My First Paddling on the South Platte River near Greeley

25
Nov

My First Paddling on the South Platte River near Greeley

Posted by Marek in trip reports.

I discovered the South Platte River for paddling almost 8 years ago in January 2001. I believe it was the first river I paddled in northern Colorado and, for sure, my first winter paddling here. Here is some old writing on these day trips with my CLC Patuxent 10.5 kayak. It was originally posted on Mountain Wayfarer site. At that time, I was shooting slides with Canon EOS 2AE SLR camera. I was launching my kayak at Mitani-Tokuyasu State Wilderness Area just below the mouth of the Cache la Poudre River. This place is less suitable for paddling now days. It is open only during a hunting season and closes by the end of February. A parking space is limited to 4 cars only. See my GPS/photo river guide for other access points.
	January 21st, 2001. A cold afternoon with snow clouds over entire Colorado, the last glimpse of sun. The winter of 2000/2001 is pretty cold; all my paddling lakes are frozen. The only open water I can find is the South Platte River.
	I am launching my kayak at Mitani-Tokuyasu State Wilderness Area (SWA) located below Greeley, where the Cache La Poudre River joins the South Platte. This place can be reached from Highway 263 (east of Greeley) by a short stretch of bumpy road. I’ve also explored another possible launching place: the Brower SWA, a few miles upstream – a little more difficult access to the river.
	The flow is about 700 cfs and the river is shallow in wider places. The Cache La Poudre doesn’t add much water in winter, only about 70 cfs. I am paddling upstream against a pretty strong current. A little bit of snow turns this so-so river into a scenic waterway. Despite the nearby civilization and hunters, I see many birds: geese, ducks, eagles and a flock of 20-30 wild turkeys.
	After about an hour and a half of paddling and perhaps 3 miles I am reaching my turning point: a diversion dam above the 58th county road bridge. Plumb Ditch?
	Resting on a small island just below the dam. Hot tea. It’s getting dark and starting to snow again. Snowflakes stick to the lens of my camera, and ice covers the kayak deck.
	Paddling against wind and snow, but down the river. It takes only 25 minutes to reach my launching spot. Paddling in a snowstorm is much more pleasant than driving in it.
It was my second kayak trip on the South Platte River. The first one took place a week earlier. Winter conditions but no snow. I explored the river upstream and downstream of the launching place, as well as a short stretch of Cache La Poudre River. The third trip: February 11, 2001. The same route as before upstream to the diversion dam and back. Snow but sunny. A lot of hunters and shooting around but getting quiet at sunset. I met the same turkey flock resting on a sandbar. Related posts: South Platte River below Denver, Colorado – GPS/photo river guide Winter Dusk on the South Platte River Winter Afternoon on South Platte River with Thunderbolt-X Kayak Winter Canoeing on the South Platte River in Northern Colorado Climbing Snowdrifts on the South Platte River with Thunderbolt Kayak Paddling during Duck and Goose Hunting Season on South Platte River?
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