South Platte
05. Waterton Canyon(Confluence to Strontia Springs Reservoir)
| Difficulty | II-III+ |
| Length | 1.5 mi |
| Avg Gradient | 74 fpm |
| Gauge | South Platte River at South Platte |
| Flow Rate as of 13 hours | 453 cfslow runnable |
| Reach Info Last Updated | March 16, 2023 |
The South Platte River in Waterton Canyon is a short run, good for regular afterwork or while in the neighborhood laps. There is no shuttle. Simply walk back up to the cars.
The Waterton Canyon run starts out as a mild moving stream with only a few small waves. 1/2 mile into the run, the river picks up a little., and the run starts to develop character. Welcome to S-Turn.
Waterton has plenty of play spots with typical Colorado road-blast rocks in the riverbed.
S-turn rapid ends in a pool with an horizon line at medium to low flows. The horizon line marks Green Bridge rapid. This drop is fairly straightforward but note: There is rebar on the old bridge piling if you choose one of the less obvious lines. Below Green Bridge Rapid is a small pool followed up by Avalanche rapid, straightforward on the right with a broaching rock on river left.After another small pool you will arrive at Vertical Blender. This drop has two distinct ledges and some holes. The bottom of Vertical Blender is the reservoir and the takeout. Better action at higher flows.
Historical note: A great whitewater canyon was once downstream of Waterton. The former canyon was inundated by the Denver Water Board (DWB) to make Stronia Springs and thus drown the former true Waterton canyon.
This is a extensive almost 1/2 mile long rapid. Good example of continuous Class III Colorado whitewater. Lots of good holes and eddies to train/step up on.
Green Bridge Rapid follows a short pool after S turn. This rapid is most straightforward on river left but there are some tight lines through the rocks on the right. Beware of rebar in the middle of the river. This is your crux rapid.
The name says it all. There was a landslide on river left and this fairly straight forward drop is what you have to negotiate. The right side line is easier than the left.
Vertical Blender is a series of two ledges with some nice waves and stomping holes. Playboating here is ok at some levels.
Apr 18, 2024
Aftern work lap. S turn is bony but I found the tongue on the river right to be fast and fun. Large log is lodged into green bridge on the left side. Far river right line is still runable.
Feb 1, 2020
Winter on Waterton with good flow in February
https://youtu.be/5GYrZJ7Y8Qs
Nov 24, 2019
Its getting low and cold.
