Colorado's last free-flowing major river, running from Stagecoach Reservoir through the wild canyons of Dinosaur National Monument.
About the River
The Yampa River rises in the mountains northeast of Steamboat Springs and flows roughly 250 miles west through the high desert before joining the Green River at Echo Park inside Dinosaur National Monument. Unlike most major rivers in the Colorado Basin, the Yampa remains undammed along the vast majority of its length, a rare thing in the American West, allowing spring snowmelt to push it into a full, wild flood each May and June.
From the productive trout water below Stagecoach Reservoir to the Class IV canyon runs inside Dinosaur, the river serves nearly every river pursuit: Gold Medal fly fishing, beginner floats through downtown Steamboat Springs, multi-day wilderness expeditions through remote canyon country, and exceptional wildlife corridors hosting great blue herons, bald eagles, river otters, and mule deer.
The primary gauge near Steamboat Springs is the most-watched flow reference. Deerlodge Park governs the Dinosaur permit section. Peak runoff typically arrives mid-May through late June depending on snowpack.
Flow Guide
The table below shows recommended CFS ranges for each major activity at each section. Status badges reflect the current reading from the closest gauge.
| Pursuit | Upper Yampa | Town Run | Steamboat–Hayden | Hayden–Craig | Craig–Maybell | Dinosaur NM |
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* Flow ranges are general guidelines. Conditions vary; always assess local hazards before launching. Dinosaur NM requires a permit April 1 – September 30.
Interactive Map
River Sections
Related Rivers
Check real-time flows at every station on the Yampa before you drive to the put-in.