Last Updated: March 26, 2026
Colorado's river systems are experiencing a mix of below-average and above-average streamflows as of the latest data, painting a complex picture for water enthusiasts. For instance, the North Platte River near Northgate and the South Platte River across multiple locations, including South Platte and Denver, are running at significantly lower rates than normal, with the North Platte showing a 73.1% decrease from the usual flow. Contrastingly, the Arkansas River near Salida and Arkansas River At Granite are flowing close to their seasonal norms, which suggests stability in parts of the watershed. Notably, the Moffat Water Tunnel at East Portal and the Cache La Poudre River near Fort Collins are registering streamflows exceedingly above average, at 774.8% and 186.56% of normal, respectively, indicating potential flood risks in these areas.
Whitewater enthusiasts should take note of the Eagle River near Minturn and the Roaring Fork River at Glenwood Springs, which are running at 79.42% and 32.9% above normal respectively, offering potentially exciting conditions. Conversely, the Rio Grande near Del Norte and above Wagon Wheel Gap is also exhibiting high streamflows, with current levels at 138.49% and 175.77% of normal, which could impact conditions on popular whitewater trails. Whitewater conditions can be swift and challenging with the current gage height at Wagon Wheel Gap at 2.1 feet and the Rio Grande at Del Norte at 2.03 feet. Caution is advised as these conditions may also affect surrounding towns and cities by altering water availability and recreational safety. With varying streamflows across the state, river users are encouraged to stay updated on local conditions and advisories and exercise caution while enjoying Colorado's rivers.
Colorado residents are urged to exercise extreme caution due to multiple Red Flag Warnings issued across the state, signaling critical fire weather conditions. Areas including Fire Weather Zones 214, 200, 202, 220 through 237, and 013 through 042, encompassing regions south of Interstate 70 and below 8000 feet, are particularly at risk. With forecasts predicting low humidity levels as minimal as 7 percent and strong northwest winds reaching up to 45 mph, conditions are ripe for wildfires to ignite and spread rapidly. Cities and towns near these zones, such as Cheyenne, Kit Carson, and portions of the Colorado Front Range, should remain vigilant, avoid outdoor burning, and report any signs of fire to authorities immediately.
| River Run | Status | Streamflow (CFS) | Air Temp (F) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Avalanche Down
Class III |
TOO HIGH | 330 | 65 |
|
Avon Whitewater Park
Class III |
47.75 | ||
|
Barrel Springs
Class IV+ to V+ |
RUNNABLE | 1380 | 68 |
|
Bailey Canyon
Class IV+ to V |
54.18 | ||
|
Barrel Springs
Class IV+ to V+ |
RUNNABLE | 1380 | 68 |
|
Big South
Class V to V+ |
RUNNABLE | 34.2 | 66 |
|
Black Bear Hole & A-Hole
Class III- |
62.02 | ||
|
Bogan Canyon
Class III to III+ |
RUNNABLE | 330 | 65 |
|
Breckenridge Whitewater Park (Town Run)
Class II+ to III |
TOO HIGH | 100 | 61 |
|
Browns Canyon (Fisherman's Bridge to Stone Bridge)
Class III to IV- |
RUNNABLE | 214 | 60 |
|
Buena Vista Whitewater Park
Class II+ to III+ |
RUNNABLE | 214 | 60 |
|
Burns to Dotsero
Class I to IV |
TOO HIGH | 1380 | 68 |
| RUNNABLE | 901 | 66 | |
|
Castle Creek
Class IV+ to V- |
TOO HIGH | 203 | 61 |
|
Catherine Store Section
Class II to II+ |
TOO HIGH | 401 | 66 |
|
Cemetery
Class II+ to III+ |
RUNNABLE | 901 | 66 |
|
Clear Creek of the Arkansas
Class IV+ to V- |
RUNNABLE | -999.00 | 62 |
|
Cross Mountain Gorge
Class III to V |
RUNNABLE | 1300 | 59 |
|
Crystal Mill Falls
Class V- to V |
RUNNABLE | 310 | 64 |
|
Dolores Canyon (Bradfield to Slickrock)
Class III- to III+ |
57.24 | ||
|
Dowd Chute
Class III+ to IV+ |
RUNNABLE | 150 | 55 |
|
Filter Plant
Class II to III+ |
RUNNABLE | 3.92 | 65 |
|
Filter Plant
Class II to III+ |
RUNNABLE | 3.92 | 65 |
|
Foxton
Class III- to IV |
55.99 | ||
|
Fractions
Class III to III+ |
RUNNABLE | 183 | 57 |
|
Gateway to Dewey Bridge (Colorado River)
Class III- to IV |
RUNNABLE | 648 | 77 |
|
Glenwood Springs Whitewater Park
Class II to IV- |
RUNNABLE | 2290 | 66 |
|
Gnar Section
Class V+ |
TOO HIGH | 405.00 | 77 |
|
Golden Whitewater Park
Class II+ |
TOO HIGH | 3.92 | 65 |
|
Gore Canyon
Class IV to V+ |
TOO HIGH | 552 | 61 |
|
Grizzly Creek to Two Rivers Park
Class II to III |
RUNNABLE | 1380 | 66 |
|
Gunnison Gorge
Class III to IV- |
TOO HIGH | 1030 | 68 |
|
Horsethief and Ruby Canyons
Class II to II+ |
RUNNABLE | 4120 | 75 |
|
Idledale to Morrison
Class IV+ to V |
RUNNABLE | 11.20 | 80 |
|
Ledges
Class III |
RUNNABLE | 179 | 67 |
|
Lodore to Echo Park
Class III to III+ |
TOO HIGH | 2600 | 83 |
|
Lower Blue (Green Mountain to Spring Creek)
Class II+ to III |
RUNNABLE | 97.6 | 59 |
|
Lower Blue (Green Mountain to Spring Creek)
Class II+ to III |
RUNNABLE | 97.6 | 59 |
|
Lower Blue (Green Mountain to Spring Creek)
Class II+ to III |
RUNNABLE | 97.6 | 59 |
|
Lower Blue (Green Mountain to Spring Creek)
Class II+ to III |
RUNNABLE | 97.6 | 59 |
|
Lower (Bottom Four)
Class V to V+ |
TOO HIGH | 38.30 | 58 |
|
Lower Boulder Canyon
Class IV- to V- |
RUNNABLE | 42 | 78 |
|
Lower Eagle (Edwards Water Plant to Eagle)
Class III- to III+ |
RUNNABLE | 250 | 60 |
|
Lower Eagle (Edwards Water Plant to Eagle)
Class III- to III+ |
RUNNABLE | 250 | 60 |
|
Lower Fish Creek
Class IV+ to V |
RUNNABLE | 35.6 | 56 |
|
Lower Narrows
Class V- to V+ |
RUNNABLE | 182.00 | 62 |
|
Lower North Fork
Class III |
182.00 | 62 | |
|
Lower Snake
Class III to III+ |
RUNNABLE | 14.2 | 66 |
|
Lower Ten Mile
Class II to III |
RUNNABLE | 60.5 | 62 |
|
Main Section
Class IV+ to V |
RUNNABLE | 55.3 | 69 |
|
Middle Narrows
Class IV to V- |
RUNNABLE | 182.00 | 62 |
|
Middle Ten Mile
Class III+ to IV |
RUNNABLE | 60.5 | 62 |
|
Milk Run
Class II+ to III- |
RUNNABLE | 183 | 57 |
|
New Castle to Silt
Class II |
RUNNABLE | 2290 | 66 |
|
Norwood Canyon
Class III |
RUNNABLE | 179 | 67 |
|
NSV
Class V+ |
TOO HIGH | 37.80 | 76 |
|
Numbers
Class III+ to IV+ |
RUNNABLE | 183 | 57 |
|
October Hole
Class II |
TOO HIGH | 37.80 | 76 |
|
Oh Be Joyful
Class V |
TOO HIGH | 653 | 65 |
| RUNNABLE | 648 | 77 | |
|
Pine Creek (Granite to Numbers)
Class III+ to V- |
RUNNABLE | 183 | 57 |
|
Pumphouse
Class II- to III+ |
RUNNABLE | 552 | 61 |
|
Pumphouse to Double Bridges
Class I to II- |
1300 | 59 | |
|
Riverbend (Tibbet's) to New Castle
Class II |
RUNNABLE | 2290 | 66 |
|
Riverbend (Tibbet's) to New Castle
Class II |
RUNNABLE | 2290 | 66 |
|
Riverbend to Edwards (Upper Eagle)
Class III to IV- |
52.84 | ||
|
Royal Gorge
Class IV- to IV |
RUNNABLE | 258 | 76 |
|
Rustic (Upper)
Class III to III+ |
TOO HIGH | 182.00 | 62 |
|
Salida to Rincon
Class II+ to III |
RUNNABLE | 183 | 57 |
|
Salida Town Run (Stone Bridge to Salida WW Park)
Class II to III |
RUNNABLE | 183 | 57 |
|
Salida Whitewater Park
Class III- to III+ |
TOO HIGH | 183 | 57 |
|
Shoshone (Power Plant to Grizzly Creek)
Class III- to IV |
RUNNABLE | 1380 | 66 |
|
Shoshone (Power Plant to Grizzly Creek)
Class III- to IV |
RUNNABLE | 1380 | 66 |
|
Silverthorne Town Run
Class II to III- |
TOO LOW | 42.4 | 59 |
|
Slickrock to Bedrock
Class II+ to III |
RUNNABLE | 648 | 77 |
|
South Canyon to Riverbend (Tibbet's)
Class II to III |
RUNNABLE | 2290 | 66 |
|
South Canyon to Riverbend (Tibbet's)
Class II to III |
RUNNABLE | 2290 | 66 |
|
South Canyon to Riverbend (Tibbet's)
Class II to III |
RUNNABLE | 2290 | 66 |
|
South Canyon to Riverbend (Tibbet's)
Class II to III |
RUNNABLE | 2290 | 66 |
|
South Canyon to Riverbend (Tibbet's)
Class II to III |
RUNNABLE | 2290 | 66 |
|
South Mineral Creek
Class V to V+ |
TOO HIGH | 80.7 | 56 |
|
Spencer Heights
Class V- to V |
TOO HIGH | 182.00 | 62 |
|
SSV - Confluence to Picnic Grounds
Class V to V+ |
TOO HIGH | 37.80 | 76 |
|
State Bridge to Burns
Class I to II+ |
RUNNABLE | 552 | 61 |
|
State Bridge to Two Bridges
Class I to II+ |
RUNNABLE | 552 | 61 |
|
Steven's Gulch to Bridges Take Out
Class III- to IV+ |
RUNNABLE | 182.00 | 62 |
|
The Upper
Class V to V+ |
TOO HIGH | 38.30 | 58 |
|
Tunnel 1 to Golden Whitewater Park
Class III- to III+ |
RUNNABLE | 60.7 | 76 |
|
Two Rivers to South Canyon
Class II+ to III |
RUNNABLE | 2290 | 66 |
|
Upper Blue (Blue River CG to Columbine Landing)
Class III to IV- |
RUNNABLE | 179.00 | 62 |
|
Upper Clear Creek
Class IV- to IV+ |
RUNNABLE | 60.7 | 76 |
|
Upper Gore Creek
Class II+ to III |
RUNNABLE | 56.9 | 55 |
|
Upper Gore Creek
Class II+ to III |
RUNNABLE | 56.9 | 55 |
|
Upper Narrows
Class V- to V+ |
RUNNABLE | 182.00 | 62 |
|
Upper North Fork
Class IV+ to V- |
RUNNABLE | 27.7 | 71 |
|
Upper South Boulder Creek
Class V+ |
TOO HIGH | 5 | 77 |
|
Upper South Boulder Creek
Class V+ |
TOO HIGH | 5 | 77 |
|
Upper Ten Mile
Class IV+ to V |
RUNNABLE | 60.5 | 62 |
|
Upper-Upper Ten Mile
Class III+ to IV- |
TOO LOW | 60.5 | 62 |
|
Waterfall to Confluence
Class V- |
TOO HIGH | 401 | 66 |