Posts tagged June Rise

Big South Trail map

Each June, Rocky Mountain rivers and streams experience what is referred to as the “June Rise” as the snowpack rapidly melts and swells watercourses from Canada to New Mexico.

This year, Northern Colorado has an exceptionally large snowpack that has persisted late into the spring due to colder than normal temperatures. Since temperatures here have become much warmer in a short amount of time, the snow is finally melting – and melting fast.

This weekend, Bobby and I hiked up the Big South Trail in the Poudre Canyon west of Fort Collins to see the Cache La Poudre River rampaging through its upper canyon. It was quite a sight. The entire stretch of river was a boiling cauldron of water, bubbling over giant boulders and smashing against granite cliffs on its way out of the steep and rugged canyon it is contained within.

The Big South Trail follows the upper reaches of the Cache La Poudre River as it spits off from Hwy 14 several miles below Cameron Pass.  It follows the river through the rugged Comanche Peak Wilderness Area before entering the northwestern boundary of Rocky Mountain National Park ten miles from the trailhead.

The Larimer County Sheriff’s office has ordered the river closed to tubers and small inflatable craft due to conditions on the river.  It appears that our local authorities are tiring of rescuing people who get carried down the river and trapped in “strainer” trees or other obstacles.

The Big South rages past the rockfall area on the Big South Trail

Raging water in the Big South

Swirling water behind aspen trees just coming into the growing season

The Big South is a boiling cauldron