• Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Uncover Colorado Logo

  • Blog
  • Activities
    • Year-round
      • Brewery Tours
      • Casinos & Gaming
      • Colorado Brands
      • Federal Lands
      • Food & Dining
      • Ghost Towns
      • Gondola & Chairlifts
      • Hot Springs
      • Mine Tours
      • Museums
      • Paintball
      • Public Parks
      • Scenic Drives
      • Shopping
      • Sports Teams
      • State Parks
      • Train Rides
      • Transportation
      • Wildlife
      • Zip Lines & Aerial Parks
    • Spring, Summer & Fall
      • Amusement Parks
      • ATV Rentals
      • Biking
      • Boating
      • Camping
      • Drive-In Theaters
      • Fishing
      • Golf Courses
      • Hiking
      • Horseback Riding
      • Rock Climbing
      • Tubing & Paddling
      • Waterfalls
      • Whitewater Rafting
    • Winter
      • Cross Country Skiing
      • Dog Sledding
      • Ice Climbing
      • Ice Fishing
      • Ice Skating
      • Skiing & Snowboarding
      • Sleigh Rides
      • Snow Tubing
      • Snowmobiling
      • Snowshoeing
  • Events
    • January
    • February
    • March
    • April
    • May
    • June
    • July
    • August
    • September
    • October
    • November
    • December
  • Lodging
    • Budget Hotels
    • Historic Hotels
    • Luxury Hotels
    • Bed & Breakfasts
    • Cabins & Glamping
    • Casinos with Lodging
    • Dude Ranches
    • Hot Spring with Lodging
    • Wineries with Lodging
    • Campgrounds
  • Towns
  • Trip Planner
  • Search
  • Blog
  • Activities
  • Events
  • Lodging
  • Towns
  • Trip Planner
Colorado River State Bridge CO
Colorado River at State Bridge, CO. Photo: Jeffrey Beall

Colorado River – near Kremmling-Glenwood Springs-Grand Junction

FacebookTwitter

The Colorado River begins in Colorado at the continental divide and winds 1,450 miles to the Southwest through five American states and two Mexican states. It passes through the Grand Canyon and 11 US national parks along the way!

Colorado River Route

Beginning on the western side of Rocky Mountain National Park in the Never Summer Mountains, the Colorado River then travels through five Colorado dams before reaching Utah including the Shadow Mountain Dam, Granby Dam, Grand Valley Diversion Dam, Windy Gap dam and Price-Stubb Dam.

Colorado River Basin Map
Map of the Colorado River basin. Photo: Shannon1

These dams provide water and irrigation for the communities in the surrounding areas as the Colorado makes its way through very arid areas. Outside of Colorado it famously passes through the Hoover Dam.

The five states the Colorado River passes through include:

  • Colorado
  • Utah
  • Arizona
  • Nevada
  • California
  • Mexico
Grand Valley Diversion Dam on Colorado River Circa 1940
Grand Valley Diversion Dam on Colorado River, circa 1940. Photo: WaterArchives.org

Activities on the Colorado River

The Colorado is home to a variety of different fish and animals including the Colorado River cutthroat trout and beavers. As the Colorado flows through the high desert canyons just outside of Glenwood Springs it becomes home to many endangered species of fish including Colorado pikeminnow, humpback chub, razorback sucker and roundtail chub.

Colorado River Glenwood Springs CO Train Passing By
Colorado River flowing through Glenwood Springs, CO. Photo: Steven Martin

Because the Colorado River is slow moving and extremely clear in places, the fishing is excellent. The Colorado River can be accessed for fishing inside of Rocky Mountain National park and between Granby and Kremmling. Granby Trails Gold Medal fisheries in five sections. These five sections are regulated and anglers will need to make reservations and pay a fee to fish in this spectacular area.

If visitors are looking for a place to whitewater raft on the Colorado River they need look no further than Glenwood Springs. In this area the Colorado offers mild to extreme whitewater rafting experiences.

Colorado River Rafters Downstream of Kremmling CO
Rafters on the Colorado River downstream of Kremmling, CO. Photo: Mia & Steve Mestdagh

Visitors who are looking to enjoy the river without getting wet can hike along the river in Rocky Mountain National Park or just outside of Glenwood Springs. Kayaking the Colorado River is also popular along various sections of the Upper Colorado River and Lower Colorado River.

The Colorado can also be enjoyed from the comfort of one’s vehicle along I-70 between Glenwood Springs and Grand Junction. Here the river flows through towering red sandstone canyons and offers the viewer breath taking scenery.

Painting of Colorado River Grand Junction CO
Colorado River, Grand Junction, Colo. Photo: Nancy and Randy

Details

Passes thru:

  • Grand Lake
  • Granby
  • Hot Sulphur Springs
  • Parshall
  • Kremmling
  • Radium
  • Dotsero
  • Glenwood Springs
  • New Castle
  • Silt
  • Rifle
  • Parachute
  • De Beque
  • Palisade
  • Grand Junction
  • Fruita

Length: 1,450 miles

Tributaries:

  • Willow Creek
  • Blue River
  • Gunnison River

Latest in Colorado River

Arkansas River Fly Fishing Gold Medal Waters Colorado

Gold Medal Waters in Colorado

Colorado is blessed with a plentiful offering of trout-filled lakes, streams, and rivers. There are countless…

Gold Medal Waters in ColoradoRead More

Shadow Mountain Lake Kayaking Colorado

11 Best Places to Kayak in Colorado

While Colorado is best known for its mountains, there are plenty of beautiful lakes and rivers…

11 Best Places to Kayak in ColoradoRead More

Arkansas River Whitewater Rafting through the Royal Gorge by Train

8 Best Rivers to Raft in Colorado

The Rocky Mountains are well known for the epic whitewater rivers they produce, and Colorado boasts…

8 Best Rivers to Raft in ColoradoRead More

Middle Park Colorado River cuts through green Grand County valley

Colorado’s Charming Middle Park Region

Between the irreverent animated TV show of its namesake and its closer proximity to populated cities…

Colorado’s Charming Middle Park RegionRead More

McInnis Canyons NCA Rock Arch Colorado

Top things to do in Fruita, Colorado

Known for its dinosaur remnants and Mike the Headless Chicken, Fruita is an interesting Western Colorado…

Top things to do in Fruita, ColoradoRead More

Dillon Dam and Reservoir Silverthorne Colorado Autumn Snow and Colors

Large and Powerful Dams of Colorado

You might not realize it, but most large bodies of water in Colorado are dammed up…

Large and Powerful Dams of ColoradoRead More

grand mesa in colorado

The Western Plateau of Colorado

The Colorado Plateau encompasses a massive land area that features a series of plateaus or mesas…

The Western Plateau of ColoradoRead More

Clear Creek Whitewater Park Rubber Ducky Tuber

Colorado’s Top Whitewater Parks for Kayaks, Tubes and SUPs

Since the turn of the millennium, Colorado’s towns have been revolutionizing their waterfront areas with new…

Colorado’s Top Whitewater Parks for Kayaks, Tubes and SUPsRead More

Colorado River Kayaking Nevada

Kayaking the Upper and Lower Colorado River

The Colorado River is one of the most coveted waterways for kayaking and other human-powered watercraft.…

Kayaking the Upper and Lower Colorado RiverRead More

South Platte River, Colorado

Colorado’s Major Rivers

When all of Colorado’s famous snow melts in the spring, it becomes the state’s gorgeous rivers.…

Colorado’s Major RiversRead More

Fly Fishing Roaring Fork River Aspen CO

8 Great Fishing Spots by Aspen

Aspen is set in one of the most arrestingly beautiful settings in the American West, but…

8 Great Fishing Spots by AspenRead More

Gunnison River Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

9 Fine Fishing Spots near Grand Junction

From bucolic rivers to gorgeous alpine lakes, the areas surrounding Grand Junction are flush with places…

9 Fine Fishing Spots near Grand JunctionRead More

Primary Sidebar

Join our Colorado travel community

Enter your email below and grab our free locals' guide and monthly what's up designed to help you live your Colorado life and uncover fun things to do. —and never miss out again.

Recent Posts

  • Upcoming Spring Festivals in Colorado
  • 8 Great Springtime Colorado Festivals
  • 9 Colorado Ski & Snowboard Companies
  • Brief Timeline of Colorado’s Ski and Snowboard History
  • Fly Directly to these Colorado Ski Resorts with Airports Nearby

Footer

Get In Touch

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Resources
  • Disclaimer
Facebook Instagram Pinterest Twitter

Disclosure: Uncover Colorado is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Things To Do

  • Travel Blog
  • Colorado Activities
  • Colorado Events
  • Colorado Towns
  • Colorado Hotels
  • Colorado Restaurants
  • Colorado Transportation
  • Made in Colorado

Cheers! Mile High Happy Hour shares showcases Denver neighborhoods' restaurant happy hours.

Winter Activities

  • Federal Lands
  • Ghost Towns
  • Hot Springs
  • Ice Skating
  • Ski Resorts
  • Snow Tubing
  • State Parks
  • Train Rides

Copyright © 2023 · Uncover Colorado | Sitemap | Advertise