Gunnison, North Fork

01. Paonia Reservoir to below Somerset

DifficultyIII
Length7.2 mi
Avg Gradient41 fpm
GaugeNorth Fork Gunnison River Near Somerset, Co.
Flow Rate as of 1 hour
601 cfsrunnable
Reach Info Last UpdatedOctober 16, 2019

River Description

See Banks and Eckardt, Colorado Rivers & Creeks II, which warns of a nasty rock weir below Somerset, as well as more hazards. Make sure you scout the takeout before your run.

Fun rolling wave trains during the first few miles. At Somerset, the action picks up. A few piles of rock, and encroachment of industry, have created some excellent III+ whitewater. After Somerset, the pace cools down again. If you have scouted your takeout during the shuttle, avoiding the rock weir is no problem.


River Features

Put In

Distance: 0 mi

Take Out

Distance: 8.8 mi
Take Out

Matthew Buckley
Matthew Buckley

May 10, 2016


Ran this on 5/9/16 @1550 CFS. Fun rolling wave trains during the first few miles. At Somerset, the action picks up. A few piles of rock, and encroachment of industry, have created some excellent III+ whitewater. After Somerset, the pace cools down again. If you have scouted your takeout during the shuttle, avoiding the rock weir is no problem.