Carbon River Flow Today
As of October 14, 2026 at 1:00 AM, the Carbon River is flowing at 46 cfs near Fairfax, WA — 26% of normal for the date and down 7% in 24 hours. ❤ Favorite
Carbon River map
See the Carbon River on a live map
Every gauge, dam and paddle run on the river, one tap each:
- Gauges now — which reaches are high or low
- Dams & paddle runs — storage and what’s in range
- Rain — past 24 hrs and the 72-hr forecast, press play
✓ Free for 7 days · ✓ Cancel anytime
Carbon River conditions today
Where the river is running versus normal, what’s rising or dropping, and what it means for a trip — built from the live USGS readings below.
At Fairfax, the Carbon River is running 46 cfs — 26% of normal, down 7% since yesterday. Along the river, 1 of 1 reporting gauges are below normal (the typical gauge is at 26% of normal).
How the Carbon River compares to normal
Every reporting gauge from the top of the river to the bottom: bar length is today’s flow, colour is percent of normal for the date.
Flow along the river, upstream to downstream
- Fairfax1,216 ft 46 cfs26%
Bar length uses a square-root scale so small headwater flows stay visible next to big downstream ones. Colour: <50% 50–90 90–110 110–150 150%+ of normal.
Where every gauge sits
One dot per Carbon River streamgauge, placed by its own percent of normal. The line is the typical gauge (26%).
Carbon River flow report
| Streamgage | Streamflow | % of normal | 24h | Gage height | To flood stage | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Carbon River Near Fairfax WA
Oct 14, 1:00 AM · USGS 12094000 |
46 cfs | 26% | -7% | 5.49 ft | 8.0 ft below | 1,216 ft |
USGS provisional data. Readings are in each gauge’s local time; gauges silent for more than 3 days are marked “Last reported”. Tap any gauge for its hydrograph, forecast and history.
Paddle runs on the Carbon River
Each run is checked against its runnable range using the gauge it is keyed to (or the nearest gauge on this river).
| Run | Status | Flow now | Runnable range | Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Confluence With Ipsut Creek To Western Boundary Of Mount Rainier National Park Gauge: Fairfax |
No live range | 46 cfs | 915–2,532 cfs typical | III–IV |
| Headwaters On The Nw Slope Of Mount Rainier At Carbon Glacier To Confluence With Ipsut Creek Gauge: Fairfax |
No live range | 46 cfs | 915–2,532 cfs typical | IV–V |
Carbon River streamflow over time
Daily total flow across every monitored gauge on the river (this total last updated earlier; the live gauge readings above are current).
Carbon River
The Carbon River is a 30-mile-long river that flows through Pierce County in western Washington state. Historically, the river was important for the logging industry, with a number of sawmills and logging camps located along its banks. Today, the river is part of the Mount Rainier National Park and is a popular destination for hiking, fishing, and kayaking. The Carbon River is fed by a number of small tributaries and is known for its high water quality. There are no major dams or reservoirs on the river, although there are a number of smaller structures used for irrigation and hydroelectric power generation. The river is also important for agriculture, with many farms located in the surrounding area.
Fishing near the Carbon River
About the Carbon River
How is the Carbon River flowing right now?
As of October 14, 2026, the Carbon River is flowing at 46 cfs near Fairfax, WA, about 26% of normal for the date. Every gauge’s live reading is in the table above.
Is the Carbon River running high or low?
The typical gauge on the Carbon River is at 26% of normal for the date. Above 100% means higher than the historical average for this calendar day; below 100% means lower. The profile above shows which reaches are high or low.
What is flood stage on the Carbon River?
The National Weather Service sets flood stages for Fairfax (13.5 ft). The table shows how far each gauge is below its flood stage right now.
Is the Carbon River runnable for paddling today?
Each run in the paddle table is checked against its runnable range using its gauge's live flow.
Where does the data come from?
Discharge and gage height are from the USGS National Water Information System; flood stages from the National Weather Service. The history chart sums every monitored gauge on the river.
Can I get alerts for a gauge?
Yes — open any gauge from the table, favorite it in the Snoflo app and set a flow threshold.