See all 3 routes on Taylor River
Colorado | Taylor Canyon / Gunnison County
Taylor River
Above Todd’s Slot to below Todd’s Slot
Check current paddling conditions for this Taylor River route, including water level, recent gauge trend, weather, and route details.
Route location
Loading the route snapshot. This usually takes a few seconds.
Need to know
Why this call
Conditions
Gauge history and hourly forecast
The top card is the quick read. This lower section keeps the longer gauge trend, gauge context, and hourly forecast together.
Gauge detail
Gauge history & hourly forecastDetailed view
Gauge
Recent trend
Checking preferred range.
Checking trend.
Gauge source
--Checking timestampMN DNR provides the current paddling level here, but not chart-ready recent samples.
Weather
Hourly forecast
Checking weather.
Loading today's forecast.
Next 8 hours
Short-route forecast
Checking the next several hours.
Route overview
Quick facts and what's next
Distance, difficulty, shuttle basics, and the near-term outlook before you commit to the drive.
Quick facts
Plan ahead
Upcoming outlook
These are early planning reads. Re-check live conditions before you commit to the drive.
Waiting on forecast.
Waiting on forecast.
Plan
Plan your trip
Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.
Route logistics
Access and shuttle
A guarded technical Todd’s Slot feature with direct 09109000 discharge, conservative 200 cfs minimum-only planning, named above/below access records, Class IV/wood/private-bank hazards, and a mandatory exit below the feature.
Prepare this trip
Take the plan with you
Download the canonical route, add a calendar hold, or send a simple float plan to your group.
Put-in
Put-in above Todd’s SlotAmerican Whitewater provides named access records and exact coordinates for the access above and below Todd’s Slot. Treat them as planning anchors and verify current parking, signage, road condition, landing, and access permission on site.
Take-out
Take-out below Todd’s SlotThe below-Todd’s-Slot access is mandatory. Do not extend downstream through the South Bank, Harmels, or lower private-property corridor from this route; the broader source description identifies private banks and manmade obstacles beyond the bounded endpoint.
Plan this segment
Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- American Whitewater provides named access records and exact coordinates for the access above and below Todd’s Slot. Treat them as planning anchors and verify current parking, signage, road condition, landing, and access permission on site.
- The below-Todd’s-Slot access is mandatory. Do not extend downstream through the South Bank, Harmels, or lower private-property corridor from this route; the broader source description identifies private banks and manmade obstacles beyond the bounded endpoint.
- The route is remote and road conditions can change seasonally. If either endpoint is closed, occupied, unsafe, or unclear, the route is unavailable.
- Use a separately verified campground or lodging reservation. This route does not authorize riverside or private-bank camping.
Watch for
- USGS 09109000 below 200 cfs, rapidly changing, unavailable, or inconsistent with the actual river; 250 cfs is a preferred planning reference, not a guarantee
- Todd’s Slot, Class IV moves, wood/strainers, cold water, limited recovery, and changing dam-release conditions
- private-bank boundaries, cables/low obstacles downstream of the takeout, road closures, and failure to exit below Todd’s Slot
Route gallery
See this route on the water
Photos help show what the access looks like and what the route actually feels like on the water.
Score & sources
Why this score
See the gauge, weather, and source notes behind today's call.
Why this scoreToday's evidence strength is checking
Evidence strength mostly comes down to three things: how direct the active gauge is, how clear the range is, and how fresh the data is.
- Checking evidence-strength notes.
- Checking evidence cautions.
Data behind the scoreGauge, thresholds, and timing
These are the live readings and threshold notes behind today's score.
| Gauge site | Taylor River below Taylor Park Reservoir, CO |
| Discharge | Checking |
| Gauge height | Checking |
| 24h trend | Checking |
| 24h change | Checking |
| Current band | Checking |
| Rain last 24h | Checking |
| Rain last 72h | Checking |
| Air temp | Checking |
| Water temp | Checking |
| Wind | Checking |
| Gusts | Checking |
| Rain timing | Checking |
| Ideal range | Needs paddler reports |
| Known low-water floor | 200 cfs |
| High threshold | Not calibrated yet |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Official and local sources |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | American Whitewater Taylor River Canyon reach and current trip reports: approximately 200 cfs runnable context; 250 cfs described as a very nice day |
| Gauge source | Checking |
| Weather source | Checking |
| Rainfall source | Checking |
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 Taylor River Canyon corridorAbove Todd’s Slot to below Todd’s Slot; approximately 0.54 miles within the broader Class II–IV Taylor River Canyon reach
American Whitewater names the Taylor River Canyon, identifies the above/below Todd’s Slot access points, and describes the Class II–IV river character.
- Direct live gauge and flow gateUSGS 09109000; 200 cfs conservative minimum-only planning floor and 250 cfs preferred reference
USGS provides direct discharge telemetry below Taylor Park Reservoir. American Whitewater trip reports document runs around 200 cfs and a local report describes 250 cfs as a very nice day; no high-water ceiling is inferred.
- Endpoint accessAmerican Whitewater access above Todd’s Slot to access below Todd’s Slot
The American Whitewater access records provide exact endpoint coordinates and named locations. Reconfirm current parking, landing, road, signage, and permission conditions before launching.
- Safety boundaryTodd’s Slot Class IV hazards; mandatory exit below the feature; no downstream private-property extension
American Whitewater and current reports identify Todd’s Slot, wood, cold water, private banks, and downstream obstacles. This route intentionally exits below the feature.
- Camping and logisticsNearby developed campground/basecamp only; no on-route camping
Use a separately verified Forest Service campground or lawful lodging and follow current corridor restrictions; no riverside, bridge, or private-bank camping is included.
- Rights-clean image decisionApproved Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 3.0 Taylor River corridor image
Reuse the Commons Taylor River image as corridor context, not as a claim that it depicts Todd’s Slot or either endpoint; retain author and CC BY-SA attribution.
- Duplicate separationDistinct downstream Taylor Canyon 09109000 feature, separate from the upper Taylor Park 09107000 CR 748-to-Pieplant route
This bounded Todd’s Slot feature uses the below-reservoir gauge and a different access pair; it stops before the lower Taylor private-property and Almont corridor.
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 Taylor River Canyon reach
- American Whitewater access above Todd’s Slot
- American Whitewater access below Todd’s Slot
- USGS 09109000 monitoring location
- USGS 09109000 current conditions
- Taylor River flow and access guide
- GMUG Taylor River camping order
- GMUG camping guidance
- Colorado boating and PFD guidance
- Wikimedia Commons Taylor River image
Paddler reports
Recent notes from paddlers
A few quick notes from people who were on this route recently.
Reports
Paddler reports
See recent photos and notes from people on the route.
Share your trip
Keep exploring
More routes to check next
Compare another stretch on this river, or jump to nearby options before you pick a plan.
More in Colorado
All 39 routesMore on Taylor River
All 3Nearby routes by distance
Quick answers
Taylor River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Taylor River?
Paddle Today watches Taylor River below Taylor Park Reservoir, CO and uses 200 cfs as the conservative low-water floor for this route. The ideal range still needs more paddler reports.
Where does this Taylor River route start and end?
This route starts at Put-in above Todd’s Slot and ends at Take-out below Todd’s Slot, about Approximately 0.54 river miles from above Todd’s Slot to below Todd’s Slot on the water.
Is this Taylor River route good 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.
Flag a change
See something outdated?
Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.