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Colorado | Yampa River State Park / Routt County
Yampa RiverYampa River State Park Headquarters to State Wildlife Area (Dorsey)
A public 7-mile Yampa River section from the Yampa River State Park Headquarters ramp to the State Wildlife Area access near Dorsey, with a direct same-river USGS gauge at the downstream end.
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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 distinct 7-mile Yampa State Park section between the Headquarters and Dorsey ramps with direct 09244490 telemetry, a small public take-out, and explicit State Wildlife Area and private-property controls.
Access map
Put-in
Yampa River State Park Headquarters boat rampHeadquarters is a developed park ramp with campground services; confirm the public landing, pass, and current closure before launching.
Take-out
State Wildlife Area (Dorsey) boat rampDorsey is a small gravel lot near the railroad building. The stored coordinate is an access-area anchor from the State Wildlife Area map location; verify the current wetted-edge landing and parking signs.
Road shuttle
Access notes and hazards
Access caveats
- Headquarters is a developed park ramp with campground services; confirm the public landing, pass, and current closure before launching.
- Dorsey is a small gravel lot near the railroad building. The stored coordinate is an access-area anchor from the State Wildlife Area map location; verify the current wetted-edge landing and parking signs.
- If low water, high water, private-bank restrictions, license rules, or a closed ramp prevent a lawful and safe take-out, do not launch.
Watch for
- USGS 09244490 below 500 cfs, above 13,000 cfs, rapidly changing, unavailable, or not representative of the exact reach
- flow-dependent Class II–V features, wood, bridges, cold water, wind, and storm-driven changes
- private banks, Dorsey parking capacity, SWA license rules, CPW passes, and current ramp closures
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 corridorYampa River State Park Headquarters to State Wildlife Area (Dorsey); 7 miles; CPW Sites 2–3
CPW’s current river-site page and river-sections page name the two ramps, the seven-mile distance, boat-launch status, and flow-dependent Class I–V character.
- Direct telemetry with planning-only flow postureUSGS 09244490 at the downstream Dorsey reach; CPW seasonal context, no station-certified recreational band
The gauge is located at the downstream end near Dorsey. CPW’s seasonal ranges and warning that low water can make sections impassable are retained as planning context, so the route is excluded from scoring.
- Water access coordinatesHeadquarters 40.4907151, -107.3126886; Dorsey 40.5175631, -107.3990594
The Headquarters anchor comes from the current CPW directions map; the Dorsey anchor comes from the current CPW map location and a Water Quality Portal boat-launch record. Both are access-area anchors rather than surveyed wetted-edge points.
- Safety and ownership boundaryLimited public land, State Wildlife Area license rule, small gravel take-out, and flow-dependent Class I–V
CPW requires users to know land ownership, warns that conditions can make sections impassable, and identifies the Dorsey access capacity and license requirement. Keep the route bounded at Sites 2 and 3.
- Camping and logisticsHeadquarters campground by reservation; no Dorsey overnight claim; endpoint campground classification
The Headquarters campground provides the lawful developed basecamp. This route does not infer riverside camping at Dorsey from the existence of a boat ramp.
- Duplicate separationDistinct CPW Site 2–3 Yampa section; separate from Pump Station–Headquarters and all existing Colorado routes
The endpoints and seven-mile distance are explicitly separated from the upstream 13-mile route; shared Headquarters access is intentional and represents the CPW section boundary rather than a duplicate record.
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
- Water Quality Portal Dorsey boat-launch coordinate
- 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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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 Yampa River State Park Headquarters to State Wildlife Area (Dorsey) 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 Yampa River State Park Headquarters to State Wildlife Area (Dorsey) route on the Yampa River start and end?
This route starts at Yampa River State Park Headquarters boat ramp and ends at State Wildlife Area (Dorsey) boat ramp, 7 river miles on the water.
Is the Yampa River State Park Headquarters to State Wildlife Area (Dorsey) 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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