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River report

Gauley River Flow Today

As of October 23, 2026 at 3:00 AM, the Gauley River is flowing at 4,340 cfs above Belva, WV — 514% of normal for the date and up 456% in 24 hours. 2 of 2 USGS gauges reported in the last 3 days; flows range from 743 to 4,340 cfs. ❤ Favorite

USGS gauges
2 2 reporting · upstream → down
Gauley River Near Craigsville: 233% of normalGauley River Above Belva: 514% of normal
Typical gauge
373% of normal for the date
0%normal200%
Paddle runs
3 2 in range now
2 in range
Updated
Oct 23, 3:00 AM
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Gauley River map

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Every gauge, dam and paddle run on the river, one tap each:

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River briefing · Oct 23, 2026

Gauley 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 Belva, the Gauley River is running 4,340 cfs — 514% of normal, up 456% since yesterday. Along the river, 2 of 2 reporting gauges are above normal (the typical gauge is at 373% of normal).

In the last 24 hours the river is rising at Belva (+456%); dropping at Craigsville (-16%).

Paddlers: 2 of 2 runs on the Gauley River with a live range are in range.

Headwaters to mouth

How the Gauley 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. Craigsville1,881 ft 743 cfs233%
  2. Belva675 ft 4,340 cfs514%

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 Gauley River streamgauge, placed by its own percent of normal. The line is the typical gauge (373%).

Typical gauge 373%
0%50%100% · normal150%200%+
Much below normal0Below normal0Near normal0Above normal0Much above normal2

Gauley River flow report

2 gauges
Streamgage Streamflow % of normal 24h Gage height To flood stage Elevation
Gauley River Near Craigsville WV
Oct 23, 3:30 AM · USGS 03189100
743 cfs 233% -16% 11.44 ft · 1,881 ft
Gauley River Above Belva WV
Oct 23, 3:00 AM · USGS 03192000
4,340 cfs 514% +456% 5.03 ft 15.0 ft below 675 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 Gauley River

2 of 3 runs are in range right now. 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 Below Summersville Lake To The Town Of Swiss
Gauge: Craigsville
In range 743 cfs 420–1,500 cfs III–IV
Upper Gauley - Summersville Dam to Mason Branch
Gauge: Craigsville
In range 743 cfs 400–5,000 cfs IV TO V
The Junction With Williams River To The Junction With Panther Creek
Gauge: Craigsville
No live range 743 cfs 172–639 cfs typical III–V
History

Gauley River streamflow over time

Daily total flow across every monitored gauge on the river.

Maximum streamflow by year

About this river

Gauley River

The Gauley River is a 105-mile long river in West Virginia, USA. It has a rich history, having been used for transportation and as a source of power during the Industrial Revolution. Today, it is a popular spot for whitewater rafting and kayaking, attracting adventure enthusiasts from around the world. The river is home to several hydroelectric power plants, including the Summersville Dam and the Sutton Dam, which provide energy to the region. The Summersville Dam also created the Summersville Lake, which is used for recreational purposes such as boating and fishing. Despite its agricultural potential, the Gauley River has been largely untouched by farming due to its steep terrain and the presence of rocky outcroppings.

FAQ

About the Gauley River

How is the Gauley River flowing right now?

As of October 23, 2026, the Gauley River is flowing at 4,340 cfs above Belva, WV, about 514% of normal for the date. Across its 2 USGS gauges, current flows range from 743 to 4,340 cfs. Every gauge’s live reading is in the table above.

Is the Gauley River running high or low?

The typical gauge on the Gauley River is at 373% 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 Gauley River?

The National Weather Service sets flood stages for Belva (20.0 ft). The table shows how far each gauge is below its flood stage right now.

Is the Gauley River runnable for paddling today?

2 of 3 paddle runs are in range right now. 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 West Virginia