[samhandwich]

Hi all,

I live in the Northeast and I'm investigating places to move. Right now, I'm in Boulder, CO. I love it love it love it, but have some questions about the kayaking in the area.

I am a class 2+, starting to get into class 3 boater. Some people I have talked to say there isn't much of that level around here, and that most of the runs are class 4 and 5 creeks. Others say, oh yeah there's plenty of 2 and 3 stuff!

Some say that, because it's all natural flow around here, there are only a few months when things are really running. Others say there's stuff to do year round.

So...can anyone set me straight? If the kayaking I want is available, I am seriously considering making this move.

And by the way, I have no problem driving a few hours. I'm used to driving an hour and a half just to get to a park and play spot!

Thanks!

 

[cecil]

Depends on what you consider *around* Boulder.

Boulder Creek Town Run is class III. Other than that, what you have heard is correct.

If you are willing to drive 30-60 minutes from Boulder there are plenty of II-III options. Check out a local guide book or click on the "Flows" tab up top and read run descriptions.

A lot to do in Boulder other than kayaking too.

Good luck and welcome!

 

[kayakfreakus]

With you being willing to drive there is plenty of class 2-3 and a ton of everything else

Withing couple hours decent class 2 and 3 +:
-Clear Creek (Golden Play Park and Kermits section) - 30 minutes or more with traffic
-Chutes - hour plus
-Foxton - hour plus
-Waterton - hour plus
-Lyons town run and playpark- 30 minutes
-Poudre (the farthest away but awesome river and good beginner sections)

 

[nmalozzi]

Thanks for posting this! I'm new to Boulder, CO as well, and love it here. However, I've been reading guide books and this site and it is all very difficult to keep straight. Back in PA it was pretty much the Lehigh or the Tohikon (which only really run like twice a year unless you were watching the rain very carefully and weren't too far).

I was just checking the Flows tab up top, it seems like anything listed as "South Platte" is not too far from Boulder (please correct me if I am wrong), and there seems to be a good mix of classes. What would be the next closest region to keep an eye on? I also used to have to drive a bit to boat as well. So anything within like 2hrs is not far in my opinion.

 

[Dave Frank]

All the Arkansas runs are 2.5-3 hours away.

Year round boating pretty much doesn't happen here.

If you REALLY want it you can find something within the state each month, but it will be more to say you did it than because it was actually good.

The good options are more like may- september.

 

[PhillyBoater]

Yeah, the boating in Colorado is seasonal depending on snow melt so you are talking at best April, May, June, July and possibly August for the most part. You won't see any substantial rain to bring things up after that. You can't fight mother nature, so If I was moving someplace just for the kayaking I would pick someplace like the Carolinas, West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland or PA where you can usually boat year round depending on dam releases, heavy rain or snowmelt. You can not beat Colorado for the skiing and dry, sunny weather though.

 

[GPP33]

There are plenty of local runs in the 2 - 3 range, a few of which are;

Boulder Creek – Town Run

Clear Creek (Golden) – Tunnel 1 down to Coors & Idaho Springs to the intersection of I-70 and Hwy 6

North Fork St. Vrain (Lyons) – About 1/2mile past the turn off to Button rock Damn all the way back down through the town of Lyons. Take the dirt road towards the damn.

Poudre (Ft Collins) – Filter plant run

South Platt – (Bailey Area) – Foxton (North Fork) and then there is another run on the south fork just down the road. You can take both all the way to the confluence. Don’t worry, these are way up stream of Denver.

Arkansas – The whole thing is about 2 – 2.5 hours away.

Blue (Dillon Area) – About two hours.

Once you get confident on 3’s there are lot’s of what I would call gentle 4’s on these rivers as well as a couple of other rivers in the area.

Shoot me a PM if you do decide to stay in the area and want to get out and run a few. I didn’t hit the water at all last year so I’ll be interested in starting on some of the smaller stuff when the snow starts melting and Boulder or the St Vrain are excellent after work runs. I also have an above ground pool if you are interested in working on your roll.

Pete

 

[nmalozzi]

There are plenty of local runs in the 2 - 3 range, a few of which are;

Boulder Creek – Town Run

Clear Creek (Golden) – Tunnel 1 down to Coors & Idaho Springs to the intersection of I-70 and Hwy 6

North Fork St. Vrain (Lyons) – About 1/2mile past the turn off to Button rock Damn all the way back down through the town of Lyons. Take the dirt road towards the damn.

Poudre (Ft Collins) – Filter plant run

South Platt – (Bailey Area) – Foxton (North Fork) and then there is another run on the south fork just down the road. You can take both all the way to the confluence. Don’t worry, these are way up stream of Denver.

Arkansas – The whole thing is about 2 – 2.5 hours away.

Blue (Dillon Area) – About two hours.

Once you get confident on 3’s there are lot’s of what I would call gentle 4’s on these rivers as well as a couple of other rivers in the area.

Shoot me a PM if you do decide to stay in the area and want to get out and run a few. I didn’t hit the water at all last year so I’ll be interested in starting on some of the smaller stuff when the snow starts melting and Boulder or the St Vrain are excellent after work runs. I also have an above ground pool if you are interested in working on your roll.

Pete

I'm stoked for snow melt, as I live at Gold Run Condos, which is about 200ft from boulder creek just before the 30th street bridge. Will be nice to take out, and walk to my place. Then a short bike ride back to my car.

 

[GPP33]

Let me know if you want to hook up and run some stuff.

 

[nmalozzi]

Let me know if you want to hook up and run some stuff.

A/S/L? Then we can talk about hooking up, haha.

I would like to run some stuff with ya though regardless.

 

[GPP33]

A/S/L?.

???

Guess I'm old school.........

 

[nmalozzi]

???

Guess I'm old school.........

haha, stands for age/sex/location. used to see that a lot back in the big chat room days when creepsters were trolling for young hot girls to cyber with (aka other dudes pretending to be girls).

I was just goofing.

 

[GPP33]

haha, stands for age/sex/location. used to see that a lot back in the big chat room days when creepsters were trolling for young hot girls to cyber with (aka other dudes pretending to be girls).

I was just goofing.

Gotcha. I'm up in Longmont for what it's worth.

 

[samhandwich]

Well thanks for all your helpful answers. Between this and some more talking with people today, I think I've got a pretty clear picture of it:

Plenty of Class 2 and 3, relatively short season (compared to, say, Asheville, NC), but the added plus of awesome skiing in the winter.

It's going to be a tough decision. I love it here, but I'm pretty whitewater gung-ho at the moment. If only the kayak season were a few months longer here, it would be a no-brainer.

Hmm...maybe boat in Asheville from March to November, ski in Boulder from November to March! And work...um...maybe I'll find a box of money?

 

[LiquidGuy87]

Ski in Boulder? I know that CU has some pretty sic hills (bigger than anything in Jersey) to tear up...but... we do have REAL mountains in Colorado .

Plus... Boulder smells... Tom and Christian live in it.

Good call... move to N.C. for 11 months... come to Colorado for runoff... and MAYBE make the trip to ski once. Because everybody knows boating is better.

The only reason snow exists in Colorado is so it can melt...

Mike Konschnik
www.DirtyDozenCrew.BlogSpot.com
www.MountainKhakis.com
www.BuiltForTheMountainLife.com

 

[mtnkayaker]

hey guys im down for going on some runs im still pretty much a newbie but i would love to run some class 11 or some class 111 with you guys send me a pm or a email. thanks

 

[possumturd]

It's going to be a tough decision. I love it here, but I'm pretty whitewater gung-ho at the moment. If only the kayak season were a few months longer here, it would be a no-brainer.
?

Yeah I thought I would move back to the Southeast after a few years. I been saying that for about 25 years now. Start skiing knee deep powder in the winter and then turn around a kayak the same water a few months later and you will be hooked. As the saying goes "The way to know life is to love many things" Colorado has that locked up.

Boulder creek is not the greatest, but once that thing starts pumping it's a fun little after work run. It's a great place to practice and get tuned up for runs on the Ark. And having it right out the back porch just makes it that much better. No traffic hassles; just knock yourself out all week and then head for the mountains when you have time off. Lyons is only about 10 minutes up the road as others have mentioned and Golden only a few minutes more south.

I usually get off work about 5:00PM and am in the creek by 5:30 and then back home by 7:00 for a glass of bourbon and dinner with the family. Can't beat it from my standpoint.

 

[samhandwich]

Yeah, sounds good. I may choose to come here after checking out Asheville at the end of May.

What do you do from September to November? No water, no snow!

Yeah I thought I would move back to the Southeast after a few years. I been saying that for about 25 years now. Start skiing knee deep powder in the winter and then turn around a kayak the same water a few months later and you will be hooked. As the saying goes "The way to know life is to love many things" Colorado has that locked up.

Boulder creek is not the greatest, but once that thing starts pumping it's a fun little after work run. It's a great place to practice and get tuned up for runs on the Ark. And having it right out the back porch just makes it that much better. No traffic hassles; just knock yourself out all week and then head for the mountains when you have time off. Lyons is only about 10 minutes up the road as others have mentioned and Golden only a few minutes more south.

I usually get off work about 5:00PM and am in the creek by 5:30 and then back home by 7:00 for a glass of bourbon and dinner with the family. Can't beat it from my standpoint.

 

[possumturd]

ski kayak bike

What do you do from September to November? No water, no snow!

Sept is the the best. Bugs are all gone. nice weather. I mountain bike monarch crest trail (rated one of the 10 ten best Mnt bike rides in the US) and do this:

YouTube - USGP Cyclocross #4 Boulder Cup Cross

 

[samhandwich]

Mountain bike?? How do you hold the paddle?

Sept is the the best. Bugs are all gone. nice weather. I mountain bike monarch crest trail (rated one of the 10 ten best Mnt bike rides in the US) and do this:

YouTube - USGP Cyclocross #4 Boulder Cup Cross