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River report

Gila River Flow Today

As of November 11, 2026 at 1:00 AM, the Gila River is flowing at 1,580 cfs at Calva, AZ and down 16% in 24 hours. 15 of 15 USGS gauges reported in the last 3 days; flows range from 0 to 1,580 cfs. ❤ Favorite

USGS gauges
15 15 reporting · upstream → down
Gila River Near Gila: 385% of normalGila River Near Redrock: 387% of normalGila River Below Blue Creek: 647% of normalGila River Near Clifton: 585% of normalGila River At Head Of Safford Valley: 403% of normalGila River Below Coolidge Dam: 14% of normalGila River At Kelvin: 500% of normalGila River At Estrella Parkway: 416% of normalGila River Near Dome: 71% of normal
Typical gauge
403% of normal for the date
0%normal200%
Paddle runs
26 21 in range now
2 low21 in range
Updated
Nov 11, 1:00 AM
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River briefing · Nov 11, 2026

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 Calva, the Gila River is running 1,580 cfs, down 16% since yesterday. Along the river, 7 of 9 reporting gauges are above normal (the typical gauge is at 403% of normal).

In the last 24 hours the river is rising at Painted Rock Dam (+196,400%) and Coolidge Dam (+12%); dropping at Blue Creek (-22%) and Gillespie Dam (-22%).

Highest against normal: Blue Creek at 647%. Lowest: Coolidge Dam at 14%.

Paddlers: 21 of 23 runs on the Gila River with a live range are in range, 2 too low.

Headwaters to mouth

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

  1. Gila4,661 ft 270 cfs385%
  2. Redrock4,124 ft 306 cfs387%
  3. Blue Creek3,905 ft 501 cfs647%
  4. Duncan3,642 ft 616 cfs
  5. Clifton3,354 ft 272 cfs585%
  6. Head Of Safford Valley3,074 ft 592 cfs403%
  7. Calva2,516 ft 1,580 cfs
  8. Coolidge Dam2,309 ft 6 cfs14%
  9. Kelvin1,756 ft 105 cfs500%
  10. Maricopa1,133 ft 0 cfs
  11. Estrella Parkway915 ft 187 cfs416%
  12. Gillespie Dam751 ft 353 cfs
  13. Painted Rock Dam537 ft 393 cfs
  14. Dateland367 ft 0 cfs
  15. Dome160 ft 6.6 cfs71%

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 (403%).

Typical gauge 403%
0%50%100% · normal150%200%+
Much below normal1Below normal1Near normal0Above normal0Much above normal7

Gila River flow report

15 gauges
Streamgage Streamflow % of normal 24h Gage height To flood stage Elevation
Gila River Near Gila NM
Nov 11, 1:00 AM · USGS 09430500
270 cfs 385% -14% 2.52 ft 8.5 ft below 4,661 ft
Gila River Near Redrock NM
Nov 11, 12:15 AM · USGS 09431500
306 cfs 387% -7% 5.30 ft 14.7 ft below 4,124 ft
Gila River Below Blue Creek NM
Nov 11, 12:30 AM · USGS 09432000
501 cfs 647% -22% 6.88 ft 8.1 ft below 3,905 ft
Gila River At Duncan AZ
Nov 11, 12:30 AM · USGS 09439000
616 cfs · -13% 9.72 ft 10.3 ft below 3,642 ft
Gila River Near Clifton AZ
Nov 11, 1:00 AM · USGS 09442000
272 cfs 585% -16% 3.94 ft · 3,354 ft
Gila River At Head Of Safford Valley AZ
Nov 11, 12:30 AM · USGS 09448500
592 cfs 403% -14% 9.42 ft 11.6 ft below 3,074 ft
Gila River At Calva AZ
Nov 11, 1:00 AM · USGS 09466500
1,580 cfs · -16% 6.70 ft 13.3 ft below 2,516 ft
Gila River Below Coolidge Dam AZ
Nov 11, 12:15 AM · USGS 09469500
6 cfs 14% +12% 0.21 ft · 2,309 ft
Gila River At Kelvin AZ
Nov 11, 12:30 AM · USGS 09474000
105 cfs 500% -7% 7.53 ft 19.5 ft below 1,756 ft
Gila River Near Maricopa AZ
Nov 11, 12:30 AM · USGS 09479350
0 cfs · · 0.97 ft 5.0 ft below 1,133 ft
Gila River At Estrella Parkway AZ
Nov 10, 5:00 PM · USGS 09514100
187 cfs 416% -3% 5.01 ft · 915 ft
Gila River Below Gillespie Dam AZ
Nov 11, 12:30 AM · USGS 09519501
353 cfs · -22% 6.61 ft · 751 ft
Gila River Below Painted Rock Dam AZ
Nov 11, 12:30 AM · USGS 09519800
393 cfs · +196400% 4.52 ft · 537 ft
Gila River Near Dateland AZ
Nov 11, 12:30 AM · USGS 09520280
0 cfs · · 2.13 ft 6.9 ft below 367 ft
Gila River Near Dome AZ
Nov 11, 12:30 AM · USGS 09520500
6.6 cfs 71% -5% 14.68 ft 9.3 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.

Whitewater & paddle

Paddle runs on the Gila River

21 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).

RunStatusFlow nowRunnable rangeClass
Aldo Leopold Wilderness Boundary To Gila Wilderness Boundary
Gauge: Gila
In range 270 cfs 45–534 cfs typical III–IV
Bonita Creek
Gauge: Clifton
In range 272 cfs 200–1,800 cfs II–III
Gila
Gauge: Blue Creek
In range 501 cfs 53–691 cfs typical II–IV
Gila
Gauge: Blue Creek
In range 501 cfs 53–691 cfs typical III–IV
Gila
Gauge: Blue Creek
In range 501 cfs 53–691 cfs typical III–IV
Gila
Gauge: Blue Creek
In range 501 cfs 53–691 cfs typical III–IV
Gila
Gauge: Blue Creek
In range 501 cfs 53–691 cfs typical II–III
Gila
Gauge: Blue Creek
In range 501 cfs 53–691 cfs typical ·
Gila
Gauge: Blue Creek
In range 501 cfs 53–691 cfs typical V
Gila
Gauge: Blue Creek
In range 501 cfs 53–691 cfs typical III–IV
Gila
Gauge: Blue Creek
In range 501 cfs 53–691 cfs typical II–IV
Gila
Gauge: Blue Creek
In range 501 cfs 53–691 cfs typical II–III
Gila
Gauge: Blue Creek
In range 501 cfs 53–691 cfs typical III–IV
Gila
Gauge: Blue Creek
In range 501 cfs 53–691 cfs typical III–IV
Gila
Gauge: Redrock
In range 306 cfs 69–474 cfs typical II–III
Gila
Gauge: Redrock
In range 306 cfs 69–474 cfs typical V
Gila
Gauge: Redrock
In range 306 cfs 69–474 cfs typical III–IV
Gila River (Gila Box)
Gauge: Head Of Safford Valley
In range 592 cfs 200–1,800 cfs III+
Gila River (Gila Box)
Gauge: Clifton
In range 272 cfs 200–1,800 cfs ·
Gila River (Gila Box)
Gauge: Clifton
In range 272 cfs 200–1,800 cfs III–IV
Lower San Francisco River
Gauge: Clifton
In range 272 cfs 200–1,800 cfs III–IV
Gila River (Middle)
Gauge: Kelvin
Too low 105 cfs 200–20,000 cfs III
Kelvin Run
Gauge: Kelvin
Too low 105 cfs 200–20,000 cfs I TO II–
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
History

Gila River streamflow over time

Daily total flow across every monitored gauge on the river.

Maximum streamflow by year

About this river

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.

FAQ

About the Gila River

How is the Gila River flowing right now?

As of November 11, 2026, the Gila River is flowing at 1,580 cfs at Calva, AZ. Across its 15 USGS gauges, current flows range from 0 to 1,580 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 403% 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?

21 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.

More river levels

Rivers in New Mexico & Arizona

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