Live whitewater across the country.
Streamflow, whitewater class, and length for U.S. river runs — every paddleable section with a named USGS gauge, refreshed throughout the day. Built for kayakers, rafters, canoeists, and anyone planning a river day.
What the rivers are running
How U.S. paddle and whitewater conditions are shaping up — class, flow, and the seasonal context.
The U.S. has more paddleable miles than any country on Earth — from the alpine creeks of Colorado and the granite gorges of California's Sierra Nevada to the warm-water bayous of Louisiana and the Class V steeps of West Virginia and North Carolina. Snoflo joins live USGS streamgauge readings to named river runs so you can see, at a glance, what's actually flowing today.
Most western runs peak between April and July as snowpack melts off; eastern rivers are more rain-driven and respond fastest to multi-day frontal storms. Class I–II is suitable for beginners and open canoes, III requires solid intermediate skills and decisive moves, IV–V is expert-only with serious consequence for mistakes.
Drill into any run below for current discharge, the gauge it's keyed off, and historical levels. For the full streamflow picture, see the flow report.
About the paddle data
What does whitewater class mean?
The international whitewater scale (Class I–VI) rates a river's difficulty. I is moving water with riffles. II is straightforward rapids with clear channels. III requires complex maneuvers in fast water with moderate consequence. IV is intense, powerful but predictable rapids requiring decisive boat handling. V is extremely long, obstructed, or violent rapids with significant hazard. VI is considered impossible to run.
Where does the streamflow data come from?
USGS streamgauges. Each paddle run on Snoflo is keyed to a specific gauge that paddlers and outfitters have agreed represents flow on that section. The gauge readings update every 15 minutes; we re-pull throughout the day.
What's "cfs" and what's a runnable level?
Cubic feet per second — the standard unit for streamflow. Runnable levels are run-specific. A creek that's classic at 200 cfs might be too low at 100 and dangerously flooded at 1,000. Always cross-reference with the run's accepted gauge ranges from a guidebook or local club before launching.
How fresh is the data?
USGS gauges report every 15 minutes. We re-pull every hour. Run difficulty ratings come from a curated database that's updated as paddlers report changes.
Can I get an alert when my favorite run hits prime flow?
Yes. Save any paddle run as a favorite in the Snoflo iOS app, set a flow window (e.g. "alert me between 800 and 1,500 cfs"), and you'll get a push the moment it crosses into range. Free with a Snoflo account.
Is this a substitute for local guidebooks and trip leaders?
No. Snoflo is informational. Always carry appropriate skills, gear, and a sober assessment of the day's flow. For high-consequence runs (Class IV+), paddle with people who know the run and never solo. American Whitewater is the authoritative source for U.S. river information.
Paddle runs by state
Tap any state for a full listing of whitewater and paddle runs in that state.