State routes
Colorado Rivers
Compare 39 tracked Colorado paddle routes with route links, water-level context, difficulty, and access planning details.
Paddle Today only lists routes when the gauge, threshold, and source support are defensible enough for live route scoring.
Loading supported rivers and route reaches.
Coverage snapshot
Explore supported Colorado rivers
Scan the highlighted river network from above, then use the route guides and access markers to find a supported reach.
39 route markers9 multi-route rivers1 beginner routes
Supported riverSelected reach80Paddle · Strong60Tradeoffs40Skip today
Gunnison River / Gunnison County 2Taylor Canyon / Gunnison County 2Upper Colorado River / Kremmling Field Office 2Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area / Royal Gorge approach 1Aspen / North Star Nature Preserve 1Bighorn Sheep Canyon / Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area 1Browns Canyon / Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area 1Clear Creek / Golden 1
Live conditions
Best Colorado routes today
Loading current scores, gauge reads, and weather signals.
--Live
Aspen / North Star Nature Preserve
View routeRoaring Fork River
South Gate to North Star Pedestrian Bridge
Easy | Approximately 1.3 river miles | Allow a daylight window for unloading, a gentle float, wildlife-aware passage, designated-beach rules, cold-water preparation, and active loading at the take-out.--Live
Bighorn Sheep Canyon / Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area
View routeArkansas River
Rincon to Pinnacle Rock
Moderate | Approximately 19.5 river miles | Plan a full daylight window, typically 6–9 hours, for a long moving-water reach, breaks, scouting, and shuttle timing.--Live
Salida / Bighorn Sheep Canyon / Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area
View routeArkansas River
Salida Whitewater Park to Rincon
Moderate | Approximately 10 river miles | Plan 4–6 daylight hours for moving-water scouting, breaks, cold-water preparation, and shuttle timing.--Live
Salida / Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area
View routeArkansas River
Stone Bridge to Salida Whitewater Park (Salida Town Run)
Moderate | Approximately 9.5 river miles to the Riverside Park / F Street exit | Plan a full daylight window for moving-water scouting, the Salida feature line, breaks, cold-water preparation, and shuttle timing.This panel hydrates from live Paddle Today scores. The route links above remain useful when JavaScript or the score API is unavailable.
Best route options
Good starting points in Colorado
Ranked from route metadata, source support, difficulty, and logistics.
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Colorado routeAspen / North Star Nature PreserveRoaring Fork RiverSouth Gate to North Star Pedestrian BridgeA guarded South Gate-to-North Star Pedestrian Bridge float with direct 09073400 telemetry, an official 20 cfs mandatory-closure floor, 60–600 cfs normal...
Route facts
Easy | Approximately 1.3 river miles | Allow a daylight window for unloading, a gentle float, wildlife-aware passage, designated-beach rules, cold-water preparation, and active loading at the take-out.official source support
Colorado routeBighorn Sheep Canyon / Arkansas Headwaters Recreation AreaArkansas RiverRincon to Pinnacle RockA long public Rincon-to-Pinnacle Rock reach with direct Parkdale telemetry, official corridor flow guidance, multiple named AHRA access sites, documente...
Route facts
Moderate | Approximately 19.5 river miles | Plan a full daylight window, typically 6–9 hours, for a long moving-water reach, breaks, scouting, and shuttle timing.official source support
Colorado routeSalida / Bighorn Sheep Canyon / Arkansas Headwaters Recreation AreaArkansas RiverSalida Whitewater Park to RinconA public Salida-to-Rincon day run with direct 07091200 telemetry, official corridor flow guidance, named CPW and city endpoints, Class II–III hazards, a...
Route facts
Moderate | Approximately 10 river miles | Plan 4–6 daylight hours for moving-water scouting, breaks, cold-water preparation, and shuttle timing.official source support
Colorado routeSalida / Arkansas Headwaters Recreation AreaArkansas RiverStone Bridge to Salida Whitewater Park (Salida Town Run)A public Stone Bridge-to-Salida town run with direct 07091200 telemetry, corridor-linked flow planning, named AHRA and city access, a mandatory Salida e...
Route facts
Moderate | Approximately 9.5 river miles to the Riverside Park / F Street exit | Plan a full daylight window for moving-water scouting, the Salida feature line, breaks, cold-water preparation, and shuttle timing.official source support
Colorado routeArkansas Headwaters Recreation Area / Royal Gorge approachArkansas RiverPinnacle Rock to Parkdale Recreation SiteA guarded public Class III Pinnacle Rock-to-Parkdale reach with direct Parkdale telemetry, official corridor flow guidance, designated endpoints, and a...
Route facts
Hard | Approximately 17.2 river miles | Plan a full daylight window, typically 5–8 hours, for sustained Class III water, scouting, breaks, and shuttle timing.official source support
Colorado routeUpper Arkansas River / Arkansas Headwaters Recreation AreaArkansas RiverGranite Boat Chute to Buena Vista Whitewater ParkAdvanced Class III-V whitewater corridor with managed public access, CPW station-tied flow advisories, optional AHRA camping, and a required portage/sco...
Route facts
Hard | Approximately 18 river miles; verify the selected AHRA segment distance against the current park map | Plan a full daylight window with scouting, portage time, breaks, and shuttle timing; no fixed trip time is promised.official source support
Beginner routes
Colorado beginner routes
These routes are tagged easy in the route data. Today's water can still change the call.
Weekend planning
Routes with practical logistics
Use the live weekend board for score-based recommendations.
Arkansas RiverGranite Boat Chute to Buena Vista Whitewater ParkApproximately 18 river miles; verify the selected AHRA segment distance against the current park map | Plan a full daylight window with scouting, portage time, breaks, and shuttle timing; no fixed trip time is promised.Arkansas RiverParkdale Recreation Site to Centennial Park (Royal Gorge)Approximately 10.3 river miles | Plan a full daylight window for continuous Class IV–V scouting, rescue readiness, breaks, and shuttle timing.Arkansas RiverPillar Park / Chapa Place to Union Avenue (Pueblo Whitewater Park)Approximately 0.5 river miles | Allow a daylight window for parking, feature inspection, scouting, repeated laps, and a conservative exit at Union Avenue.Arkansas RiverPinnacle Rock to Parkdale Recreation SiteApproximately 17.2 river miles | Plan a full daylight window, typically 5–8 hours, for sustained Class III water, scouting, breaks, and shuttle timing.Arkansas RiverRincon to Pinnacle RockApproximately 19.5 river miles | Plan a full daylight window, typically 6–9 hours, for a long moving-water reach, breaks, scouting, and shuttle timing.Arkansas RiverSalida Whitewater Park to RinconApproximately 10 river miles | Plan 4–6 daylight hours for moving-water scouting, breaks, cold-water preparation, and shuttle timing.
Browse coverage
Rivers and regions
Compact directory links for crawlers and planners.
By river
Arkansas River8
Arkansas River hubFisherman's Bridge to Stone Bridge (Browns Canyon)Granite Boat Chute to Buena Vista Whitewater ParkParkdale Recreation Site to Centennial Park (Royal Gorge)Pillar Park / Chapa Place to Union Avenue (Pueblo Whitewater Park)Pinnacle Rock to Parkdale Recreation SiteRincon to Pinnacle RockSalida Whitewater Park to RinconStone Bridge to Salida Whitewater Park (Salida Town Run)
Colorado River5
Eagle River5
Eagle River hubCamp Hale historical-site access to Red Cliff / Gilman Gorge put-inEdwards Water Treatment Plant to Chambers Park / Eagle Whitewater Park (Lower Eagle)FR 707 to Forest Service Visitor Center (Minturn Town Run)Highway 24 roadside access to 1/4 mile above the Eagle River confluenceRiverbend bus stop to Edwards Water Treatment Plant (Upper Eagle)
Roaring Fork River5
Taylor River3
Clear Creek2
Colorado River2
San Miguel River2
Cache la Poudre River1
Crystal River1
East River1
Uncompahgre River1
By region
Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area / Royal Gorge approach1
Aspen / North Star Nature Preserve1
Bighorn Sheep Canyon / Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area1
Browns Canyon / Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area1
Clear Creek / Golden1
Clear Creek Canyon / Clear Creek County1
Crystal River Valley / Marble to Redstone1
De Beque Canyon / Cameo1
Eagle River / Avon–Edwards1
East River / Gunnison County1
Fort Collins / Cache la Poudre1
Glenwood Canyon / Lower Colorado River1
Grand Valley / Clifton to Grand Junction1
Grand Valley / Palisade to Clifton1
Gunnison River / Gunnison County2
Homestake Valley / Red Cliff1
Lower Colorado River / Glenwood Springs1
Lower Eagle River / Edwards–Eagle1
Pueblo / Arkansas River1
Roaring Fork Gorge / Aspen to Woody Creek1
Roaring Fork Valley / Basalt to Carbondale1
Roaring Fork Valley / Carbondale to Glenwood Springs1
Royal Gorge / Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area1
Salida / Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area1
Salida / Bighorn Sheep Canyon / Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area1
San Miguel River / Norwood1
San Miguel River / Placerville1
Taylor Canyon / Gunnison County2
Taylor Park / Gunnison County1
Uncompahgre River / Ridgway1
Upper Arkansas River / Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area1
Upper Colorado River / Kremmling Field Office2
Upper Eagle River / Camp Hale–Red Cliff1
Upper Eagle River / Holy Cross Wilderness1
Upper Eagle River / Minturn1
Upper Roaring Fork / Aspen1
Need broader planning context?
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Every Colorado route on Paddle Today
39 server-rendered route links.
Showing all 39 routes.
Arkansas RiverFisherman's Bridge to Stone Bridge (Browns Canyon)Browns Canyon / Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area | HardArkansas RiverGranite Boat Chute to Buena Vista Whitewater ParkUpper Arkansas River / Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area | HardArkansas RiverParkdale Recreation Site to Centennial Park (Royal Gorge)Royal Gorge / Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area | HardArkansas RiverPillar Park / Chapa Place to Union Avenue (Pueblo Whitewater Park)Pueblo / Arkansas River | HardArkansas RiverPinnacle Rock to Parkdale Recreation SiteArkansas Headwaters Recreation Area / Royal Gorge approach | HardArkansas RiverRincon to Pinnacle RockBighorn Sheep Canyon / Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area | ModerateArkansas RiverSalida Whitewater Park to RinconSalida / Bighorn Sheep Canyon / Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area | ModerateArkansas RiverStone Bridge to Salida Whitewater Park (Salida Town Run)Salida / Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area | ModerateCache la Poudre RiverShields Street River Access to Legacy Park BridgeFort Collins / Cache la Poudre | ModerateClear CreekGolden Whitewater Park to Vanover ParkClear Creek / Golden | ModerateClear CreekKermit's Access to County Line / Highway 119Clear Creek Canyon / Clear Creek County | HardColorado RiverBeavertail Mountain cutoff to Roller Dam take-outDe Beque Canyon / Cameo | HardColorado RiverCorn Lake State Park to Redlands Parkway Boat RampGrand Valley / Clifton to Grand Junction | ModerateColorado RiverGrizzly Creek Boat Ramp to Two Rivers ParkGlenwood Canyon / Lower Colorado River | HardColorado RiverPumphouse Recreation Area to State Bridge Recreation SiteUpper Colorado River / Kremmling Field Office | HardColorado RiverRiverbend Park (Harky's Launch) to Corn Lake State ParkGrand Valley / Palisade to Clifton | ModerateColorado RiverState Bridge Recreation Site to Catamount Bridge Boat LaunchUpper Colorado River / Kremmling Field Office | ModerateColorado RiverTwo Rivers Park to South Canyon River AccessLower Colorado River / Glenwood Springs | HardCross CreekAbove Snap to Cross Creek confluence near MinturnUpper Eagle River / Holy Cross Wilderness | HardCrystal RiverYule Quarry Bridge near Marble to Redstone take-outCrystal River Valley / Marble to Redstone | HardEagle RiverCamp Hale historical-site access to Red Cliff / Gilman Gorge put-inUpper Eagle River / Camp Hale–Red Cliff | HardEagle RiverEdwards Water Treatment Plant to Chambers Park / Eagle Whitewater Park (Lower Eagle)Lower Eagle River / Edwards–Eagle | HardEagle RiverFR 707 to Forest Service Visitor Center (Minturn Town Run)Upper Eagle River / Minturn | HardEagle RiverRiverbend bus stop to Edwards Water Treatment Plant (Upper Eagle)Eagle River / Avon–Edwards | HardEast RiverCrested Butte South to AlmontEast River / Gunnison County | ModerateGunnison RiverAlmont to North BridgeGunnison River / Gunnison County | ModerateGunnison RiverGunnison Whitewater ParkGunnison River / Gunnison County | HardHomestake CreekHighway 24 roadside access to 1/4 mile above the Eagle River confluenceHomestake Valley / Red Cliff | HardRoaring Fork RiverBob Terrell State Wildlife Area to Black BridgeRoaring Fork Valley / Carbondale to Glenwood Springs | ModerateRoaring Fork RiverFisherman’s Park to Bob Terrell State Wildlife AreaRoaring Fork Valley / Basalt to Carbondale | HardRoaring Fork RiverHenry Stein Park to Wilton Jaffee Sr. ParkRoaring Fork Gorge / Aspen to Woody Creek | HardRoaring Fork RiverSouth Gate to North Star Pedestrian BridgeAspen / North Star Nature Preserve | EasyRoaring Fork RiverWeller Lake to Difficult CampgroundUpper Roaring Fork / Aspen | HardSan Miguel RiverDown Valley Park to Specie Creek (San Miguel Canyon)San Miguel River / Placerville | HardSan Miguel RiverSpecie Creek to Beaver Creek (Lower San Miguel Canyon)San Miguel River / Norwood | HardTaylor RiverAbove Todd’s Slot to below Todd’s SlotTaylor Canyon / Gunnison County | ModerateTaylor RiverCR 748 Bridge to Pieplant Ranch / CR 742.8 accessTaylor Park / Gunnison County | ModerateTaylor RiverFive Mile Access to AlmontTaylor Canyon / Gunnison County | ModerateUncompahgre RiverRollans Park to Ridgway Reservoir (Town Run)Uncompahgre River / Ridgway | Moderate
Quick answers
Colorado paddling FAQ
How does Paddle Today choose Colorado paddle routes?
Paddle Today lists Colorado routes when the route has enough defensible gauge, threshold, source, and logistics support to make a live route score useful. The current Colorado page includes 39 scored routes across 14 rivers.
Are these Colorado river conditions live?
The route links on this page are server-rendered and crawlable. Each route page then checks live gauge readings, weather, water-level context, and route score data before you make a same-day call.
Can I request another Colorado route?
Yes. Use the request form to send the river, reach, access points, and any source links. Paddle Today prioritizes routes where a public gauge or defensible threshold support can back the live score.