South Platte River: Brighton to Fort Lupton – Rescheduled

Rescheduled to Saturday  March 21

Mat’s Update:

Due to forecasted high winds of 20-25, gusting to 43 mph and Sunday is 40% chance of snow with a high of 38 deg, I am rescheduling the Brighton to Fort Lupton trip to Saturday, March 21^st forecast today is for zero% chance of precip, high of 91 and winds of 11mph

Anyone who signed up for the March 13th trip needs to resign up for the 21st if your schedule permits.

Sign up with trip coordinator Mat Bozek, matbozekx@gmail.com.

The South Platte River from Brighton to Fort Lupton is generally a beginner friendly 9-mile trip that is lined with cottonwoods hosting numerous birds and other wildlife… a nice way to begin the paddling season. There is one mandatory portage at a dam, and one boat chute drop early on that will also be portaged depending on conditions. Meet at Veterans Park in Brighton (junction of Hwy 7 and 85 – W of 85, N of 7) at 8 a.m.  and be ready to begin the car shuttle no later than 9 am.  Take out is at Fort Lupton’s ballfields park.  Bring rain gear, canoe floatation, painters, spare paddle and of course a PFD. Also bring a set of dry clothes in a waterproof bag and a lunch or snack (20 min break).  Don’t pack too heavy!,  the two portages are not all that easy, and you need to cross a boulder field and fence.

Warning! – there are now a very lot of strainers (trees) in the river with a lot of tight turns – you need to have good boat handling skills to avoid them.  The lower the water is, the tighter the gaps past the sweepers.

ACA Waivers required

This will be an ACA trip – e-mail your aca # to Mat. If not an ACA member, bring $10 per person for the insurance fee.

If you are not an ACA member, you can sign an Event Waiver online using this link:  https://aca.sport80.com/public/wizard/a/1370/home.  This wizard will have you create an account with the ACA without becoming a full-fledged ACA member.  When doing the on-line waiver use the event name:  South Platte.  Use the date:  March 21, 2026.  This waiver will not collect the $10 fee in advance.  If you want to create an Event Waiver and pay the fee directly to the ACA, use this link:  https://aca.sport80.com/public/wizard/a/1371/home. Again, you will be creating an account with the ACA just for the purpose of signing and paying for an event waiver.  No refunds if you pay for the waiver in advance, but you make life easier for your trip coordinator, paddle master and club treasurer.

Paper waivers are also an option.  You can print (NEW ACA WAIVER) in advance or fill out the form your trip coordinator has at the put in. Pay $10 cash or pay by check payable to the ACA to the trip coordinator before you get on the water. Minor waivers are at: AMERICAN CANOE ASSOCIATION, INC

Potentially the trip may be run on Sunday depending on the weather.