The Gunnison River

This post is also available in: EnglishFrançaisDeutsch日本語

The Gunnison River is formed at Almont, where the East River joins the Taylor, then flowing south to the town of Gunnison. At Gunnison, the River then changes course and flows west into the Blue Mesa Reservoir. Continuing west, the Gunnison flows through two water storage units, the Morrow Point Reservoir, and the Crystal Reservoir. Below the Crystal Dam, the River enters the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, continuing west entering into The Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area. Beyond the City of Delta, the Gunnison flows through the Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area continuing on to where it flows into the Colorado River at Grand Junction. Our guide starts on the Taylor River at the Lottis Creek Campground and continues to where the Gunnison enters Blue Mesa Reservoir. Below Crystal Dam, one can travel the Gunnison to Pleasure Park Take-out where the North Fork of the Gunnison enters the main river. From Confluence Park in Delta to Whitewater is Class I-II water.
 

Taylor River American Whitewater.org Taylor River American Whitewater.org Taylor River American Whitewater.org Gunnison above Blue Mesa American Whitewater.org Gunnison above Blue Mesa American Whitewater.org Gunnison above Blue Mesa American Whitewater.org Put-in Below Crystal Dam American Whitewater.org 18 Foot Drop-Black Canyon American Whitewater.org Camping- Black Canyon American Whitewater.org Corner Pocket- Black Canyon American Whitewater.org Escalante-Dominguez NCA Brian Amstuz Dominguez-Escalante NCA  
Gunnison Whitewater Park:
“The Gunnison Whitewater Park is 1/2 mile from downtown and includes three features along the Gunnison River, one of which (the Third Feature) was completely rebuilt in 2015 with the help of a GOCO grant. The Third Feature is now unlike any other in the state, with a unique two-island system that diverts water into the whitewater section. It’s extremely powerful during high flows in May and June, then becomes perfect for intermediates when the water drops to 600-1,200 cfs, usually July to October.”
 
8 Awesome Whitewater Parks in Colorado
 
[wpgmza id=”47″]

Lottis Creek (Taylor River) to Almont: Season: Spring-Summer Day-Use Pass: na Class of Rapids: II-IV Length: 18 miles Put-in: Lottis Creek Put-in American Whitewater.org	Almont to Blue Mesa Reservoir (Town Run): Season: Spring-Summer Day-Use Pass: na Class of Rapids: II Length: 18 miles Put-in: Almont
Crystal Dam to Chukar Trail: Season: Spring-Summer Day-Use Pass: na Class of Rapids: IV-V Length: 16 miles Put-in: Crystal Dam (East Portal Campoground) American Whitewater.org	Chuckar Trail to North Fork: Season: Spring-Summer Day-Use Pass: na Class of Rapids: III Length: 13.5 miles Put-in: Chuckar Trail (1 mile from drop-off to Put-in on the Gunnison River. American Whitewater.org
Delta (Confluence Park) to Whitewater: Season: Spring-Summer Day-Use Pass: na Class of Rapids: I-II Length: 44 miles Put-in: Confluence Park
Taylor River Below Taylor Park Reservoir Streamflow: 104 ft³/s Gage height: 3.54 ft USGS	Gunnison River near Gunnison Temperature: 36.32 ° F Streamflow: 1190 ft³/s Gage height: 2.06 ft USGS
Gunnison River below Gunnison Tunnel Temperature: 36.32 ° F Streamflow: 624 ft³/s Gage height: 2.73 ft USGS