wildernet

Paddling Sports: Colorado

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Activity	Location	Description

Needle Creek Reservoir	Cebolla Ranger District, Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests	Needle Creek Reservoir was developed in 1962 as an irrigation holding area. It has good fishing with rainbows and brook trout averaging ten to eleven inches.

North Canyon Campground	Columbine Ranger District, San Juan National Forest	North Canyon Campground is open only during the peak midsummer season, and is 0.5 mile north of Graham Creek Campground. Although the 21 sites are several long, level ones suitable for large RVs.

Piedra River	Pagosa Ranger District, San Juan National Forest	The river is not navigable by open canoe and paddle rafts are not recommended. The average gradient is 53 feet per mile with swift flow and infrequent slack pools.

Pine Point Campground	Columbine Ranger District, San Juan National Forest	The Pine Point Campground is 1/2 mile north of North Canyon Campground, at the upper end of the lake. The campground offers good views of the high, often snowcapped peaks to the northwest.

Rio Grande River	Divide Ranger District, Rio Grande National Forest	The Rio Grande is a popular rafting area. Because of shallow water and many boulders, the river is better suited for rafting than canoeing and kayaking

Roaring Fork River	Roaring Fork River, Colorado Rivers & Streams	The Roaring Fork River is a freestone river that has many different faces as it travels throughout the Roaring Fork Valley. It originates on Independence Pass and culminates at the confluence with the Colorado River in Glenwood Springs.

Roaring Fork-Lower River Section	Roaring Fork River, Colorado Rivers & Streams	This section of the river is not quite as popular with whitewater enthusiasts, but can still offer exciting action. Cemetery rapids, just upstream of Glenwood Springs offers excitement and requires maneuvering around large boulders.

Roaring Fork-Middle River Section	Roaring Fork River, Colorado Rivers & Streams	The Middle section of the Roaring Fork River from Basalt to Carbondale falls in elevation much less than the upper sections of the river. While this is not the most popular section for whitewater enthusiasts, there is still plenty of good water. This is also an extremely beautiful section to float with the majestic Mt. Sopris creating a breathtaking background.

Roaring Fork-Upper River Section	Roaring Fork River, Colorado Rivers & Streams	The Upper section of the Roaring Fork River is the narrowest and fastest section with many obstacles. This section is very exciting and convenient for the whitewater enthusiast, it allows for either an all day trip, or a 45 minute after work jaunt. This section should be left to those with a guide or considerable experience as the water is either class IV or V based on the water level.

Rocky Mountain Multi-sport Tour	Rocky Mountain National Park	Offered by The World Outdoors. Hike, Bike, Raft/Kayak and Rock Climb the Colorado Rockies and Rocky Mountain National Park

Ruby Canyon of the Lower Colorado (canoeing)	Colorado River, Colorado Rivers & Streams	The Ruby Canyon section of the Lower Colorado River provides some of the finest flat water canoeing opportunities in western Colorado. This section has spectacular scenery, and plenty of area to explore.

Ruby Canyon of the Lower Colorado River Section	Colorado River, Colorado Rivers & Streams	The beautiful Ruby Canyon of the Lower Colorado River provides flat-water trips for canoeists, rafter, and kayakers. Grand desert painted walls tower overhead. The 25 mile stretch of between Loma Boat Launch, below Grand Junction and the Westwater Ranger Station take-out in Utah is some of the most noteworthy canoeing waters in western Colorado.

Shadow Mountain Lake	Sulphur Ranger District, Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests	Shadow Mountain Lake is a 1,400 acre reservoir located north of Granby in the Arapaho National Recreation Area. It sits between Lake Granby and Grand Lake at an elevation of 8,367 feet.

Silver Dollar Campground	Leadville Ranger District, Pike and San Isabel National Forests	The following eight campgrounds surround Turquoise Lake: Baby Doe, Belle of Colorado, Father Dyer, Molly Brown, Printer Boy, Silver Dollar and Tabor. Thirty-nine of the Silver Dollar's sites are reservable with the capacity to house trailers up to 22'.

Tabor Campground	Leadville Ranger District, Pike and San Isabel National Forests	The following eight campgrounds surround Turquoise Lake: Baby Doe, Belle of Colorado, Father Dyer, Molly Brown, Printer Boy, Silver Dollar and Tabor. Sites at the Tabor Campground are not reservable.

Taylor Lake	Taylor River Ranger District, Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests	This lake supports Brook trout, but is rated as having poor fishing.

Texas Creek Lakes	Taylor River Ranger District, Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests	These four lakes are fed by Texas Creek and are centrally located between the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness boundary and Taylor Park Reservoir in Taylor Park.

Willow Creek Reservoir	Sulphur Ranger District, Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests	Willow Creek is a 750 acre reservoir located north of Granby and west of Lake Granby. It sits at an elevation of 8,130 feet, in the Arapaho National Recreation Area.

Woods Lake Campground	Norwood Ranger District, Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests	Woods Lake Campground is temporarily closed and scheduled to reopen 8/99. It is located west of Telluride and south of Sawpit, at an elevation of 9,400 feet.

Yamcolo Reservoir Boat Ramp	Yampa Ranger District, Medicine Bow and Routt National Forests	Yamcolo Reservoir is located in the Bear River area, southwest of Yampa at an elevation of about 9,500 feet.