Douglas Creek, WY

Douglas Creek near the top

Douglas Creek near the top
Photo by Will Reeves

Gauge Information

River Description

Douglas Creek is a classic non-stop high elevation creek run. The run starts near the base of Rob Roy Reservoir. The dam operators release extra flow at times and create a whitewater run that easily creeps into the Class V range when the river is at full flow. The 3 mile section from the reservoir to the tiny town of Keystone is full of sizable drops, holes, and continuous rapids. Most of the river is near the road so access in the case of an emergency is not too difficult. Scouting from the road will be useful for avoiding any strainers. The takeout is just downstream of Keystone at a nice little campground on river right (Bobbie Thomson Campground).

The first half mile or more is essentially flat.  When the river starts to pick up steam a bit you are about 0.5 miles from the diversion dam and fish ladder.  I am not sure you want to run these. The drop just past the fish ladder/dam is partially man made and is not really clean.  After this drop you will hit some easy class III stuff for about 0.5 miles.  Be smart and scout what is downstream.  At the 0.5 mile point you will hit a class V monster rapid that could have wood in it.  On one trip in 2008 the lead in had a bad tree and unknowing boaters could get killed or injured.  From the 0.5 mile point down to the 1.4 mile point the rapids are fairly continuous.  There is a low bridge in Keystone and after the town the river really gets easy.

While I have not boated below Keystone the river does continue all the way to the North Platte below Northgate Canyon. There are numerous potential access points below Keystone where the forest service road parallels the river, hiking trails access the river, or the river merges with the North Platte.