What is The Peak Colorado?
The Peak Colorado is a free daily conditions platform covering Summit County, Eagle County, and Park County, Colorado. Each morning, The Peak publishes 0-10 scores for fly fishing, snow and ski conditions, hiking, and road conditions across the region. Scores are calculated from real-time data sources including USGS stream gauge readings, NOAA weather forecasts, and snowpack measurements from the Natural Resources Conservation Service. A score of 8 or above indicates optimal conditions. A score below 4 indicates conditions that are poor enough to significantly affect the quality of the activity. The platform is free to use.
How does The Peak score fly fishing conditions?
Each river is scored from its own gauge. Flow comes from USGS or Colorado Division of Water Resources gauges and is ranked against that same gauge's daily record for the same date, using 21 to 30 years of history, along with how steady the flow has been. Water temperature counts where the gauge has a sensor. The National Weather Service forecast at the river adds wind, rain, thunder, and cloud cover, and published hatch charts show whether a major hatch is in its usual window. Safety comes before the number: water at 71°F or warmer drops the score to 1, warm water and very low flow cap it, and a high chance of thunder adds a lightning warning. Every score has a confidence level, which drops when a reading is missing or old, or when the gauge has no temperature sensor. Each river also lists the flies and sizes that usually hatch this time of year, taken from those hatch charts. That is a seasonal guide, not a daily recommendation. The full method is on How scores work.
Which rivers does The Peak cover?
The Peak covers 11 rivers and creeks in Summit, Eagle, Park, and Jefferson Counties, each scored from its own gauge. Summit County: the Blue River below Dillon Dam, Tenmile Creek at Frisco, and the Snake River near Montezuma. Eagle County: the Eagle River near Minturn, Gore Creek at Vail, and the Piney River below Piney Lake. Park County: the South Platte Dream Stream from Spinney to Eleven Mile, Eleven Mile Canyon below Eleven Mile Dam, Tarryall Creek below Tarryall Reservoir, and the South Fork of the South Platte above Antero Reservoir. Jefferson County: Cheesman Canyon below Cheesman Reservoir. Flows come from USGS and Colorado Division of Water Resources gauges. See the fishing page for today's conditions on each.
What do the snow and ski condition scores measure?
Snow condition scores on The Peak are calculated from overnight snowfall accumulation, current snowpack as a percentage of median for the date, daytime high temperature forecast, wind speed at ridge elevation, and avalanche danger rating where applicable. A high score indicates fresh snow, manageable wind, and favorable temperatures for skiing or snowshoeing. The score also flags specific conditions that affect safety or access — above-treeline wind holds, warming trends that affect snow quality, and road conditions on key access routes including Hoosier Pass, Loveland Pass, and I-70 through the Eisenhower Tunnel.
Do you send daily conditions alerts?
Not yet. Score alerts are in development, and there are no text message or push alerts today. Check the site each morning. Each card shows when its data was last updated. To hear when alerts launch, leave your email in the Daily Score Alerts form on the homepage.