Snake River (North Fork) (I-70 Mountains)

The short gorge of North Fork of the Snake River is a good practice canyon with interesting narrows above Snake River Falls. Conditions are generally good in July and water flow tapers off in August. Stream gauge: 09047500 SNAKE RIVER NEAR MONTEZUMA, CO https://waterdata.usgs.gov/co/nwis/uv/?site_no=09047500&PARAmeter_cd=00065,00060 Suggested target of ~6 cfs and "divide the streamflow value by 14" to estimate the cfs at Snake River Falls. Experts may go for more. This waterfall is a confirmed nesting site for the Black Swift, listed as a Species of Special Concern by the U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The swifts migrate from Brazil annually to occupy this site from late May until late September, raising a single chick. The swifts are susceptible to disturbance from human activities near their nests, including noise and movement, direct disturbance or destruction of their nests, and trampling of vegetation. Canyoneering/climbing at this waterfall during the Black Swift nesting season (late May - late September/first frost) is likely to cause direct damage to nests, eggs, and young, and disturb adult swifts enough to cause them to abandon their nest and offspring. Click here for more information on the Black Swift.

From I-70, drive over Loveland Pass to the south and by Arapaho Basin Ski Area at the bottom of the pass. Park on a pullout on the left (south) side of the road soon after the ski area and before a yellow sign that says "Runaway Truck Ramp 2.5 Miles". Walk downhill for a minute from the pullout on well-worn social trails to the edge of the North Fork of the Snake River. Turn left (upstream) and drop in by a large telephone pole.

Hike the narrows downstream a short distance to Snake River Falls. R1: 60' from a natural anchor or bolts on Canyon Right pic|:NForkSnakeColorado1.jpg ~ Snake River Falls}}