Water temp: 42°F — Hypothermia risk, wear a drysuit
Optimal: 1500–5000 CFS · USGS #09234500
⚡Flow data is live from USGS·Rapid classifications and CFS ranges need community verification·Know this river?
44 mi
Length
Class III
Difficulty
1500–5000 cfs
Optimal
1,700 cfs
Avg Flow
1,500 cfs
Hist. Median
#09234500
USGS Gauge
Dinosaur National Monument · NPS Permitted River
Lodore Canyon is the Green River's dramatic entry into Dinosaur National Monument — a 44-mile trip from the Gates of Lodore put-in through deep red-walled canyons to the Yampa confluence at Echo Park, then through Whirlpool Canyon and Split Mountain to the takeout. Class III whitewater (Disaster Falls, Hell's Half Mile, Triplet Falls) makes this one of the great intermediate multi-day trips in the West. Permitted by NPS Dinosaur National Monument under the same lottery as the Yampa.
Trip sections
Gates of Lodore to Echo Park — Class III, 19 mi, Disaster Falls and Hell’s Half Mile
Echo Park to Split Mountain — Class III, 25 mi, Whirlpool Canyon and Split Mountain Gorge
Permit Required
⚠This river requires a permit for overnight trips
Dinosaur NM River Permit — Lodore
Managed by: National Park Service — Dinosaur National Monument
Type: Lottery
Required for: Overnight trips
Application Window
Opens: December 1
Closes: January 31
Results announced: Early February
Season & Logistics
May 1 – September 15
Group size: 1–25 people
Lodore launches are part of the same Dinosaur NM lottery as the Yampa. Green River flows through the full season, so Lodore is typically less competitive than Yampa, where the snowmelt window is short. Cost is a per-person/per-night fee — current schedule on the NPS site. Trip is typically 4–5 days from Gates of Lodore put-in to Split Mountain take-out.
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Commercial trips available
Multiple licensed outfitters run guided multi-day Lodore trips. See outfitters below.
Last verified: 2025 · Permit rules change annually — always confirm with the managing agency before applying.
Outfitters
Adrift Adventures
Dinosaur NM multi-day Lodore trips
OARS
Lodore Canyon multi-day expeditions
72-Hour Flow Forecast
NOAA NWPS
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Data Quality
River conditions are community-verified. CFS ranges, difficulty ratings, and trip sections may not reflect every flow level or seasonal change. Always check current conditions, scout unfamiliar rapids, and paddle within your skill level. If you spot an error, use the Improve This River button at the top of the page — your local knowledge is what makes this atlas accurate.