South Platte River - Flat Water Paddling

Review

Intro

South of town out toward Chatfield Reservoir is one of the nicest, gently flowing sections of urban river to be found anywhere. The water in this section of the Platte River is as clean as you’ll find it in the whole river, as it flows out of the Res and into the heavily utilized riverway.

What Makes It Great

Up here, you’ll find people practicing their skills of various kinds - local outfitters use this section to teach kayaking, SUP-ing and fly fishing. You’ll quickly forget that downtown is only about 30 minutes away. Locals that have easy access (there’s plenty of free parking here) love this spot for getting their open-cockpit kayaks out on the water every day during the summer.

There are fish in here and dogs are welcome. You can actually float pretty far down the Platte from this point, just be aware of low-head dams and other industrial usage.

Who is Going to Love It

Lots of people come up here to practice their roll, or even just float with friends, test gear, or go fishing, etc. With constant clean flows and near-road access, it’s truly tough to beat.

Directions, Parking, & Regulations

Go with an outfitter or with a group of friends, or just show up and make friends. Standard watersports equipment is recommended. Check this map for access points.