Crystal River (Colorado)
| Crystal River | |
|---|---|
Crystal River at Redstone, with Chair Mountain in distance, September 2009 | |
Map of Roaring Fork drainage basin, including the Crystal River | |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | |
| • location | Confluence of North Fork Crystal River and South Fork Crystal River |
| • coordinates | 39°03′32″N 107°06′15″W / 39.05889°N 107.10417°W |
| • elevation | |
| Mouth | |
• location | Confluence with Roaring Fork River |
• coordinates | 39°25′07″N 107°14′10″W / 39.41861°N 107.23611°W |
• elevation | 6,060 ft (1,850 m) |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Roaring Fork—Colorado |
The Crystal River is a tributary of the Roaring Fork River. It is approximately 40 miles (64 km) long and is located in Gunnison, Pitkin and Garfield counties in Colorado, United States.
The river is a popular fly fishing and outdoor tourism destination.
The Crystal River remains one of the few rivers in Colorado that is undammed along its length, making the segments that are upstream of large ranching irrigation diversions outside of Carbondale eligible for federal Wild and Scenic River protection.
The Crystal Valley historically was a seasonal home and hunting ground of the Parianuche and Yampa bands of the Ute people.