Paddling the South Platte?

[AustinPaddler]

I am traveling up from Texas next weekend (June 2 to spend time with relatives in Conifer. I am hoping to paddle in the area during the week after that (i.e., July 1 through 6) and was wondering if the South Platte is an option and, if so, if anyone can recommend a good stretch for me to try. I'm a Class III paddler with a decent roll and a healthy respect for Colorado flow rates. Not looking for anything out of my league, just sun, rocks, and moving water. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated!

[CUkayakGirl]

Hey!
Look at Waterton, Foxton and Deckers. They are all very close to conifer and should probably be running then. A lot of the flow depends on releases out of Roberts Tunnel. Go to eddyflower.com or the flows section on mountain buzz and check out the run descriptions.

[tacocat]

Deckers is not currently running. Foxton is really good right now.

[billcat]

Any word from the people who control the deckers flows as to when it will run again? I'd like to float the lower end of it, around the chutes area but I don't want to be dragging the boat in the rocks.

[DanOrion]

Originally Posted by AustinPaddler

I am traveling up from Texas next weekend (June 2 to spend time with relatives in Conifer. I am hoping to paddle in the area during the week after that (i.e., July 1 through 6) and was wondering if the South Platte is an option and, if so, if anyone can recommend a good stretch for me to try. I'm a Class III paddler with a decent roll and a healthy respect for Colorado flow rates. Not looking for anything out of my league, just sun, rocks, and moving water. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated!

You'd probably be a bit bored with Deckers. Foxton is "worth it" over something like 500 cfs on the Pine gage, but makes for a pretty scape down even at 300 cfs. Waterton will definitly be running.

Both Foxton and Waterton are something like III/+ with a few IV-'s at current levels, totally doable especially if you have someone to give you beta (enter left, work right, etc.)

On most weekends and after-work week days, you'll find people to paddle with on either run. Just hang out near where Foxton road meets the North Fork of the South Platte (on the Foxton Run).

Post here and on Kayaking Information if you want to try to hook up with paddlers on a specfic date.

I'd be glad to guide you down, but will probalby not be avaiable during July 1 - 6.

[AustinPaddler]

Thanks everyone, this is great info--and a pretty impressive forum! I appreciate the help and will check gauges, post trip plans, and hang around the appropriate junctures as advised. Hopefully I will be able to entice one or more of you to join me. Looking forward to seeing beautiful Colorado again!

[billcat]

Deckers is starting to flow:

Detail Graph

This is the first increase in over a month. Does anyone know if they plan to keep ramping this up? I'm going to be camping out at Deckers this weekend and I'd like to know if it's worth dragging the boat out there.

[DanOrion]

Originally Posted by billcat

Deckers is starting to flow:

Detail Graph

This is the first increase in over a month. Does anyone know if they plan to keep ramping this up? I'm going to be camping out at Deckers this weekend and I'd like to know if it's worth dragging the boat out there.

This is just a guess, but the call on the Platte is pretty senior and it looks like the upper portions of the drainage are finally melting off. Flows below eleven mile are increasing...likely that flows below Cheeseman will continue to rise, but this is all speculation.