At a Glance
- Origin: La Poudre Pass
- River Length: 1,450 miles
- Valley Access: Colorado River Trail
- Moose Habitat: Year-round
The Colorado River Begins Here
The Colorado River originates at La Poudre Pass on the Continental Divide near Grand Lake — a remarkable fact that most visitors to the area don't know. The river flows south through Rocky Mountain National Park's Kawuneeche Valley, visible from Highway 34 and the Colorado River Trail, before continuing 1,450 miles to the Gulf of California.
The upper Colorado River in RMNP is a designated Wild and Scenic River. The Kawuneeche Valley (kawuneeche means 'valley of the coyote' in Arapaho) is among the most beautiful river valleys in the Rockies, with the river braiding through willow meadows flanked by the Continental Divide.
Experiencing the Headwaters
The Colorado River Trail, starting near Timber Creek Campground, is the best way to experience the river's headwaters on foot. The flat trail follows the river through its upper valley — through the same country that defines one of the most important watersheds in the western United States.
Moose are the defining wildlife of the upper Colorado corridor. The willows that line the river are the primary food source for the large moose population that lives in the Kawuneeche Valley year-round.
Historical Context
The Colorado River's water is allocated among seven US states and Mexico under the Colorado River Compact of 1922. The legal and cultural importance of the river is extraordinary — its water supports 40 million people and millions of acres of agriculture across the American Southwest.
Standing at the edge of the Colorado River near Grand Lake, looking at a stream you could nearly jump across, while knowing it will eventually reach the Grand Canyon and Mexico, provides a perspective on western geography that few experiences match.