Cimarron River River Levels

Last Updated: December 15, 2025

The Cimarron River is a 698-mile long river that flows from the northeastern corner of New Mexico through Oklahoma and into Kansas.


Summary

Total streamflow across the Cimarron River was last observed at 1,517 cfs, and is expected to yield approximately 3,009 acre-ft of water today; about 168% of normal. River levels are high. Average streamflow for this time of year is 902 cfs, with recent peaks last observed on 2019-05-22 when daily discharge volume was observed at 217,928 cfs.

Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the Cimarron River Near Ripley reporting a streamflow rate of 488 cfs. However, the streamgauge with the highest stage along the river is the Cimarron River Near Dover with a gauge stage of 9.93 ft. This river is monitored from 12 different streamgauging stations along the Cimarron River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 8,643 ft, the Cimarron River Near Cimarron.

River Details

Last Updated 2025-12-15
Discharge Volume 3,009 ACRE-FT
Streamflow 1,517.24 cfs
+19.4 cfs (+1.3%)
Percent of Normal 168.25%
Maximum 217,928.0 cfs
2019-05-22
Seasonal Avg 902 cfs
       
River Streamflow Levels
Streamgauge Streamflow Gauge Stage 24hr Change (%) % Normal Minimum (cfs) Maximum (cfs) Air Temp Elevation
Cimarron River Near Cimarron
USGS 09126000
22 cfs 1.19 ft 14.97
Cimarron River Below Eagle Nest Dam
USGS 07206000
2 cfs 0.28 ft 0
Cimarron River Bl Squaw Creek
USGS 09127000
41 cfs 8.03 ft 19.08
Cimarron River Near Cimarron
USGS 07207000
6 cfs 1.04 ft -28.43
Cimarron River Near Kenton
USGS 07154500
0 cfs 4.77 ft None
Cimarron River Near Forgan
USGS 07156900
19 cfs 2.23 ft -1.53
Cimarron R Near Buttermilk
USGS 07157740
44 cfs 8.18 ft -2.42
Cimarron River Near Buffalo
USGS 07157950
75 cfs 4 ft -4.1
Cimarron River Near Waynoka
USGS 07158000
118 cfs 6.07 ft 7.27
Cimarron River Near Dover
USGS 07159100
312 cfs 9.93 ft 0
Cimarron River Near Guthrie
USGS 07160000
459 cfs 6.07 ft 1.32
Cimarron River Near Ripley
USGS 07161450
488 cfs 7.64 ft 2.09
Seasonal Discharge Comparison
Maximum Streamflow Discharge
Streamflow Elevation Profile

The Cimarron River () extends 698 miles (1,123 km) across New Mexico, Oklahoma, Colorado, and Kansas. The headwaters flow from Johnson Mesa west of Folsom in northeastern New Mexico. Much of the river's length lies in Oklahoma, where it either borders or passes through eleven counties. There are no major cities along its route. The river enters the Oklahoma Panhandle near Kenton, Oklahoma, crosses the southeastern corner of Colorado into Kansas, reenters the Oklahoma Panhandle, reenters Kansas, and finally returns to Oklahoma where it joins the Arkansas River at Keystone Reservoir west of Tulsa, Oklahoma, its only impoundment. The Cimarron drains a basin that encompasses about 18,927 square miles (49,020 km2).