Begins Below The Tailrace Of The Rainbow Dam To The Confluence With The Connecticut River river run
Begins Below The Tailrace Of The Rainbow Dam To The Confluence With The Connecticut River
The Whitewater River Run is regulated by the State of Connecticut. Anyone operating a watercraft on the river must comply with all state and local regulations. Additionally, there are specific regulations to the area, including a restriction on camping within 100 feet of the riverbank. The area is also subject to seasonal restrictions, and visitors are advised to check for closures or other restrictions before planning a trip.
Plan your run down to the hour
Same weather feed Snoflo's iOS app uses -- updated continuously from NOAA / yr.no. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram; rain ahead of a run typically lifts flows 12-48 hours later depending on the basin.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks -- the upstream story that drives next week's flows.
Regional streamflow levels
USGS streamgauges around Begins Below The Tailrace Of The Rainbow Dam To The Confluence With The Connecticut River -- useful for spotting upstream pulses and gauging which tributary is contributing what.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Stony Brook Near West Suffield | 31 cfs | → |
| Farmington River At Tariffville | 924 cfs | → |
| Connecticut River At Thompsonville | 10,600 cfs | → |
| Broad Brook At Broad Brook | 32 cfs | → |
| North Branch Park R At Hartford | 88 cfs | → |
| Hockanum River Near East Hartford | 155 cfs | → |
Plan a longer trip
The closest boat launches, other paddle runs, and campgrounds so a day on the water can grow into a full weekend.
Boat launches
- Rainbow Reservoir
- Kings Island (Connecticut River)
- Bissell Bridge (Connecticut River)
- Riverside Road Simsbury
- East River Drive East Hartford
- New State Road Trail Manchester
Other river runs
- The Confluence Of The East And West Branches To The Confluence With The Farmington River In East Granby
- The Massachusetts-Connecticut State Line In Hartland To The Confluence With The Salmon Brook Main Stem
- The Hartland Headwaters To The Confluence With The Salmon Brook Main Stem
- New Hartford/Canton Town Line To The Confluence With The Nepaug River
- The Confluence With The Nepaug River To A Point 0.2 Miles Below The Lower Collinsville Dam Tailrace
Whitewater safety
- Check the flow before you run
- Use the linked-gauge card and Regional Flow panel above. Class ratings change with flow -- a Class III at low water can become Class IV+ at high water.
- Know your skill ceiling
- Pick runs comfortably below your ceiling. Cold-water and big-water runs raise the consequences of any mistake.
- Wear the right gear
- Helmet, PFD, drysuit / wetsuit when water is below 60°F. Throw bag, knife, and whistle on your person, not in the boat.
- Scout, set safety, and run with a team
- Scout new rapids on foot, set safety with throw bags above the consequence pool, and run with at least one other competent paddler.
- Respect the river
- Strainers, undercuts, low-head dams, and wood can kill at any class rating. When in doubt, portage.
Set push alerts in the Snoflo app
Save Begins Below The Tailrace Of The Rainbow Dam To The Confluence With The Connecticut River as a favorite, set a discharge threshold (e.g. "alert me when flow hits 600 cfs"), and the iOS app pushes the moment the linked gauge crosses.
About Begins Below The Tailrace Of The Rainbow Dam To The Confluence With The Connecticut River
What's the optimal flow for Begins Below The Tailrace Of The Rainbow Dam To The Confluence With The Connecticut River?
The optimal flow depends on the section and the craft. Check the Run Details panel for the linked gauge and current status.
How fresh is the cfs reading on this page?
The linked USGS streamgauge reports continuously (every 15 minutes); Snoflo refreshes throughout the day. Hover the streamflow sparkline to read individual datapoints.
What's the whitewater class?
See the Run Details panel for the class rating Snoflo tracks for this run. Class ratings change with flow -- a Class III at low water can become Class IV in high water.
Where do I put in / take out?
Tap Directions in the hero above to open driving directions to the put-in. For shuttle planning, check the Nearby Boat Launches panel and the river run operator's site.
Can I get alerts when flows hit the optimal range?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this run, set a discharge threshold, and you'll get a push the moment the gauge crosses.
Other runs near here
Snoflo-tracked paddle runs within driving distance of Begins Below The Tailrace Of The Rainbow Dam To The Confluence With The Connecticut River.