Routt Access Parking Lot

In 1984, Congress designated 23,492 acres of the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests as the Platte River Wilderness.Northgate Canyon falls within this wilderness area and provides the public with a unique opportunity for both exciting whitewater and solitude. While floating theNorth Platte, please respect wilderness values and preserve them for the future. One of the regulations to help preserve solitude is a maximum group size of 25 persons per trip. Please call the ranger districts for a complete list of Platte River Wilderness regulations: Brush Creek/Hayden Ranger District at 307/ 326-5258, Parks Ranger District at 970/ 723-8204 or the Laramie Ranger District 307/745-2300. Regulations are also posted on access bulletin boards. At this time, permits are not required for private trips, where members of the party all share the costs of their trip equally.No one may receive a salary or gratuity, increase their net worth or amortize equipment costs without a Special Use Permit. Special Use Permits are required for all commercial outfitters. The normal floating season runs from late May through June, although runoff is very unpredictable. A flow of at least 1200 c.f.s. is recommended for floating. Daily flow information is available during the float season at the Brush Creek/Hayden and Parks Ranger Districts or by checking http//wy.waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?06620000. Floating is hazardous inNorthgate due to the river, weather and access. Navigation on the river is very technical because of numerous rocks and maneuverability problems. The weather at this elevation, 8,000 feet, is highly unpredictable in June where snow, freezing rain, and high winds are not uncommon. Access is limited to two main points, Routt Access and Six Mile Gap, with the most dangerous rapids in between, known asNorthgate Canyon. Once launched, a boat in committed. Camping is allowed along the river. Fishing may be good for brown and rainbow trout in the calmer stretches. The canyon is in t