Colorado – US
- Class
- II to III+
- Put-in elevation
- 5,366 Feet
- Take-out elevation
- 5,261 Feet
- Typical season
- January to January
- Author
- Justin Payne
Current Flow
257 CFS
Gauge height: 3.45 FT
Reading from Jul 10, 2026 9:45 PM
● 0.00/hr (12h) ● 0.00/hr (24h)
Don't bother
- Primary gauge
- CACHE LA POUDRE AT CANYON MOUTH NEAR FORT COLLINS Gauge detail & alternatives Live gauge ↗
Recommended levels
| Minimum | 350 |
| Average | 500 |
| Maximum | 2,000 |
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
Description
Filter Plant is THE beginner run in Northern Colorado.
The run is located conveniently next to highway 14, and provides numerous put in and take out options. The upper most put in is at Gateway Mountain Park, this is probably the best put in option, but there is a fee involved. Many free options exist downstream.
Filter Plant is characterized by straightforward boulder garden rapids and some sections of swirly current. The biggest drop on the run, Mad Dog, is located at the halfway point, and is easy to see/scout from the road.
While the whole run is Class II the second half of the run is significantly easier than the first half. Absolute beginner kayakers should consider putting in below Mad Dog until they get more comfortable.
Take out at the well-used Picnic Rock day use area. This is probably the busiest place on the Poudre, and a great place to meet similarly skilled boaters.
Rapids
| # | Rapid | Class | Recommended flow | Description | Scout |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mad Dog | II to III | —–— | Run right of the large rock that is located right of center of the river. Move towards the center of the river by the bottom of the rapid. |
Stop on river right, entire length of rapid can be easily scouted. |
Access
| Type | Name | Elevation | Camping | Water | Boat ramp | Vehicle access | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Put-In | Gateway Park | 5,366 Feet | No | No | Yes | All Vehicles | |
| Take-Out | Picnic Rock | 5,261 Feet | No | No | No | All Vehicles |
Camps
No river camps added yet.
Permit
Fishing
No fish species have been associated with this run yet.
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Community Run Notes
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