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RiverBrain

Colorado – US

Class
II to III-
Length
0.5 Mile(s)
Put-in elevation
8,785 Feet
Take-out elevation
8,733 Feet
Typical season
May to June
Author
Erik Larsson

Current Flow

53 CFS

Gauge height: 0.86 FT

Reading from Jul 10, 2026 10:15 PM

0.00/hr (12h) 0.00/hr (24h)

Too Low

Don't bother

Primary gauge
BLUE RIVER BELOW DILLON, CO. Gauge detail & alternatives Live gauge ↗ NOAA river forecast ↗

Recommended levels

Minimum400
Average1,000
Maximum2,000

Recommended use

  • Kayaking
  • Rafting
  • Canoeing
  • SUP
  • Packrafting
  • Fishing

Struck-through craft are not recommended for this run.

Flow history — last 6 days

Photos

Above the outlets · 05-23-2012 · needs another few hundred cfs

Open in full map →

Description

At flows above 1,000cfs this can offer up fun play for locals via the fish weirs visible at lower water. While many surf options exist at these flows, there isn't one with a service eddy! Mind the bridge at these flows. Although this run can be done down to 250cfs it isn't recommended much below 400cfs due to negative interaction with fisherman in this crowded fishing section. You can also continue past the takeout all the way down to the putin for the upper blue for miles and miles of class II drifting with frequent low bridges.

6/12/2017 - I ran this @ 1500 CFS and put in right below the damn on River Rd in Silverthorne and we floated to Blue River Campground. We were 2 people in packrafts. The bridge @ 6th street was a tight fit, but we didn't scrape our helmets with maybe 1,2 inches to spare. If flow is lower, it should be no problem in a packraft and maybe even a kayak or a SUP if laying on your belly. Bigger boats should put in downstream from that. There is indeed no big/scary feature on this stretch, a few fun train waves and at this flow we took a right branch at one time which had a mandatory tight S maneavuer to avoid a log that was from the shore (river right) to river center. We did this stretch which is about 10 miles of river in 1h 15 min. It was lots of fun and the water was crystal clear, but cold - so dress accordingly.

Rapids

No rapids added yet.

Access

Type Name Elevation Camping Water Boat ramp Vehicle access Description
Put-In Base of Dam 8,785 Feet No No No All Vehicles

From Silverthorne Outlets drive towards the dam as far as possible. Park near baseball fields.

Take-Out Silverthorne Library and Police 8,733 Feet No No No All Vehicles

Park by the library. Take out using the stairs just downstream of the library. The bike path goes through this lot if running bike shuttle. 

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.

Community Run Notes

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