Cowlitz River Flow Today
As of October 23, 2026 at 12:30 AM, the Cowlitz River is flowing at 4,120 cfs at Castle Rock, WA — 82% of normal for the date and up 4% in 24 hours. 4 of 4 USGS gauges reported in the last 3 days; flows range from 272 to 4,120 cfs. ❤ Favorite
Cowlitz River map
See the Cowlitz 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
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Cowlitz 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 Castle Rock, the Cowlitz River is running 4,120 cfs — 82% of normal, up 4% since yesterday. Along the river, 3 of 4 reporting gauges are below normal (the typical gauge is at 62% of normal).
Highest against normal: Mayfield Dam at 98%. Lowest: Randle at 32%.
Paddlers: 0 of 8 runs on the Cowlitz River with a live range are in range, 8 too low.
How the Cowlitz 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
- Packwood1,053 ft 272 cfs43%
- Randle872 ft 308 cfs32%
- Mayfield Dam231 ft 3,570 cfs98%
- Castle Rock35 ft 4,120 cfs82%
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 Cowlitz River streamgauge, placed by its own percent of normal. The line is the typical gauge (62%).
Cowlitz River flow report
| Streamgage | Streamflow | % of normal | 24h | Gage height | To flood stage | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Cowlitz River At Packwood WA
Oct 23, 1:00 AM · USGS 14226500 |
272 cfs | 43% | +3% | 0.86 ft | 9.6 ft below | 1,053 ft |
|
Cowlitz River At Randle WA
Oct 23, 1:00 AM · USGS 14231000 |
308 cfs | 32% | -3% | 3.56 ft | 14.4 ft below | 872 ft |
|
Cowlitz River Below Mayfield Dam WA
Oct 23, 12:45 AM · USGS 14238000 |
3,570 cfs | 98% | -1% | 10.63 ft | 14.4 ft below | 231 ft |
|
Cowlitz River At Castle Rock WA
Oct 23, 12:30 AM · USGS 14243000 |
4,120 cfs | 82% | +4% | 33.72 ft | 14.3 ft below | 35 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 Cowlitz River
Each run is checked against its runnable range using the gauge it is keyed to (or the nearest gauge on this river).
Dams & reservoirs on the Cowlitz River
Releases from these dams shape the flow downstream. Tap one for its daily level and history.
Cowlitz River streamflow over time
Daily total flow across every monitored gauge on the river.
Maximum streamflow by year
Cowlitz River
The Cowlitz River is a 105-mile-long river in southwestern Washington, originating from the glaciers of Mount Rainier National Park. Historically, the river was used for fishing and transportation by indigenous peoples. Today, it is a major source of hydroelectric power, with several major dams and reservoirs along its course, including Mayfield Dam and Riffe Lake. These dams have greatly affected the river's hydrology and the surrounding agricultural land by controlling flooding and providing irrigation. The Cowlitz River is also a popular recreational destination, with opportunities for fishing, boating, and hiking in the surrounding forests and mountains. The river is home to several species of salmon and steelhead, and efforts are being made to restore and protect their populations.
About the Cowlitz River
How is the Cowlitz River flowing right now?
As of October 23, 2026, the Cowlitz River is flowing at 4,120 cfs at Castle Rock, WA, about 82% of normal for the date. Across its 4 USGS gauges, current flows range from 272 to 4,120 cfs. Every gauge’s live reading is in the table above.
Is the Cowlitz River running high or low?
The typical gauge on the Cowlitz River is at 62% 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 Cowlitz River?
The National Weather Service sets flood stages for Packwood (10.5 ft), Randle (18.0 ft), Mayfield Dam (25.0 ft), Castle Rock (48.0 ft). The table shows how far each gauge is below its flood stage right now.
Is the Cowlitz 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.