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 15 hours | 431 cfslow runnable |
| Reach Info Last Updated | March 16, 2023 |
River Description
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.
River Features
Put In
S-Turn / Initiation
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.
Avalanche/Landslide
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.
Vetical Blender
Vertical Blender is a series of two ledges with some nice waves and stomping holes. Playboating here is ok at some levels.
Trip Reports
Log in to add a reportAftern 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.
Winter on Waterton with good flow in February
https://youtu.be/5GYrZJ7Y8Qs
Its getting low and cold.
I agree with the below comment, this is a difficult III+, arguable IV-. Not sure if the river has changed since the above photos were taken or if the river was higher than the poster thought, but that is not what green bridge rapid looks like below 500. I don't know the cut off, but for sure anything below 550, you need to take the far river left line, as far left as you can be, almost grazing your elbow on that bridge debris. There's a tongue that is just about boat width. If you run this rapid where the person in the photo ran it at low levels, you're gonna have a bad time. Give it a scout and you'll see what I mean. It looks friendly from above. It's not.
This run has several undercut rocks and sieves. It is boney, full of sharp rocks, and technical at lower water; fast and pushy at high water. Not for beginners.
I consider this the hardest III+ in the state with an argumental IV- ( vertical blender). However, I have only run it below 1000 cfs. I can imagine it will be very difficult at higher water. This is an amazing run of fun. Rest at least 3 times on the hike out to save the torture.
Changed the gauge to match the one you listed. If you have any better info about flows please let me know.
The correct gauge for this run is this: http://www.dwr.state.co.us/SurfaceWater/data/detail\_graph.aspx??MTYPE=DISCHRG&ID=PLASPLCO
The one currently linked is not accurate.
Don't sneak it, melt it!
Don't sneak it, melt it!
Hiking out
Its getting low and cold.