Spencer Heights
|
| Put-in: |
CO Hwy 14 bridge at Big South Campground |
| Take-out: |
Tunnel Picnic Area |
| Difficulty: |
Class V, portage
|
| Length: |
2.4 miles |
Big South Tributary
|
| Put-in: |
Long Draw Reservoir |
| Take-out: |
Hwy 14 - Big South Campground |
| Difficulty: |
Class IV-, V+
|
| Length: |
11.6 miles |
Sleeping Elephant
|
| Put-in: |
CO Hwy 14 across from Sleeping Elephant Campground |
| Take-out: |
Big Bend Picnic Area |
| Difficulty: |
Class II+, III
|
| Length: |
5.0 miles |
Fish Hatchery
|
| Put-in: |
Big Bend Picnic Area |
| Take-out: |
Home Moraine Trailer Park |
| Difficulty: |
Class III, IV
|
| Length: |
2.5 miles |
White Mile Run
|
| Put-in: |
Home Moraine Trailer Park |
| Take-out: |
Indian Meadows Picnic Ground |
| Difficulty: |
Class III to IV
|
| Length: |
9.5 miles |
Grandpa's Gorge
|
| Put-in: |
Indian Meadows Low Bridge |
| Take-out: |
Narrows Picnic Area and Campground |
| Difficulty: |
Class III-IV
|
| Length: |
8 miles |
The Narrows
|
| Put-in: |
Narrows Campground |
| Take-out: |
Steven's Gulch |
| Difficulty: |
Class IV-V+
|
| Length: |
3.4 miles |
Upper Mishawaka
|
| Put-in: |
Steven's Gulch |
| Take-out: |
Mishawaka Inn |
| Difficulty: |
Class III-IV
|
| Length: |
3.5 miles |
Lower Mishawaka
|
| Put-in: |
Mishawaka Inn |
| Take-out: |
Poudre Park Picnic Area |
| Difficulty: |
Class III
|
| Length: |
3.2 miles |
Poudre Park
|
| Put-in: |
Poudre Park Picnic Ground |
| Take-out: |
Poison Ivy Corner |
| Difficulty: |
Class IV
|
| Length: |
2.8 miles |
Bridges
|
| Put-in: |
Bridges Put In |
| Take-out: |
Bridges Take Out |
| Difficulty: |
Class III+
|
| Length: |
2 miles |
Filter Plant
|
| Put-in: |
Filter Plant |
| Take-out: |
Picnic Rock |
| Difficulty: |
Class II-III
|
| Length: |
3 miles |
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The Wild and Scenic Cache La Poudre River
31 miles of the Cache La Poudre River were designated as wild and scenic on
October 30th, 1986. A Wild and Scenic River is an entire river, or portion
of one, that is protected from detrimental development, degradation of water
quality and destruction of its natural system by water diversions or dams.
However, the Poudre still has quite a network of plumbing, built long before
1986, to regulate the flow of the river. Reservoirs built on tributaries
hold a reserve of water for late summer irrigation on the plains. A slew of
ditches redirect snowmelt that would normally drain into other river basins
back to the Poudre. This system helps the Poudre maintain good flows often
into late August.
In fact, water from the Poudre was first diverted for irrigation in 1867,
making it the first river in the state to be put to use in this fashion.
Today it is argued that water rights for farmlands are actually more
valuable than the land itself.
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The Cache La Poudre is Colorado’s first and only Wild and Scenic River and it is both close to Fort Collins and just an hour’s drive from Denver. Its waters range from Class II to IV rapids making it a great river for those new to boating.
The name of the river means “hide the powder” in French, referring to a group of French trappers who were forced to bury their gunpowder by the river’s edge when they were caught in a snowstorm in the 1820s.
Kayakers and rafters will enjoy the diversity of difficulty on this river. The Filter Plant is considered a classic beginner run, especially at low water. The next step for beginning boaters is the Lower Mishawaka, which is pretty straightforward Class III with a few holes and manmade obstacles. The Poudre’s Classic run through is the Upper Mishawaka that has lots of play waves and fun Class IV rapids.
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