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Colorado | Upper Colorado River / Kremmling Field Office

Colorado RiverPumphouse Recreation Area to State Bridge Recreation Site

A guarded approximately 15-mile Upper Colorado River reach from BLM’s Pumphouse Recreation Area to State Bridge Recreation Site. American Whitewater rates the named reach Class III; BLM confirms developed public endpoints and heavy use.

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Plan this route

DistanceApproximately 15 river miles
DifficultyHard
Typical timeVariable
ShuttleCar shuttle
The Upper Colorado River flows through a scenic recreation corridor in Colorado.
Route photoUpper Colorado River recreation corridor near the Pumphouse-to-State-Bridge reachPhoto by Bob Wick / Bureau of Land Management via Wikimedia Commons

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Route overview

Trip details

Access rules, camping, seasonal conditions and trip length.

Distance, difficulty, rules and camping
On-water distanceApproximately 15 river milesPumphouse Recreation Area to State Bridge Recreation Site
DifficultyhardAmerican Whitewater rates this named reach Class III. BLM describes calm water transitioning to Class III rapids, so the product must preserve experienced-paddler and rescue-readiness framing.
ShuttleCar shuttleStage the take-out at State Bridge, then drive Trough Road / Colorado River Headwaters Scenic Byway to Pumphouse. Confirm road, parking, fee, access, and commercial-use conditions before launch.
PermitsCheck posted rulesBLM day-use fees apply at Pumphouse and State Bridge. Follow current federal recreation-site rules, posted access requirements, and any commercial/private-boater restrictions.
CampingOptions nearbyDesignated camping is available at Pumphouse only; State Bridge is day use only. Camping is not assumed as part of the route; reserve or confirm a lawful BLM campsite separately and never camp outside designated sites.
SeasonMay-OctRun only after same-day gauge, trend, weather, road, access, and local river checks. Snowmelt, storms, cold water, and commercial traffic can change conditions quickly.

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 public BLM-to-BLM Upper Colorado reach with a 900 cfs minimum-only check at USGS 09058000, Class III hazards, designated Pumphouse camping, and a day-use State Bridge take-out.

Access map

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Start

Put-in

BLM Pumphouse Recreation Area Boat Ramp
Open mapDirections to put-in

Use only the BLM Pumphouse and State Bridge sites as endpoints. Do not substitute private Rancho Del Rio access or an unmarked riverbank.

Finish

Take-out

BLM State Bridge Recreation Site boat launch
Open mapDirections to take-out

Pumphouse has multiple ramps and heavy use; State Bridge has paved and small-craft launches. Confirm the suitable launch and parking conditions on the day of travel.

Road shuttle

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Access notes and hazards

Access caveats

  • Use only the BLM Pumphouse and State Bridge sites as endpoints. Do not substitute private Rancho Del Rio access or an unmarked riverbank.
  • Pumphouse has multiple ramps and heavy use; State Bridge has paved and small-craft launches. Confirm the suitable launch and parking conditions on the day of travel.
  • Pumphouse camping requires reservation/fee compliance, while State Bridge is day-use only. Keep camping and shuttle plans separate from the river-access decision.
  • The 900 cfs value is a conservative low-acceptable planning floor, not a runnable guarantee or upper limit. Keep the route unavailable below that threshold and require current scouting and rescue readiness.

Watch for

  • USGS 09058000 below 900 cfs, rapidly rising, unavailable, or inconsistent with the local river visual
  • Eye of the Needle, Red Gorge, Yarmony, Boneyard, strainers, cold water, and State Bridge remnants
  • Commercial traffic, limited cell service, fee/parking or road closures, private-bank temptation, and a failed daylight or rescue plan

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Conditions

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Gauge detail

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Photos

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The Upper Colorado River flows through a scenic recreation corridor in Colorado.
Upper Colorado River recreation corridor near the Pumphouse-to-State-Bridge reachPhoto by Bob Wick / Bureau of Land Management via Wikimedia Commons
Wikimedia Commons: CC BY 2.0

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
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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 siteColorado River near Kremmling, CO
DischargeChecking
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24h trendChecking
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Rain last 24hChecking
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Air tempChecking
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Preferred rangeNeeds paddler reports
Known low-water floor900 cfs
High thresholdWater-level guidance unavailable
Evidence strength behind the rangeOfficial and local sources
Gauge observedChecking
Paddle Today updatedChecking
Main source behind this scorePumphouse to State Bridge low-acceptable flow: 900 cfs at USGS 09058000
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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 corridorUpper Colorado River Pumphouse to State Bridge; approximately 15 miles; Class III

    BLM names the Pumphouse-to-State-Bridge public-use segment, and American Whitewater independently maps the exact reach as a 15-mile Class III run.

    Source

  • Direct live gauge and flow gateUSGS 09058000; 900 cfs minimum-only

    USGS provides direct Colorado River near Kremmling telemetry. The CWCB/AW flow evidence reproduces 900 cfs as the low-acceptable Pumphouse-to-State-Bridge flow; the route remains unavailable below that floor and does not claim runnable conditions above it.

    Source

  • Lawful endpoint accessBLM Pumphouse Recreation Area to BLM State Bridge Recreation Site

    Both endpoints are federal recreation sites with documented boat launches, parking, and visitor facilities. Pumphouse includes designated campsites; State Bridge is day use only.

    Source

  • Safety boundaryExperienced Class III only; PFD/cold-water/rescue readiness; no runnable claim

    American Whitewater rates the reach Class III and names rapids; BLM warns of dangerous rapids, heavy use, and site-specific access conditions. Scout and portage only from legal locations.

    Source

  • Camping and feesDesignated Pumphouse camping; State Bridge day use only; federal fees

    BLM requires camping and day-use fee compliance at the federal sites. No dispersed or private-bank camping is implied.

    Source

  • Duplicate separationDistinct Upper Colorado reach from Pumphouse to State Bridge

    This Colorado route is separate from the existing Utah Colorado River Hittle Bottom-to-Takeout Beach route and all Texas Colorado River routes by state, endpoints, gauge, and river reach. It also ends at State Bridge rather than continuing to the downstream State Bridge-to-Catamount reach.

    Source

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Keep exploring

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Colorado route guideBrowse every tracked Colorado route.Upper Colorado River / Kremmling Field OfficeJump to routes in this region.

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All 6
Pumphouse Recreation Area to Radium Recreation AreaUpper Colorado River / Colorado River Valley and Kremmling Field OfficesHard · 4.5 river milesRadium Recreation Area to Rancho Del RioUpper Colorado River / Colorado River Valley and Kremmling Field OfficesHard · 6.5 river milesState Bridge Recreation Site to Catamount Bridge Boat LaunchUpper Colorado River / Kremmling Field OfficeModerate · Approximately 16 river milesState Bridge Recreation Site to Two Bridges River AccessUpper Colorado River / Colorado River Valley and Kremmling Field OfficesModerate · 4.7 river miles

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Eagle RiverEdwards Water Treatment Plant to Chambers Park / Eagle Whitewater Park (Lower Eagle) · about 24 straight-line mi awayHard · Approximately 15.8 river milesEagle RiverRiverbend bus stop to Edwards Water Treatment Plant (Upper Eagle) · about 26 straight-line mi awayHard · Approximately 9 river miles for planning (American Whitewater lists 8 miles; verified endpoints are approximately 9.0 straight-line miles apart)Cross CreekAbove Snap to Cross Creek confluence near Minturn · about 30 straight-line mi awayHard · Approximately 0.68 river milesEagle RiverFR 707 to Forest Service Visitor Center (Minturn Town Run) · about 30 straight-line mi awayHard · Approximately 4.6 river miles

Quick answers

Colorado River paddling FAQ

What water level is best for the Pumphouse Recreation Area to State Bridge Recreation Site 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 State Bridge Recreation Site route on the Colorado River start and end?

This route starts at BLM Pumphouse Recreation Area Boat Ramp and ends at BLM State Bridge Recreation Site boat launch, Approximately 15 river miles on the water.

Is the Pumphouse Recreation Area to State Bridge Recreation Site 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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