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Colorado | Yampa River State Park / Routt County
Yampa RiverHayden Pump Station to Yampa River State Park Headquarters
A public 13-mile Yampa River section from the developed Hayden Pump Station launch to the Yampa River State Park Headquarters ramp, with a named diversion and limited public land along the corridor.
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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 13-mile Yampa section between two CPW-developed ramps with a direct downstream USGS check, a named diversion, and explicit private-property and low-water controls.
Access map
Put-in
Hayden Pump Station boat rampHayden Pump Station is beside a utility intake; do not enter or use the intake property. Confirm the current public ramp and parking boundary before unloading.
Take-out
Yampa River State Park Headquarters boat rampHeadquarters is the named public take-out and campground access. Confirm the river landing, pass requirements, and any closure before committing upstream.
Road shuttle
Access notes and hazards
Access caveats
- Hayden Pump Station is beside a utility intake; do not enter or use the intake property. Confirm the current public ramp and parking boundary before unloading.
- Headquarters is the named public take-out and campground access. Confirm the river landing, pass requirements, and any closure before committing upstream.
- If low water makes the channel impassable, the diversion is unsafe, or either ramp is closed or inconsistent with current signs, treat the route as unavailable.
Watch for
- USGS 09244490 below 500 cfs, above 13,000 cfs, rapidly changing, unavailable, or not representative of the launch reach
- the diversion immediately upstream of Headquarters, changing Class II–V features, wood, bridges, cold water, and storms
- private banks, utility intake property, limited egress, CPW closures, vehicle passes, and ANS self-inspection rules
Plan this paddle
Choose your trip times
No account needed. Check the selected access points above, then choose both dates and times. For an overnight paddle, set take-out to the following date.
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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
Yampa River above Elkhead Creek near Hayden, 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
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 corridorHayden Pump Station to Yampa River State Park Headquarters; 13 miles; CPW Sites 1–2
CPW’s current river-site page and river-sections page name both ramps, the 13-mile distance, boat-launch status, and flow-dependent Class I–V character.
- Direct telemetry with planning-only flow postureUSGS 09244490 at Yampa River above Elkhead Creek near Hayden; seasonal CPW context, no station-certified recreational band
The gauge is direct same-river telemetry near the downstream end. CPW’s 500–1,000 cfs spring and 5,000–13,000 cfs May–June averages are retained as context only, so the route stays excluded from scoring.
- Water access coordinatesPump Station 40.4879929, -107.1606119; Headquarters 40.4907151, -107.3126886
The pump-station anchor comes from the current CPW directions map link; the Headquarters anchor comes from the current CPW directions map and park GPS. Both are access-area anchors rather than surveyed wetted-edge points.
- Safety and ownership boundaryNamed diversion before Headquarters; limited public land; utility intake and private banks; flow-dependent Class I–V
CPW requires users to know land ownership, warns of the diversion and utility intake, and directs boaters to check current streamflows and closures. Keep the route bounded at the two named public ramps.
- Camping and logisticsHeadquarters campground by reservation; no pump-station overnight camping; no on-route camping claim
CPW identifies campground services at Headquarters and explicitly prohibits overnight camping at Site 1. The route uses a nearby-basecamp classification only.
- Duplicate separationDistinct CPW Site 1–2 Yampa section; separate from Headquarters–Dorsey and all existing Colorado routes
The endpoints, 13-mile distance, direct gauge context, and named diversion make this a distinct Yampa reach. It is deliberately bounded before the separate 7-mile Headquarters-to-Dorsey section.
Verify it yourselfCheck the source links
Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
- CPW Hayden Pump Station, Headquarters, and State Wildlife Area
- CPW Yampa River sections and flow guidance
- CPW Yampa River brochure and map
- Colorado State Parks Yampa boating guidance
- Yampa River State Park directions and GPS
- USGS 09244490 monitoring location
- USGS 09244490 current conditions
- Friends of the Yampa Hayden reach context
- Yampa River State Park boat-ramp 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.
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Keep exploring
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Compare another stretch on this river, or explore different rivers within 75 straight-line miles.
Quick answers
Yampa River paddling FAQ
What water level is best for the Hayden Pump Station to Yampa River State Park Headquarters route on the Yampa 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 Hayden Pump Station to Yampa River State Park Headquarters route on the Yampa River start and end?
This route starts at Hayden Pump Station boat ramp and ends at Yampa River State Park Headquarters boat ramp, 13 river miles on the water.
Is the Hayden Pump Station to Yampa River State Park Headquarters route on the Yampa River suitable for beginners?
This is listed as a moderate 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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