“What’s 300 cfs…about low side of medium?” I ask this year’s Bailey Fest organizer Collin Remmers.
“High side of low,” he responds, as we get ready to put on the coveted Bailey Canyon of Colorado’s North Fork of the South Platte.
Remmers would know, as he’s logged more than 20 laps on the cherished Colorado run this year, making 2026 one of the best Bailey Canyon seasons on record. The accolades come on a drought year that has seen other Colorado waterways dry up, making it even more of an anomaly. But in a year of drought, Denver Water has steadily released flows from Lake Dillon on the other side of the Continental Divide through Roberts Tunnel all summer, rather than only at the end of the season. And this has made the 2026 paddling season one to remember for Front Range boaters.
Either way for us — low side of medium or high side of low — for our group of six kayakers and a lone packrafter putting on the river on Saturday, there was water, which was worth celebrating in itself at this year’s BaileyFest 2026, an annual gathering of Colorado kayakers held over Labor Day weekend benefiting the Colorado Whitewater Association and American Whitewater. With a local landowner again offering up his riverside land for camping and put-in access, this year’s festival offered camping and paddling for three nights, Sept. 4-7, including food booths and live music on Saturday night.
But it was the water that was most on everyone’s minds. While 2026 has marked the best Bailey Canyon season in recent memory — thanks to Denver Water releasing between 300-400 cfs all summer long — rumors were circulating like the undercut eddy below First Falls that they were going to turn it off over the weekend. As a result, many paddlers cancelled their plans and aborted their mission. As a result, a festival that usually draws nearly 150 people saw only 30-40 show up. But those who did were handsomely rewarded by the river still flowing and vibes high.
For good reason. According to sponsor American Whitewater, paralleled by a historic narrow-gauge railroad grade providing a perfect scouting trail, the 10-mile-long run has an average gradient of 85 feet per mile, making it one of the most continuous runs in the state. “Bailey Canyon is a classic Colorado run with Class IV-V creeking in a committing wilderness canyon,” its description reads. “Bailey is remote, tight, and technical. The three Class V rapids can be tough to recognize, so first-timers will benefit from running it for their first time with a Bailey veteran.” One of the bridges you duck under dates from 1886.
Luckily, we had that in Collin, who led our posse — including a couple of first-timers and me, who hadn’t run it in 15 years — to the First Falls portage, through the next three “falls,” down through read-and-run Class III-IV+ The Steeps, onto the scout and portage (for some of us) at Class V Super Max, and through Class V Deer Creek, and onto the take-out on river left. Like CWA benefiting from his position organizing the festival, it was great to have his guidance, whether it was dodging blow-downs from the winter in route or dialing us through lines.
From there, if people weren’t heading back up for lap number two, they headed to the festival and campground site for live music, beer, food, door prizes, and the general kayaking camaraderie that comes with such longstanding get-togethers.
“Bailey Fest 2026 marked my first experience having a hand in running the event, and it went as well as we could have hoped,” says Remmers. “Despite concerns about low flows and the lack of stoke among many Colorado kayakers this year, we had solid water levels all weekend. Everyone who rallied out got to enjoy the shorter paddle in, as we can put in right at our camp/festival site, and the awesome energy of a big crew running the river together.”
“BaileyFest draws advanced kayakers from across the country to celebrate Colorado whitewater and the paddling community,” adds CWA president Sadie Conrad. “Despite a low water season this year, we had a great time, and CW is proud to sponsor an event that brings so many passionate paddlers together. We’re looking forward to next year!”
And yes, as of press time a week later, the river was still flowing at 300 cfs…
Watch a Newbie’s First Run Down Bailey at BaileyFest Here:
(By Erik Williams)
Sponsors: Thanks again to Colorado Whitewater, 4Corners Riversports, Golden River Sports, Colorado Kayak Supply, for making this happen!