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North Platte River Northgate Canyon Adventure
The North Platte River begins as a trickle in the
mountains surrounding Walden, Colorado and flows 618 miles before joining the
South Platte River in Nebraska. Walden lies in a high, broad valley known as
North Park. The trappers and mountain men called it "New Park" because it was
discovered after South and Middle Parks had been trapped and hunted out.
The French Trappers named the North Platte 'Riviere de
Plat', meaning "Flat River". That name characterizes much of the rivers course.
Early travelers on the Oregon Trail followed it to near the present day town of
Casper, Wyoming. They considered it too shallow to float, too deep to ford, and
too wide to bridge. However, this river would have surprised those pioneers had
they followed it into the mountains. It is here, deep in the Medicine Bow
Mountains, that we will float the river as it is turned on edge.
Flowing through the Northgate Wilderness Area, the
North Platte is one of Colorado's best-kept secrets. This white water gem
combines untracked wilderness with an abundance of Colorado's finest rapids to
deliver an outstanding early season adventure. The canyon begins near the
border of Colorado and Wyoming where the river spills from its source in North
Park. Completely inaccessible, the "gate" of Northgate Canyon stymied French
trappers in their upstream efforts to reach North Park. The North Platte is one
of Colorado's only remaining free-flowing rivers.
The North Platte is located west of Fort Collins and
east of Steamboat Springs near Walden, Colorado. It is also within easy driving
distance of Laramie, Wyoming.
Visit the Wilderness Aware
Gallery to see photos of the North Platte and other exciting Colorado and
Arizona rivers.
Click here for
directions and a map to the North Platte River.
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