Burns to Dotsero
Colorado – US
- Class
- I to IV
- Length
- 29 Mile(s)
- Gradient
- 15 FPM
- Put-in elevation
- 6,485 Feet
- Take-out elevation
- 6,131 Feet
- Typical season
- April to October
Current Flow
1,320 CFS
Gauge height: 2.73 FT
Reading from Jul 10, 2026 10:00 PM
▼ -3.33/hr (12h) ▼ -1.67/hr (24h)
Hit some laps
- Primary gauge
- COLORADO RIVER NEAR DOTSERO, CO Gauge detail & alternatives Live gauge ↗ NOAA river forecast ↗
Recommended levels
| Minimum | 500 |
| Average | 2,000 |
| Maximum | 6,000 |
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
No photos added for this run yet.
Description
PLEASE READ: the flow for this strech is incorrect. The gauge used is just downstream from Dotsero where the confluence with the Eagle River is. So the flow on the strech from Burns to Dotsero is not what is shown here. Unfortunately I don't know how to edit the gauge, maybe someone else can do this.
From Burns to I-70 there is really only one significant rapid (Burns Hole / Rodeo Rapid). The rest of the float is easy scenic Class I water at most water levels with a few Class II+ sections at above-average levels. Many access spots here allow for lots of day trip options. Camps and lunch areas are available here for those coming down from higher up the river.
Rodeo Rapid at low water levels is almost unrunnable due to the rocky nature of the rapid. At flows below or around 1000 you may have to portage or walk around this rapid. Scouting is recommended.
Rapids
| # | Rapid | Class | Recommended flow | Description | Scout |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rodeo Rapid | III- to III | 500–10,000 | Pull in right of center between 2 large rocks and follow the main current down. |
Scout from either bank above the rapid if you wish. |
| 2 | Pinball Rapid | III | 500–10,000 | Rocky rapid as it passes underneath a bridge. |
Scout from the right bank or the road. |
| 3 | Horse Creek Riffle | II to III- | 500–10,000 | Stay right to be in the deepest current. |
Read and run |
Access
| Type | Name | Elevation | Camping | Water | Boat ramp | Vehicle access | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Put-In | Burns | 6,485 Feet | No | No | No | All Vehicles | See access info here. |
| Put-In | Cottonwood Island Access | 6,225 Feet | No | No | Yes | All Vehicles | You can access the river by walk on or a small dirt ramp here. |
| Put-In | Lyons Gulch Access and Camps | 6,204 Feet | Yes | No | Yes | All Vehicles | Car and river camping available at Lyon's Gulch as well as a dirt boat ramp. Pit toilets are available as well. |
| Take-Out | Dotsero Access | 6,131 Feet | No | No | Yes | All Vehicles | The Dotsero ramp is on the north side of Highway 6 on the east side of the river, $5 parking fee. Pit toilets but no camping is allowed here. |
| Put-In | Horse Creek Access | 6,286 Feet | No | No | Yes | All Vehicles | Great put-in/take-out with free parking and pit toilet. |
Camps
| Camp | Fee | Beach | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peach Grove Camp | No | No | Small camp on river left. |
| Pinball Point Camp/Access | No | No | There is a pit toilet and parking access from the road. You can also camp or picnic here. If using this site as a river access point there is no ramp. Walk on access only. |
| Jack Flats Camp | No | No | River left. |
| Cottonwood Island Camp | No | No | Several camps exist on the well sized cottonwood island. Either channel around the island is floatable at most water levels. |
| Lyon's Gulch | No | No | An awesome car camping spot. Boat to or from camp, river front campsites, no fees and a pit toliet. What else could you wish for? |
Permit
No permit is required, or permit info hasn't been added yet.
Fishing
No fish species have been associated with this run yet.
Points of Interest
External Links & Resources
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Community Run Notes
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