Mills River Flow Today
As of October 8, 2026 at 3:30 AM, the Mills River is flowing at 42 cfs near Mills River, NC — 45% of normal for the date and down 3% in 24 hours. ❤ Favorite
Mills River map
See the Mills 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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Mills 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 Mills River, the Mills River is running 42 cfs — 45% of normal, down 3% since yesterday. Along the river, 1 of 1 reporting gauges are below normal (the typical gauge is at 45% of normal).
Paddlers: 4 of 4 runs on the Mills River with a live range are in range.
How the Mills 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
- Mills River2,106 ft 42 cfs45%
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 Mills River streamgauge, placed by its own percent of normal. The line is the typical gauge (45%).
Mills River flow report
| Streamgage | Streamflow | % of normal | 24h | Gage height | To flood stage | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mills River Near Mills River NC
Oct 8, 3:30 AM · USGS 03446000 |
42 cfs | 45% | -3% | 1.63 ft | 7.4 ft below | 2,106 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 Mills River
4 of 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mills River From Confluence Of North/South Forks To Confluence With Foster Creek Gauge: Mills River |
In range | 42 cfs | 32–412 cfs typical | · |
| Nf Boundary To Confluence With North Fork Gauge: Mills River |
In range | 42 cfs | 32–412 cfs typical | III–V |
| North Fork From Bottom Of Spillway Of Hendersonville Reservoir To Confluence With South Fork Gauge: Mills River |
In range | 42 cfs | 32–412 cfs typical | II–IV |
| South Fork From Confluence With Pigeon Br To Nf Boundary Gauge: Mills River |
In range | 42 cfs | 32–412 cfs typical | III–IV |
Dams & reservoirs on the Mills River
Releases from these dams shape the flow downstream. Tap one for its daily level and history.
Mills River streamflow over time
Daily total flow across every monitored gauge on the river (this total last updated earlier; the live gauge readings above are current).
Mills River
The Mills River is a tributary of the French Broad River located in western North Carolina. It flows for approximately 30 miles and has a drainage area of 112 square miles. The river's name comes from the numerous mills that were once powered by its water. The river's hydrology is impacted by a series of dams, including the Fletcher Dam, the North Fork Dam, and the Mills River Dam. These dams provide hydroelectric power and water supply for the surrounding communities. The Mills River is also used for recreational activities, including fishing, kayaking, and hiking. Additionally, the river is an important source of water for agricultural purposes, specifically for the apple orchards and vineyards in the area.
Fishing near the Mills River
About the Mills River
How is the Mills River flowing right now?
As of October 8, 2026, the Mills River is flowing at 42 cfs near Mills River, NC, about 45% of normal for the date. Every gauge’s live reading is in the table above.
Is the Mills River running high or low?
The typical gauge on the Mills River is at 45% 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 Mills River?
The National Weather Service sets flood stages for Mills River (9.0 ft). The table shows how far each gauge is below its flood stage right now.
Is the Mills River runnable for paddling today?
4 of 4 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.