Gila River Flow Today
As of October 1, 2026 at 12:30 AM, the Gila River is flowing at 10,700 cfs at Head Of Safford Valley, AZ and up 98% in 24 hours. 14 of 15 USGS gauges reported in the last 3 days; flows range from 0 to 10,700 cfs. ❤ Favorite
Gila River map
See the Gila 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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Gila 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 Head Of Safford Valley, the Gila River is running 10,700 cfs, up 98% since yesterday. Along the river, 3 of 5 reporting gauges are below normal (the typical gauge is at 0% of normal).
In the last 24 hours the river is rising at Gila (+827%) and Calva (+140%); dropping at Redrock (-78%) and Clifton (-77%).
Highest against normal: Kelvin at 847%. Lowest: Estrella Parkway at 0%.
Flood watch: Duncan is at action stage (14.39 ft). Check NWS before heading out.
Paddlers: 2 of 23 runs on the Gila River with a live range are in range and 21 running high.
High water on the Gila River
Gila River At Duncan is at 14.39 ft — action stage (flood stage 20.0 ft).
How the Gila 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
- Gila4,661 ft 6,730 cfs
- Redrock4,124 ft 729 cfs
- Blue Creek3,905 ft 1,390 cfs
- Duncan3,642 ft 4,170 cfs
- Clifton3,354 ft 2,210 cfs
- Head Of Safford Valley3,074 ft 10,700 cfs
- Calva2,516 ft 1,700 cfs
- Coolidge Dam2,309 ft 0.5 cfs0%
- Kelvin1,756 ft 1,220 cfs847%
- Maricopa1,133 ft 0 cfs
- Estrella Parkway915 ft 0 cfs0%
- Painted Rock Dam537 ft 0 cfs0%
- Dateland367 ft 0 cfs
- Dome160 ft 7.9 cfs127%
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 Gila River streamgauge, placed by its own percent of normal. The line is the typical gauge (0%).
Gila River flow report
| Streamgage | Streamflow | % of normal | 24h | Gage height | To flood stage | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Gila River Near Gila NM
Oct 1, 1:00 AM · USGS 09430500 |
6,730 cfs | · | +827% | 8.44 ft | 2.6 ft below | 4,661 ft |
|
Gila River Near Redrock NM
Oct 1, 1:15 AM · USGS 09431500 |
729 cfs | · | -78% | 7.64 ft | 12.4 ft below | 4,124 ft |
|
Gila River Below Blue Creek NM
Oct 1, 12:30 AM · USGS 09432000 |
1,390 cfs | · | -26% | 8.26 ft | 6.7 ft below | 3,905 ft |
|
Gila River At Duncan AZ
Oct 1, 12:30 AM · USGS 09439000 |
4,170 cfs | · | -54% | 14.39 ft | Action | 3,642 ft |
|
Gila River Near Clifton AZ
Oct 1, 12:00 AM · USGS 09442000 |
2,210 cfs | · | -77% | 8.89 ft | · | 3,354 ft |
|
Gila River At Head Of Safford Valley AZ
Oct 1, 12:30 AM · USGS 09448500 |
10,700 cfs | · | +98% | 18.04 ft | 3.0 ft below | 3,074 ft |
|
Gila River At Calva AZ
Oct 1, 12:00 AM · USGS 09466500 |
1,700 cfs | · | +140% | 6.94 ft | 13.1 ft below | 2,516 ft |
|
Gila River Below Coolidge Dam AZ
Oct 1, 12:15 AM · USGS 09469500 |
0.5 cfs | 0% | -47% | 0.08 ft | · | 2,309 ft |
|
Gila River At Kelvin AZ
Oct 1, 12:30 AM · USGS 09474000 |
1,220 cfs | 847% | -8% | 10.88 ft | 16.1 ft below | 1,756 ft |
|
Gila River Near Maricopa AZ
Oct 1, 12:30 AM · USGS 09479350 |
0 cfs | · | · | 0.97 ft | 5.0 ft below | 1,133 ft |
|
Gila River At Estrella Parkway AZ
Oct 1, 12:00 AM · USGS 09514100 |
0 cfs | 0% | · | 3.45 ft | · | 915 ft |
|
Gila River Below Gillespie Dam AZ
Last reported Jul 28 · USGS 09519501 |
0 cfs | · | · | 3.88 ft | · | 751 ft |
|
Gila River Below Painted Rock Dam AZ
Oct 1, 12:30 AM · USGS 09519800 |
0 cfs | 0% | · | 0.94 ft | · | 537 ft |
|
Gila River Near Dateland AZ
Oct 1, 12:30 AM · USGS 09520280 |
0 cfs | · | · | 2.59 ft | 6.4 ft below | 367 ft |
|
Gila River Near Dome AZ
Oct 1, 12:30 AM · USGS 09520500 |
7.9 cfs | 127% | +23% | 14.76 ft | 9.2 ft below | 160 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 Gila River
2 of 26 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).
| Run | Status | Flow now | Runnable range | Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gila River (Middle) Gauge: Kelvin |
In range | 1,220 cfs | 200–20,000 cfs | III |
| Kelvin Run Gauge: Kelvin |
In range | 1,220 cfs | 200–20,000 cfs | I TO II– |
| Aldo Leopold Wilderness Boundary To Gila Wilderness Boundary Gauge: Gila |
Running high | 6,730 cfs | 45–534 cfs typical | III–IV |
| Bonita Creek Gauge: Clifton |
Running high | 2,210 cfs | 200–1,800 cfs | II–III |
| Gila Gauge: Blue Creek |
Running high | 1,390 cfs | 53–691 cfs typical | II–IV |
| Gila Gauge: Blue Creek |
Running high | 1,390 cfs | 53–691 cfs typical | III–IV |
| Gila Gauge: Blue Creek |
Running high | 1,390 cfs | 53–691 cfs typical | III–IV |
| Gila Gauge: Blue Creek |
Running high | 1,390 cfs | 53–691 cfs typical | III–IV |
| Gila Gauge: Blue Creek |
Running high | 1,390 cfs | 53–691 cfs typical | II–III |
| Gila Gauge: Blue Creek |
Running high | 1,390 cfs | 53–691 cfs typical | · |
| Gila Gauge: Blue Creek |
Running high | 1,390 cfs | 53–691 cfs typical | V |
| Gila Gauge: Blue Creek |
Running high | 1,390 cfs | 53–691 cfs typical | III–IV |
| Gila Gauge: Blue Creek |
Running high | 1,390 cfs | 53–691 cfs typical | II–IV |
| Gila Gauge: Blue Creek |
Running high | 1,390 cfs | 53–691 cfs typical | II–III |
| Gila Gauge: Blue Creek |
Running high | 1,390 cfs | 53–691 cfs typical | III–IV |
| Gila Gauge: Blue Creek |
Running high | 1,390 cfs | 53–691 cfs typical | III–IV |
| Gila Gauge: Redrock |
Running high | 729 cfs | 69–474 cfs typical | II–III |
| Gila Gauge: Redrock |
Running high | 729 cfs | 69–474 cfs typical | V |
| Gila Gauge: Redrock |
Running high | 729 cfs | 69–474 cfs typical | III–IV |
| Gila River (Gila Box) Gauge: Head Of Safford Valley |
Running high | 10,700 cfs | 200–1,800 cfs | III+ |
| Gila River (Gila Box) Gauge: Clifton |
Running high | 2,210 cfs | 200–1,800 cfs | · |
| Gila River (Gila Box) Gauge: Clifton |
Running high | 2,210 cfs | 200–1,800 cfs | III–IV |
| Lower San Francisco River Gauge: Clifton |
Running high | 2,210 cfs | 200–1,800 cfs | III–IV |
| Gila Wilderness Boundary (Below Snow Lake) To Gila Wilderness Boundary (Sec 24, T12S, R14W) | No live range | · | 7–98 cfs typical | III–IV |
| Northern Boundary Nm To Eastern Boundary Gila Cliff Dwellings Nm | No live range | · | 7–98 cfs typical | II–III |
| Wilderness Run | No live range | · | 150–700 cfs | II TO III |
Dams & reservoirs on the Gila River
Releases from these dams shape the flow downstream. Tap one for its daily level and history.
Gila River streamflow over time
Daily total flow across every monitored gauge on the river.
Maximum streamflow by year
Gila River
The Gila River is one of the longest rivers in the Southwestern United States, stretching approximately 649 miles from its source in New Mexico to its confluence with the Colorado River in Arizona. The river has been historically significant for Native American tribes, Spanish explorers, and American settlers. The Gila River also plays a vital role in providing water for agricultural irrigation, including supporting the Pima cotton industry. Several dams have been built along the river, including the Coolidge Dam, which forms the San Carlos Reservoir, and the Painted Rock Dam, which forms the Painted Rock Reservoir. These reservoirs provide water storage for irrigation, flood control, and recreational activities, including boating, fishing, and swimming. Despite its importance, the river faces many challenges, including water scarcity, drought, and pollution.
About the Gila River
How is the Gila River flowing right now?
As of October 1, 2026, the Gila River is flowing at 10,700 cfs at Head Of Safford Valley, AZ. Across its 15 USGS gauges, current flows range from 0 to 10,700 cfs. Every gauge’s live reading is in the table above.
Is the Gila River running high or low?
The typical gauge on the Gila River is at 0% 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 Gila River?
The National Weather Service sets flood stages for Gila (11.0 ft), Redrock (20.0 ft), Blue Creek (15.0 ft), Duncan (20.0 ft), Head Of Safford Valley (21.0 ft), Calva (20.0 ft), Kelvin (27.0 ft), Maricopa (6.0 ft), Dateland (9.0 ft), Dome (24.0 ft). The table shows how far each gauge is below its flood stage right now.
Is the Gila River runnable for paddling today?
2 of 26 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.