon Rapid as Class III. Scout bridge columns, whitewater-park features, bridge pylons, wood, traffic, cold water, and rising flows from legal locations.
- Camping and feesNo endpoint camping; city commercial permit; separate lodging/campground required
Two Rivers rules prohibit overnight camping/parking; BLM prohibits camping at South Canyon. Glenwood-area campgrounds are separate logistics and must be reserved or confirmed independently.
- Duplicate separationDistinct lower Colorado Two Rivers-to-South-Canyon reach
This route begins where the reviewed 09070500 Grizzly Creek-to-Two-Rivers route ends, sharing only the Two Rivers endpoint; it is not a duplicate. It is also separate from the existing Upper Colorado Pumphouse-to-State-Bridge route by reach, endpoints, and gauge.
Verify it yourselfCheck the source links
Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
- RiverBrain Two Rivers to South Canyon
- American Whitewater South Canyon to New Castle / gauge association
- BoaterBeta New Castle flow guidance
- USGS 09085100 monitoring location
- USGS 09085100 current conditions
- Glenwood Springs river access
- Two Rivers Park facility
- Two Rivers boat-ramp permit packet
- BLM South Canyon River Access
- Wikimedia Commons CC BY 4.0 Two Rivers ramp 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 Two Rivers Park to South Canyon River Access route on the Colorado River?
This planning route has no live Paddle Today score. Review the linked water-level sources, current access notices and route-specific hazards before travel.
Where does the Two Rivers Park to South Canyon River Access route on the Colorado River start and end?
This route starts at Two Rivers Park Colorado River boat ramp and ends at BLM South Canyon River Access boat ramp, Approximately 5 river miles on the water.
Is the Two Rivers Park to South Canyon River Access route on the Colorado River suitable for beginners?
This is listed as a hard route. Review the difficulty notes, hazards and current access conditions against your group's skills. No live score assesses this trip.
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