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River report

Colorado River Flow Today

As of October 9, 2026 at 12:30 AM, the Colorado River is flowing at 9,340 cfs near Peach Spring, AZ — 92% of normal for the date. 31 of 36 USGS gauges reported in the last 3 days; flows range from 0 to 9,340 cfs. ❤ Favorite

USGS gauges
36 31 reporting · upstream → down
Colorado River Below Baker Gulch: 61% of normalColorado River Below Shadow Mountain Reservoir: 100% of normalColorado River Below Lake Granby: 109% of normalColorado River At Windy Gap: 62% of normalColorado River Near Kremmling: 35% of normalColorado River Near Dotsero: 37% of normalColorado River Below Glenwood Springs: 49% of normalColorado River Near Cameo: 49% of normalColorado River Near Colorado-utah State Line: 46% of normalColorado River Near Cisco: 49% of normalColorado River At Potash: 64% of normalColorado River At Lees Ferry: 66% of normalColorado River Near Grand Canyon: 66% of normalColorado River Near Gail: 0% of normalColorado River At Colorado City: 0% of normalColorado River Above Silver: 3% of normalColorado River At Robert Lee: 0% of normalColorado River Near Ballinger: 120% of normalColorado River Near Stacy: 134% of normalColorado River Above Diamond Creek Near Peach Spring: 92% of normalColorado River Near San Saba: 133% of normalColorado River At Austin: 137% of normalColorado River At Bastrop: 119% of normalColorado River At Smithville: 107% of normalColorado River Below Palo Verde Dam: 57% of normalColorado River Above La Grange: 83% of normalColorado River At Columbus: 129% of normalColorado River Below Laguna Dam: 83% of normalColorado River Below Yuma Main Canal Ww At Yuma: 89% of normalColorado River At Wharton: 244% of normalColorado River Near Wadsworth: 206% of normal
Typical gauge
66% of normal for the date
0%normal200%
Paddle runs
5 0 in range now
Updated
Oct 9, 12:30 AM
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River briefing · Oct 9, 2026

Colorado 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 Peach Spring, the Colorado River is running 9,340 cfs — 92% of normal. Along the river, 19 of 31 reporting gauges are below normal (the typical gauge is at 66% of normal).

In the last 24 hours the river is rising at Wadsworth (+570%) and Austin (+42%); dropping at Palo Verde Dam (-59%) and Columbus (-17%).

Highest against normal: Wharton at 244%. Lowest: Gail at 0%.

Headwaters to mouth

How the Colorado 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

  1. Baker Gulch8,756 ft 12 cfs61%
  2. Shadow Mountain Reservoir8,338 ft 36 cfs100%
  3. Lake Granby8,054 ft 24 cfs109%
  4. Windy Gap7,789 ft 63 cfs62%
  5. Kremmling7,356 ft 330 cfs35%
  6. Dotsero6,113 ft 506 cfs37%
  7. Glenwood Springs5,707 ft 1,010 cfs49%
  8. Cameo4,819 ft 1,130 cfs49%
  9. Colorado-utah State Line4,330 ft 1,690 cfs46%
  10. Cisco4,094 ft 1,900 cfs49%
  11. Potash3,972 ft 1,990 cfs64%
  12. Lees Ferry3,123 ft 6,150 cfs66%
  13. Grand Canyon2,424 ft 6,170 cfs66%
  14. Gail2,258 ft 0 cfs0%
  15. Colorado City2,038 ft 0 cfs0%
  16. Silver1,913 ft 0.1 cfs3%
  17. Robert Lee1,781 ft 0 cfs0%
  18. Ballinger1,619 ft 0.8 cfs120%
  19. Stacy1,397 ft 6.2 cfs134%
  20. Peach Spring1,339 ft 9,340 cfs92%
  21. San Saba1,101 ft 83 cfs133%
  22. Austin413 ft 317 cfs137%
  23. Bastrop317 ft 608 cfs119%
  24. Smithville290 ft 561 cfs107%
  25. Palo Verde Dam272 ft 3,260 cfs57%
  26. La Grange225 ft 428 cfs83%
  27. Columbus172 ft 766 cfs129%
  28. Laguna Dam132 ft 271 cfs83%
  29. Yuma112 ft 500 cfs89%
  30. Wharton81 ft 797 cfs244%
  31. Wadsworth-1 ft 398 cfs206%

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 Colorado River streamgauge, placed by its own percent of normal. The line is the typical gauge (66%).

Typical gauge 66%
0%50%100% · normal150%200%+
Much below normal10Below normal9Near normal4Above normal6Much above normal2

Colorado River flow report

36 gauges
Streamgage Streamflow % of normal 24h Gage height To flood stage Elevation
Colorado River Below Baker Gulch CO
Oct 9, 1:45 AM · USGS 09010500 		12 cfs 61% 0% 4.02 ft · 8,756 ft
Colorado River Below Shadow Mountain Reservoir CO
Oct 9, 1:15 AM · USGS 09015000 		36 cfs 100% 0% 1.53 ft · 8,338 ft
Colorado River Below Lake Granby CO
Oct 9, 1:15 AM · USGS 09019000 		24 cfs 109% 0% 3.31 ft · 8,054 ft
Colorado River Near Granby CO
Last reported Sep 30 · USGS 09019500 		52 cfs · · 1.40 ft flood 6.0 ft 7,968 ft
Colorado River At Windy Gap CO
Oct 9, 1:45 AM · USGS 09034250 		63 cfs 62% +13% 3.35 ft · 7,789 ft
Colorado River Near Kremmling CO
Oct 9, 1:15 AM · USGS 09058000 		330 cfs 35% +1% 3.63 ft 11.4 ft below 7,356 ft
Colorado River Near Dotsero CO
Oct 9, 1:00 AM · USGS 09070500 		506 cfs 37% -6% 1.74 ft 10.3 ft below 6,113 ft
Colorado River Below Glenwood Springs CO
Oct 9, 1:15 AM · USGS 09085100 		1,010 cfs 49% -4% 3.48 ft 13.0 ft below 5,707 ft
Colorado River Near Cameo CO
Oct 9, 1:45 AM · USGS 09095500 		1,130 cfs 49% -2% 3.20 ft 9.3 ft below 4,819 ft
Colorado River Near Colorado-utah State Line CO
Oct 9, 1:45 AM · USGS 09163500 		1,690 cfs 46% -5% 2.64 ft 12.4 ft below 4,330 ft
Colorado River Near Cisco UT
Oct 9, 1:00 AM · USGS 09180500 		1,900 cfs 49% -4% 1.97 ft 17.0 ft below 4,094 ft
Colorado River At Potash UT
Oct 9, 1:45 AM · USGS 09185600 		1,990 cfs 64% -2% 5.60 ft · 3,972 ft
Colorado River At Lees Ferry AZ
Oct 9, 12:00 AM · USGS 09380000 		6,150 cfs 66% +7% 7.52 ft · 3,123 ft
Colorado River Near Grand Canyon AZ
Oct 9, 12:15 AM · USGS 09402500 		6,170 cfs 66% -14% 14.49 ft · 2,424 ft
Colorado River Near Gail TX
Oct 9, 2:00 AM · USGS 08117995 		0 cfs 0% · 0.16 ft · 2,258 ft
Colorado River Near Ira TX
Last reported Jul 4 · USGS 08119500 		817 cfs · · 3.89 ft · 2,136 ft
Colorado River At Colorado City TX
Oct 9, 2:15 AM · USGS 08121000 		0 cfs 0% · 3.03 ft 12.0 ft below 2,038 ft
Colorado River Above Silver TX
Oct 9, 2:00 AM · USGS 08123850 		0.1 cfs 3% -68% 1.88 ft 13.1 ft below 1,913 ft
Colorado River At Robert Lee TX
Oct 9, 2:00 AM · USGS 08124000 		0 cfs 0% · 0.83 ft 32.2 ft below 1,781 ft
Colorado River Near Ballinger TX
Oct 9, 2:00 AM · USGS 08126380 		0.8 cfs 120% -8% 4.04 ft 14.0 ft below 1,619 ft
Colorado River Near Stacy TX
Oct 9, 2:15 AM · USGS 08136700 		6.2 cfs 134% -10% 3.86 ft 36.1 ft below 1,397 ft
Colorado River Above Diamond Creek Near Peach Spring AZ
Oct 9, 12:30 AM · USGS 09404200 		9,340 cfs 92% +1% 47.72 ft · 1,339 ft
Colorado River Near San Saba TX
Oct 9, 2:35 AM · USGS 08147000 		83 cfs 133% -5% 2.15 ft 27.9 ft below 1,101 ft
Colorado River Below Davis Dam NV
Last reported Oct 27 · USGS 09423000 		5,050 cfs · · 7.46 ft · 512 ft
Colorado River At Austin TX
Oct 9, 2:50 AM · USGS 08158000 		317 cfs 137% +42% 13.42 ft 19.6 ft below 413 ft
Colorado River Below Parker Dam CA
Last reported Oct 27 · USGS 09427520 		2,300 cfs · · 65.46 ft · 366 ft
Colorado River At Bastrop TX
Oct 9, 2:40 AM · USGS 08159200 		608 cfs 119% -8% 2.86 ft 20.1 ft below 317 ft
Colorado River At Smithville TX
Oct 9, 2:10 AM · USGS 08159500 		561 cfs 107% -14% 1.57 ft 18.4 ft below 290 ft
Colorado River Below Palo Verde Dam CA
Oct 9, 12:30 AM · USGS 09429100 		3,260 cfs 57% -59% -0.10 ft · 272 ft
Colorado River Above La Grange TX
Oct 9, 2:25 AM · USGS 08160400 		428 cfs 83% -16% 3.11 ft 22.9 ft below 225 ft
Colorado River At Columbus TX
Oct 9, 2:15 AM · USGS 08161000 		766 cfs 129% -17% 9.89 ft 24.1 ft below 172 ft
Colorado River Below Laguna Dam CA
Oct 9, 12:30 AM · USGS 09429600 		271 cfs 83% 0% 2.89 ft · 132 ft
Colorado River Below Yuma Main Canal Ww At Yuma CA
Oct 9, 12:45 AM · USGS 09521100 		500 cfs 89% +12% 8.57 ft · 112 ft
Colorado River At Wharton TX
Oct 9, 2:15 AM · USGS 08162000 		797 cfs 244% -14% 9.10 ft 29.9 ft below 81 ft
Colorado River Near Bay City TX
Last reported Aug 1 · USGS 08162500 		2,310 cfs · · 3.94 ft flood 44.0 ft 4 ft
Colorado River Near Wadsworth TX
Oct 9, 2:15 AM · USGS 08162501 		398 cfs 206% +570% 2.45 ft · -1 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.

Whitewater & paddle

Paddle runs on the Colorado River

Each run is checked against its runnable range using the gauge it is keyed to (or the nearest gauge on this river).

RunStatusFlow nowRunnable rangeClass
Begins 0.5 Miles Upstream From The Confluence With The Colorado River C To Confluence With The Colorado River No live range · 59–74 cfs typical III–IV
Begins 0.5 Miles Upstream From The Confluence With The Colorado River To Confluence With The Colorado River
Gauge: Peach Spring		 No live range 9,340 cfs 0–6 cfs typical III
Begins 1.5 Miles Upstream From Confluence With The Colorado River To Confluence With The Colorado River No live range · 59–74 cfs typical III–V
Begins 1.5 Miles Upstream From Confluence With The Colorado River To Confluence With The Colorado River No live range · 3–69 cfs typical ·
Confluence With Kanab Creek To Spencer Canyon No live range · 3–69 cfs typical ·
Upstream storage

Dams & reservoirs on the Colorado River

Releases from these dams shape the flow downstream. Tap one for its daily level and history.

Reservoir Lake Travis Near Austin 678 acre-ft 104% of normal Reservoir Lake J B Thomas Near Vincent 39,560 acre-ft Reservoir Lake Powell At Glen Canyon Dam 3,530 acre-ft 99% of normal Reservoir Lake Havasu 537,053 acre-ft 90% of normal Reservoir Shadow Mountain Reservoir 16,863 acre-ft 100% of normal Reservoir Lake Powell 5,208,108 acre-ft 36% of normal Reservoir E V Spence Reservoir Near Robert Lee Reservoir 47,730 acre-ft Reservoir O H Ivie Reservoir Near Voss Reservoir 229,100 acre-ft Reservoir Shadow Mountain Reservoir 16,863 acre-ft 100% of normal Reservoir Lake Mead 6,819,524 acre-ft 39% of normal Reservoir Lake Mohave At Davis Dam 43 acre-ft 118% of normal Reservoir Lake Mohave 1,607,482 acre-ft 95% of normal Dam · Colorado River Hoover 28,255,000 acre-ft capacity · built 1935 Dam · Colorado River Davis Bor 1,592,300 acre-ft capacity · built 1952 Dam · Off Ch-colorado River Stp Main Cooling Reservoir Dam 202,700 acre-ft capacity · built 1981 Dam · Colorado River Parker 180,000 acre-ft capacity · built 1938 Dam · Colorado River Imperial Diversion 74,000 acre-ft capacity · built 1937 Dam · Colorado River Headgate Rock 7,025 acre-ft capacity · built 1941 Dam · Colorado River Palo Verde Diversion 5,000 acre-ft capacity · built 1958 Dam · Colorado River Simplot Tailings Dam 4,400 acre-ft capacity · built 1981 Dam · Colorado River Longhorn Dam 3,520 acre-ft capacity · built 1960 Dam · Colorado Morelos Diversion Dam 1,160 acre-ft capacity · built 1950 Dam · Colorado River Laguna Diversion 900 acre-ft capacity · built 1908 Dam · Colorado River Pabco Dam Tailings Pond 7 485 acre-ft capacity · built 2003
History

Colorado River streamflow over time

Daily total flow across every monitored gauge on the river.

Maximum streamflow by year

About this river

Colorado River

The Colorado River is a major river in the western United States, stretching approximately 1,450 miles from the Rocky Mountains of Colorado to the Gulf of California in Mexico. The river is known for its significant role in the history and settlement of the American West. The river supports a large agricultural and recreational industry, providing irrigation water to millions of acres of farmland and serving as a popular destination for rafting, kayaking, and fishing. The river's hydrology has been significantly altered by the construction of numerous dams and reservoirs, including the Hoover Dam and Lake Powell. These structures have helped to regulate water flow and provide hydroelectric power to the region, but have also caused ecological damage and contributed to the decline of several native fish species.

Around the river

Fishing near the Colorado River

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FAQ

About the Colorado River

How is the Colorado River flowing right now?

As of October 9, 2026, the Colorado River is flowing at 9,340 cfs near Peach Spring, AZ, about 92% of normal for the date. Across its 36 USGS gauges, current flows range from 0 to 9,340 cfs. Every gauge’s live reading is in the table above.

Is the Colorado River running high or low?

The typical gauge on the Colorado River is at 66% 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 Colorado River?

The National Weather Service sets flood stages for Granby (6.0 ft), Kremmling (15.0 ft), Dotsero (12.0 ft), Glenwood Springs (16.5 ft), Cameo (12.5 ft), Colorado-utah State Line (15.0 ft), Cisco (19.0 ft), Colorado City (15.0 ft), Silver (15.0 ft), Robert Lee (33.0 ft), Ballinger (18.0 ft), Stacy (40.0 ft), San Saba (30.0 ft), Austin (33.0 ft), Bastrop (23.0 ft), Smithville (20.0 ft), La Grange (26.0 ft), Columbus (34.0 ft), Wharton (39.0 ft), Bay City (44.0 ft), . The table shows how far each gauge is below its flood stage right now.

Is the Colorado 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.

More river levels

Rivers in Colorado & Utah & Arizona & Texas

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