Colorado’s Blue River is ripe with rafting and kayaking runs. It also is one of the better trout fisheries in the state with some seriously huge trout. Access is good and the river has a typical rocky mountain season with high water in the early summer and lower water throughout the late summer and fall. The dam release can influence flows as well.
Blue River Colorado Flows And Weather
BLUE RIVER BELOW GREEN MOUNTAIN RESERVOIR, CO
- Temperature: 37.94 ° F
- Streamflow: 175 ft³/s
- Gage height: 3.34 ft
BLUE RIVER BEL SPRUCE CR NR KREMMLING, CO
- Temperature: 37.94 ° F
- Streamflow: 348 ft³/s
- Gage height: 3.34 ft
Rapids and Float Notes
Upper Blue River Floats – The upper river is the section between Dillon and Green Mountain Reservoirs. You can launch right around Silverthorne to float this section. It has great variety with rapids ranging from class II to class IV. The water is heavily influenced by large boulder gardens and the flows are dictated by the dam. Floating is best through the summer months when water is being released more heavily.
Lower Blue River Rafting – The Lower river is everything below Green Mountain Reservoir. The river has a remote feel here, winding through steep embankments and beautiful country. It’s primarily a class II-III and is perfect for rafts and kayaks. It’s a 15 mile float to the confluence with the Colorado River, making this a perfect long day trip. The most difficult class III water begins immediately below the reservoir in the canyon section. The river flattens out after a few miles and has plenty of non-technical water. Fishing is good throughout the entire float.
Shuttle Services
A bus service exists in the area and you could pull off shuttles with taxi and Uber services if needed.
Jake’s Mountain Shuttle – 970-401-0988 Located in Frisco, they do rivers, ski resorts, trail shuttles and anything needed.
Fishing Notes
Fly fishing or gear fishing the Blue River is productive. It does have special regulation waters and fishing is popular throughout the river system. Some of the largest fish live right in Silverthorne where they grow large below the dam released water. The river has Mysis shrimp and is a technical tailwater fishery. Although it’s somewhat urban in this section, the fish are impressive.
Outside of the tailwater sections, the Blue River has excellent trout populations and is a very healthy system. You can wade fish in some areas but a good chunk of the river flows through private property. Fishing from a raft is an excellent way to access water that sees little fishing pressure.
The river above Dillon Reservoir is much smaller but fishing is popular through Breckenridge. It’s a nice scenic stream with smaller but still beautiful wild trout in the upper reaches.
