Knife River Flow Today
As of October 31, 2026 at 2:00 AM, the Knife River is flowing at 25 cfs at Hazen, ND — 43% 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 0.9 to 25 cfs. ❤ Favorite
Knife River map
See the Knife 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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Knife 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 Hazen, the Knife River is running 25 cfs — 43% of normal, up 4% since yesterday. Along the river, 3 of 4 reporting gauges are below normal (the typical gauge is at 35% of normal).
In the last 24 hours the river is dropping at Two Harbors (-30%).
Highest against normal: Two Harbors at 98%. Lowest: Golden Valley at 16%.
Paddlers: 0 of 1 runs on the Knife River with a live range are in range, 1 too low.
How the Knife 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
- Manning2,168 ft 0.9 cfs26%
- Golden Valley1,854 ft 3 cfs16%
- Hazen1,724 ft 25 cfs43%
- Two Harbors620 ft 21 cfs98%
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 Knife River streamgauge, placed by its own percent of normal. The line is the typical gauge (35%).
Knife River flow report
| Streamgage | Streamflow | % of normal | 24h | Gage height | To flood stage | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Knife River At Manning ND
Oct 31, 2:00 AM · USGS 06339100 |
0.9 cfs | 26% | -4% | 5.88 ft | 9.1 ft below | 2,168 ft |
|
Knife River Near Golden Valley ND
Oct 31, 2:15 AM · USGS 06339500 |
3 cfs | 16% | +4% | 3.94 ft | 20.1 ft below | 1,854 ft |
|
Knife River At Hazen ND
Oct 31, 2:00 AM · USGS 06340500 |
25 cfs | 43% | +4% | 0.81 ft | 20.2 ft below | 1,724 ft |
|
Knife River Near Two Harbors MN
Oct 31, 2:00 AM · USGS 04015330 |
21 cfs | 98% | -30% | 26.01 ft | · | 620 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 Knife River
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Boundary Of Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site To Southern Boundary Of Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site Gauge: Hazen |
Too low | 25 cfs | 144–2,920 cfs typical | II–III |
Dams & reservoirs on the Knife River
Releases from these dams shape the flow downstream. Tap one for its daily level and history.
Knife River streamflow over time
Daily total flow across every monitored gauge on the river.
Maximum streamflow by year
Knife River
The Knife River is a tributary of the Upper Missouri River in North Dakota, spanning 120 miles in length. The river holds significant historical and cultural importance for the Northern Plains Native Americans, as it was a vital resource for transportation, food, and shelter. Today, the river primarily serves as a source of irrigation for agriculture and as a recreational spot for fishing and water sports. The river runs through several reservoirs, including Lake Sakakawea, which was created by the Garrison Dam on the Missouri River. The dam is the largest hydroelectric power producer in the state and provides flood control, irrigation, and recreation. The river also flows through the Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site, which preserves the site of a Hidatsa village dating back to the 18th century.
Fishing near the Knife River
About the Knife River
How is the Knife River flowing right now?
As of October 31, 2026, the Knife River is flowing at 25 cfs at Hazen, ND, about 43% of normal for the date. Across its 4 USGS gauges, current flows range from 0.9 to 25 cfs. Every gauge’s live reading is in the table above.
Is the Knife River running high or low?
The typical gauge on the Knife River is at 35% 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 Knife River?
The National Weather Service sets flood stages for Manning (15.0 ft), Golden Valley (24.0 ft), Hazen (21.0 ft), . The table shows how far each gauge is below its flood stage right now.
Is the Knife 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.