South Platte

This was one of the earliest whitewater parks put in place on the South Platte through town. At the time, it was a star of whitewater in Denver but it has a couple issues nowadays. First off, the elephant in the room is that the South Platte basically doesn't get high anymore due in part to the Chatfield Reallocation project that gave Chatfield Reservoir the ability to hold more water for things other than flood control. Just about the only times you'll see flows over 200 anymore, it is due to rain bumps that flush all sorts of literal crap into the river. Second, most people looking to park and play would be better served by River Run Park just downstream at Oxford as there are more features, they are better designed especially for low water, and there is a wave shaper that the surfing community does a decent job maintaining.

So what does that leave up here? About 7 features that some people truly love at the right water levels. From 75-200 or so, the waves aren't terribly interesting but it makes a nice local place for a beginner to get away from the river surfers downstream. The first feature is actually ok down to pretty low flows but can get mighty munchy for unsuspecting beginners when levels get up above 400 cfs. The second feature, 'Hollywood Hole,' (aka 'U2 wave' to the river surfers) is nice and fast with a little water (700cfs?) and almost world class with a lot of water (1200 cfs?). The fourth feature is called Hawaii 5-O by some but honestly its more of a river surfer wave. Below that people tell stories of loops in the bottom features. Good luck with that.

Access: There is parking at the top on river left and bike trails parallel the river on both sides but it is a major commuter channel for bikers so be sure to look both ways so you don't skewer any bikers with your boat.

Other South Platte Urban Runs (many will be added to the database soon):

Above Chatfield

Miracle Wave

C-470 d

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