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Colorado | Upper Colorado River / Kremmling Field Office
Colorado RiverState Bridge Recreation Site to Catamount Bridge Boat Launch
A guarded approximately 16-mile Upper Colorado River reach from the public State Bridge access to BLM’s Catamount Bridge Boat Launch. The named corridor is Class II to II+ with an expert-only downstream continuation beyond Catamount; use the documented take-out and do not drift into the separate Burns Canyon reach.
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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 BLM-to-BLM Upper Colorado reach with direct Catamount telemetry, a conservative 700–9,000 cfs planning band, Class II/II+ moving water, designated Catamount camping, and a mandatory Catamount take-out before the harder downstream reach.
Access map
Put-in
BLM State Bridge Recreation Site boat launchUse only State Bridge Recreation Site and Catamount Bridge Boat Launch as endpoints; do not substitute private ranch, commercial, or unmarked riverbank access.
Take-out
BLM Catamount Bridge Boat LaunchState Bridge has paved and small-craft launches; Catamount has a concrete ramp but limited parking during the May–September day-use season. Confirm suitable launch and parking conditions on the day of travel.
Road shuttle
Access notes and hazards
Access caveats
- Use only State Bridge Recreation Site and Catamount Bridge Boat Launch as endpoints; do not substitute private ranch, commercial, or unmarked riverbank access.
- State Bridge has paved and small-craft launches; Catamount has a concrete ramp but limited parking during the May–September day-use season. Confirm suitable launch and parking conditions on the day of travel.
- Catamount camping is designated-site camping; confirm availability and current BLM limits before relying on it.
Watch for
- USGS 09060799 below 700 cfs, above 9,000 cfs, rapidly rising, unavailable, or inconsistent with local conditions
- moving current, cold water, strainers/wood, bridge and commercial-traffic hazards, and failure to stop at Catamount
- Catamount parking saturation, road/access changes, weather or debris, private-bank temptation, and camping-rule violations
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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 at Catamount Bridge, 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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Score & sources
Why this score
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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.
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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 at Catamount Bridge, CO |
| Discharge | Checking |
| Gauge height | Checking |
| 24h trend | Checking |
| 24h change | Checking |
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| Rain last 24h | Checking |
| Rain last 72h | Checking |
| Air temp | Checking |
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| Preferred range | 1,200 cfs to 7,000 cfs |
| Low threshold | 700 cfs |
| High threshold | 9,000 cfs |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Official and local sources |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | State Bridge to Catamount recommended 700–9,000 cfs band; 1,200–7,000 cfs optimal |
| Gauge source | Checking |
| Weather source | Checking |
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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 corridorState Bridge to Catamount; approximately 16 miles; Class II/II+
American Whitewater lists the State Bridge-to-Catamount section, the Upper Colorado guide documents the State Bridge/Two Bridges/Catamount sequence, and a current route guide describes the corridor as a mellow Class I–II float with BLM pullouts.
- Direct live gauge and flow gateUSGS 09060799; 700–9,000 cfs bounds; 1,200–7,000 cfs preferred band
USGS provides direct Catamount Bridge discharge and gage-height telemetry. BoaterBeta ties the 700/1,200–7,000/9,000 cfs planning cues to this gauge; the product must present them as conservative mixed-source guidance rather than a safety guarantee.
- Lawful endpoint accessBLM State Bridge Recreation Site to BLM Catamount Bridge Boat Launch
BLM documents a public launch at State Bridge and a concrete ramp, parking context, toilets, and campsites at Catamount. The endpoints are distinct from the existing Pumphouse-to-State-Bridge route.
- Safety boundaryMoving Class II/II+ water; cold-water/PFD/rescue readiness; mandatory Catamount take-out
Keep this route separate from the downstream Catamount-to-Dotsero/Burns Canyon reach, which has harder Class II–IV context. Current scouting, debris review, and a conservative stop at Catamount are required.
- Camping and logisticsDesignated Catamount endpoint camping; State Bridge and Catamount access/parking rules apply
The current BLM Catamount page lists five campsites and seasonal parking/visitor limits. No dispersed, sandbar, or private-bank camping is inferred.
- Duplicate separationDistinct downstream State Bridge-to-Catamount reach
This route begins at the existing Pumphouse-to-State-Bridge take-out and ends at Catamount, uses direct USGS 09060799, and is explicitly bounded before the separate Catamount-to-Dotsero/Burns Canyon reach.
Verify it yourselfCheck the source links
Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
- BLM State Bridge Recreation Site
- BLM Catamount Bridge Boat Launch
- BLM Upper Colorado River SRMA business plan
- American Whitewater State Bridge River Access
- BoaterBeta State Bridge to Catamount flow guidance
- Upper Colorado River Guide
- USGS 09060799 monitoring location
- USGS 09060799 current conditions
- Wikimedia Commons CC BY 2.0 Upper Colorado image
Paddler reports
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Quick answers
Colorado River paddling FAQ
What water level is best for the State Bridge Recreation Site to Catamount Bridge Boat Launch route on the Colorado River?
Paddle Today watches Colorado River at Catamount Bridge, CO and treats 1,200 cfs to 7,000 cfs as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.
Where does the State Bridge Recreation Site to Catamount Bridge Boat Launch route on the Colorado River start and end?
This route starts at BLM State Bridge Recreation Site boat launch and ends at BLM Catamount Bridge Boat Launch, Approximately 16 river miles on the water.
Is the State Bridge Recreation Site to Catamount Bridge Boat Launch route on the Colorado 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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