North Fork Little Laramie

Gauge Information

Min Sug. Level:

200 cfs

River Description

The North Fork Little Laramie River (NFLLR) parallels Hwy 130 as it climbs up to Snowy Range Pass from Laramie to Saratoga. However it eventually pulls away from the road in the final section is it leaves the canyon and heads into Centennial. The NFLLR looses some water to a diversion but eventually returns to Hwy 130.

The upper roadside section is continuous class IV. This creek is narrow, rocky, and steep. There are no distinct rapids because almost the entire run is continuous with no pools and almost no good eddies between on drop to the next. Beware of vertical pins as a few of the drops have poorly placed rock in the landing zones. Also check for wood in the top section. There are a few overhanging branches in a short section that pulls away from the road that are not really in play. Near the put in there are a few islands that have strainers on one side or another. The upper section is one very fast continuous rapid. Swims are short but painful and boats can get washed away.
Taking out at the last pull off before the NFLLR pulls away from Hwy 130 will allow you to miss some aspects of the lower run. After leaving the road water is diverted from the NFLLR so the flow will be reduced, there are still some nice drops and the gradient is continuous and steep, but eventually the creek slows down in the North Fork Community and you will need to avoid trespassing. Take out at the Hwy 130 crossing. There can be strainers here so check it out when you run shuttle.

If you run Libby Creek all the way down to Centennial you will hit the confluence with the NFLLR just after it turns away from Hwy 130.