This article's lead section may be too short to adequately summarize the key points. (September 2013) |
Big Thompson River | |
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![]() The headwaters of the Big Thompson River are in Rocky Mountain National Park. | |
Location | |
Country | United States |
State | Colorado |
City | Grand Lake |
Physical characteristics | |
Source | Rocky Mountains |
• coordinates | 40°25′41″N 105°47′29″W / 40.42806°N 105.79139°W[1] |
• elevation | 11,310 ft (3,450 m)[2] |
Mouth | South Platte River |
• location | Near Greeley |
• coordinates | 40°21′16″N 104°45′37″W / 40.35444°N 104.76028°W[1] |
• elevation | 4,670 ft (1,420 m)[2] |
Length | 78 mi (126 km)[3] |
Discharge | |
• location | Loveland[4] |
• average | 72.5 cu ft/s (2.05 m3/s)[4] |
• minimum | 0.48 cu ft/s (0.014 m3/s) |
• maximum | 35,000 cu ft/s (990 m3/s) |
Basin features | |
Tributaries | |
• left | North Fork Big Thompson River |
• right | Little Thompson River |
The Big Thompson River is a tributary of the South Platte River, approximately 78 miles (126 km) long, in the U.S. state of Colorado. Originating in Forest Canyon in Rocky Mountain National Park, the river flows into Lake Estes in the town of Estes Park and then through Big Thompson Canyon. It includes four crossings/bridges which are listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.