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40.44638194105984°N 108.51169062835837°W
Trip Report

Yampa Canyon — May 2021

A twenty-three-person May 2021 Yampa at 3,500 cfs — the last major undammed Colorado tributary running its natural snowmelt curve. Warm Springs Rapid was the consequential feature; the crew size made every camp a small village in the canyon.

5 days 3,500 cfs 23 people
Season spring
Launch 5-18-2021
Flow 3,500 cfs
Water 58°F avg
(USGS)
Weather 33–79°F
Takeout 5-22-2021
Conditions

3,500–5,000 CFS — ramped up each day

5 days
3,500 cfs
12 ft/mi
Day 1 5-18-2021

3,060 cfs (USGS daily mean), water 60°F | Maybell, CO: 33–76°F

Day 2 5-19-2021

3,540 cfs (USGS daily mean), water 60°F | Maybell, CO: 41–79°F

Day 3 5-20-2021

3,960 cfs (USGS daily mean), water 58°F | Maybell, CO: 50–79°F

Day 4 5-21-2021

3,970 cfs (USGS daily mean), water 55°F | Maybell, CO: 47–68°F

Day 5 5-22-2021

3,690 cfs (USGS daily mean), water 56°F | Maybell, CO: 45–75°F

Data

Flow: USGS Yampa near Maybell (09251000), 3,060–3,970 cfs daily mean.

Weather: Maybell, CO, 33–79°F. NOAA GHCN-Daily

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