Colorado – US
- Class
- V to V+
- Length
- 8 Mile(s)
- Gradient
- 125 FPM
- Put-in elevation
- 10,475 Feet
- Typical season
- April to June
Current Flow
39 CFS
Gauge height: 2.23 FT
Reading from Jul 10, 2026 9:30 PM
▼ -0.17/hr (12h) ▼ -0.08/hr (24h)
Don't bother
- Primary gauge
- LAKE CREEK ABOVE TWIN LAKES RESERVOIR Gauge detail & alternatives Live gauge ↗
Recommended levels
| Minimum | 150 |
| Average | 400 |
| Maximum | 700 |
Recommended use
- Kayaking
- Rafting
- Canoeing
- SUP
- Packrafting
- Fishing
Struck-through craft are not recommended for this run.
Flow history — last 6 days
No gauge history recorded in the last 6 days.
Photos
No photos added for this run yet.
Description
The upper section of Lake Creek is around 8 miles long. Since Highway 82 parallels Lake Creek you can choose how much you want to run. Since this is class V to V+ you can make this an all day hair fest or do some park and drops.
The utmost upper 2 miles of this run consist of some class IV waves, some flatwater and braided channels and some possible wood hazards. Scout from the road. Below here the bigger drops start. See below for specific drop info.
Below tombstone is another 2 miles of class IV water. Then you run into Not In My Back Yard (NIMBY). See below.
Another couple of miles brings you to Toaster Rapid. This will most likely require a mandatory portage but you may be lucky and for some reason find it clear of wood and runnable (not likely).
Rapids
| # | Rapid | Class | Recommended flow | Description | Scout |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tombstone Drop | V to V+ | 200–700 | This drop is portages by many. The river often contains wood hazards as well as it is a natural sieve here. Use caution when running this and make sure you know where it is if you put in above here. |
ALWAYS scout this. It can be scouted from the road. It is just above the South Fork of Lake Creek road. |
| 2 | Not In My Back Yard (NIMBY) | V to V+ | 150–700 | This is the longest drop section on the Upper. This is typically best scouted from the river above the rapid. Land here is private but scouting river left or right hasn't been a problem in the past. Use your best judgement and don't offend the land owners. Check for wood and other possible hazards and then run or portage. |
Scout above the drops |
Access
| Type | Name | Elevation | Camping | Water | Boat ramp | Vehicle access | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Put-In | Diversion Tunnel near MM 69 | 10,475 Feet | No | No | No | All Vehicles | About 20 miles up Highway 82 (Independence Pass) from Highway 24 (between Leadville and Salida) is the uppermost put in for Lake Creek. There is a dirt road that leads down from the highway. |
Camps
No river camps added yet.
Permit
No permit is required, or permit info hasn't been added yet.
Fishing
No fish species have been associated with this run yet.
External Links & Resources
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Community Run Notes
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