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Colorado · Moffat Co.
Green River — Lodore Canyon
🏞 National Park
Moffat Co. · 44 mi · Class III
Optimal: 1500–5000 CFS · USGS #09234500
⚠50°F — Cold water immersion risk — review cold water safety before launching
1,680CFS
9.18 ft gauge height
Optimal
↑Rising slowly (+20 cfs/hr)(+590 in 3h)
⚡Flow data is live from USGS·Rapid classifications and CFS ranges need community verification·Know this river?
Gates of Lodore marks the entry to 44 miles of Class III whitewater through Dinosaur National Monument, where the Green River cuts deep into Moffat County's red rock country. John Wesley Powell named this canyon in 1869, and today it runs under the same NPS permit lottery system as the Yampa — launched in 2024 to manage increasing demand. The river averages 1,700 CFS with optimal flows between 1,500 and 5,000 CFS on gauge 09234500. Disaster Falls and Hell's Half Mile highlight the first 19 miles to Echo Park, followed by 25 miles through Whirlpool Canyon and Split Mountain Gorge to the takeout. Commercial outfitters including Adrift Adventures and OARS run regular trips through the monument's protected corridor. The Green maintains its Class III character throughout both sections, though individual rapids shift with flow levels and the canyon's constricted nature amplifies the hydraulics at higher water.
Solunar Fishing Activity
🌒
Waxing Crescent
15% illumination
Poor
★ Moon overhead
10:49 AM
Moonrise
3:19 PM
Moonset
6:19 AM
★ Moon underfoot
10:49 PM
Next full moon: May 3111 days
Permit Required
⚠This river requires a permit for overnight trips
Dinosaur NM River Permit — Lodore
Managed by: National Park Service — Dinosaur National Monument
Type: Lottery
Required for: Overnight trips
Application Window
Opens: December 1
Closes: January 31
Results announced: Early February
Season & Logistics
May 1 – September 15
Group size: 1–25 people
Lodore launches are part of the same Dinosaur NM lottery as the Yampa. Green River flows through the full season, so Lodore is typically less competitive than Yampa, where the snowmelt window is short. Cost is a per-person/per-night fee — current schedule on the NPS site. Trip is typically 4–5 days from Gates of Lodore put-in to Split Mountain take-out.
⚡
Commercial trips available
Multiple licensed outfitters run guided multi-day Lodore trips. See outfitters below.
Last verified: 2025 · Permit rules change annually — always confirm with the managing agency before applying.
Outfitters
Adrift Adventures
Dinosaur NM multi-day Lodore trips
OARS
Lodore Canyon multi-day expeditions
10-Year Flow Patterns
See 10 years of flow patterns for this river — historical analysis is a Pro feature.Upgrade to Pro →
Your Optimal Range
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Data Quality
River conditions are community-verified. CFS ranges, difficulty ratings, and access points may not reflect every flow level or seasonal change. Always check current conditions, scout unfamiliar rapids, and paddle within your skill level.
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