Cheyenne River

Last Updated: April 19, 2026

Total streamflow across the Cheyenne River was last observed at 332 cfs, and is expected to yield approximately 658 acre-ft of water today; about 20% of normal. River levels are low and may signify a drought. Average streamflow for this time of year is 1,683 cfs, with recent peaks last observed on 2019-05-23 when daily discharge volume was observed at 89,511 cfs.

Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the Cheyenne R Near Plainview Sd reporting a streamflow rate of 128 cfs. However, the streamgauge with the highest stage along the river is the Cheyenne River At Redshirt with a gauge stage of 9.39 ft. This river is monitored from 7 different streamgauging stations along the Cheyenne River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 3,582 ft, the Cheyenne River Near Spencer.

The Cheyenne River is a tributary of the Missouri River, with a length of 295 miles.


15-Day Long Term Forecast


River Details

Last Updated 2026-04-19
Discharge Volume 658 ACRE-FT
Streamflow 331.62 cfs
Past 24 Hours: -3.68 cfs (-1.1%)
Percent of Normal 19.7%
Maximum 89,511.0 cfs
2019-05-23
Seasonal Avg 1,683 cfs
       
River Streamflow Levels
Streamgauge Streamflow Gauge Stage 24hr Change (%) % Normal Minimum (cfs) Maximum (cfs) Air Temp Elevation
Cheyenne River Near Spencer
USGS 06386500
0 cfs 3.67 ft 20
Cheyenne R At Edgemont Sd
USGS 06395000
7 cfs 1.17 ft -24.34
Cheyenne R Below Angostura Dam Sd
USGS 06401500
1 cfs 2.87 ft 0
Cheyenne R Near Buffalo Gap Sd
USGS 06402600
61 cfs 2.3 ft -3.65
Cheyenne River At Redshirt
USGS 06403700
56 cfs 9.39 ft 11.35
Cheyenne River Near Wasta
USGS 06423500
80 cfs 0.35 ft 0
Cheyenne R Near Plainview Sd
USGS 06438500
128 cfs 8.05 ft -3.76
Seasonal Discharge Comparison
Maximum Streamflow Discharge
Streamflow Elevation Profile

The Cheyenne River (Lakota: Wakpá Wašté; "Good River"), also written Chyone, referring to the Cheyenne people who once lived there, is a tributary of the Missouri River in the U.S. states of Wyoming and South Dakota. It is approximately 295 miles (475 km) long and drains an area of 24,240 square miles (62,800 km2). About 60% of the drainage basin is in South Dakota and almost all of the remainder is in Wyoming.