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Colorado | Upper Colorado River / Colorado River Valley and Kremmling Field Offices
Colorado RiverPumphouse Recreation Area to Radium Recreation Area
A public 4.5 river miles Upper Colorado River section between documented river-access sites, with current BLM endpoint facilities and same-river USGS telemetry.
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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 4.5-mile Pumphouse-to-Radium Class II–III section with direct 09058000 telemetry and designated BLM endpoint camping.
Access map
Put-in
BLM Pumphouse Recreation Area Boat RampUse only the BLM Pumphouse and Radium sites; Pumphouse is heavily used and Radium has two developed ramps.
Take-out
BLM Radium Recreation Area boat rampConfirm the marked launch, parking, fee, and waterline at both sites before unloading.
Road shuttle
Access notes and hazards
Access caveats
- Use only the BLM Pumphouse and Radium sites; Pumphouse is heavily used and Radium has two developed ramps.
- Confirm the marked launch, parking, fee, and waterline at both sites before unloading.
- The 900 cfs value is a conservative planning floor, not a runnable guarantee; exit at Radium before the separate downstream reach.
Watch for
- USGS 09058000 below 900 cfs, rapidly rising, unavailable, or inconsistent with local conditions
- Eye of the Needle, larger holes above roughly 4,000 cfs, cold water, wood/strainers, and limited recovery
- BLM closures, fees, parking, road changes, commercial traffic, and private-bank temptation
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 Kremmling, 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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Short-route forecast
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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 Kremmling, 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 |
| Preferred range | Needs paddler reports |
| Known low-water floor | 900 cfs |
| High threshold | Water-level guidance unavailable |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Official and local sources |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | Pumphouse section low-acceptable planning floor: 900 cfs at USGS 09058000 |
| 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 public corridorPumphouse Recreation Area to Radium Recreation Area; 4.5 river miles
The current regional section guide identifies this as a distinct popular Upper Colorado section between named accesses.
- Direct live gauge and flow gateColorado River near Kremmling, CO; 900 cfs minimum
USGS telemetry is on the same Upper Colorado River. Flow values are conservative planning cues, not a guarantee of safe runnable conditions.
- Lawful water accessBLM Pumphouse Recreation Area Boat Ramp to BLM Radium Recreation Area boat ramp
BLM identifies Pumphouse as the most heavily used access in the Kremmling–State Bridge corridor and Radium as a developed two-ramp river-access/camping area.
- Safety boundaryhard moving-water section; PFD, cold-water, rescue, weather, and wood checks required
Current BLM guidance warns of dangerous rapids and changing access/parking conditions on the Upper Colorado corridor.
- Camping and logisticsDesignated BLM camping is available at Pumphouse and Radium by reservation/fee; both endpoints have developed river access. Do not infer on-river or private-bank camping.
Only designated or explicitly fee-based camping is included; no private-bank or dispersed camping is inferred.
- Duplicate separationDistinct endpoint pair and river-mile section within the Upper Colorado corridor
This record is a shorter named section for trip planning and discovery; it preserves the existing macro-reach records and their endpoint boundaries.
Verify it yourselfCheck the source links
Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
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 Pumphouse Recreation Area to Radium Recreation Area route on the Colorado River?
Paddle Today watches Colorado River near Kremmling, CO and uses 900 cfs as the conservative low-water floor for this route. The ideal range still needs more paddler reports.
Where does the Pumphouse Recreation Area to Radium Recreation Area route on the Colorado River start and end?
This route starts at BLM Pumphouse Recreation Area Boat Ramp and ends at BLM Radium Recreation Area boat ramp, 4.5 river miles on the water.
Is the Pumphouse Recreation Area to Radium Recreation Area 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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