Roaring Fork River Flow Today
As of November 12, 2026 at 12:45 AM, the Roaring Fork River is flowing at 523 cfs at Glenwood Springs, CO — 96% of normal for the date and down 5% in 24 hours. 5 of 5 USGS gauges reported in the last 3 days; flows range from 1.8 to 523 cfs. ❤ Favorite
Roaring Fork River map
See the Roaring Fork 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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Roaring Fork 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 Glenwood Springs, the Roaring Fork River is running 523 cfs — 96% of normal, down 5% since yesterday. Along the river, 2 of 5 reporting gauges are near normal (the typical gauge is at 100% of normal).
Highest against normal: Aspen at 213%. Lowest: Emma at 83%.
Paddlers: 2 of 7 runs on the Roaring Fork River with a live range are in range, 5 too low.
How the Roaring Fork 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
- Lost Man Creek10,528 ft 1.8 cfs100%
- Aspen8,123 ft 23 cfs213%
- Aspen8,006 ft 28 cfs142%
- Emma6,479 ft 230 cfs83%
- Glenwood Springs5,726 ft 523 cfs96%
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 Roaring Fork River streamgauge, placed by its own percent of normal. The line is the typical gauge (100%).
Roaring Fork River flow report
| Streamgage | Streamflow | % of normal | 24h | Gage height | To flood stage | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Roaring Fork River Above Lost Man Creek CO
Nov 12, 12:15 AM · USGS 09072550 |
1.8 cfs | 100% | 0% | 0.87 ft | · | 10,528 ft |
|
Roaring Fork River Above Difficult Creek Near Aspen CO
Nov 12, 12:30 AM · USGS 09073300 |
23 cfs | 213% | -9% | 1.25 ft | · | 8,123 ft |
|
Roaring Fork River Near Aspen CO
Nov 12, 12:30 AM · USGS 09073400 |
28 cfs | 142% | -9% | 0.74 ft | 4.3 ft below | 8,006 ft |
|
Roaring Fork River Near Emma CO
Nov 12, 12:30 AM · USGS 09081000 |
230 cfs | 83% | -5% | 4.95 ft | · | 6,479 ft |
|
Roaring Fork River At Glenwood Springs CO
Nov 12, 12:45 AM · USGS 09085000 |
523 cfs | 96% | -5% | 1.81 ft | 7.5 ft below | 5,726 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 Roaring Fork River
2 of 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cemetery Gauge: Glenwood Springs |
In range | 523 cfs | 200–10,000 cfs | II+ TO III+ |
| Grizzly Creek to Two Rivers Park Gauge: Glenwood Springs |
In range | 523 cfs | 500–10,000 cfs | II TO III |
| Carbondale to Westbank (Pink to Black) Gauge: Emma |
Too low | 230 cfs | 600–8,000 cfs | II |
| Catherine Store Section Gauge: Emma |
Too low | 230 cfs | 600–1,200 cfs | II TO II+ |
| Maroon Bells/Snowmass Wilderness Boundary To Confluence With South Fork Gauge: Aspen |
Too low | 23 cfs | 1,000–3,000 cfs | · |
| North Fork--Headwaters To Maroon Bells/Snowmass Wilderness Boundary Gauge: Aspen |
Too low | 23 cfs | 1,000–3,000 cfs | · |
| South Fork--Headwaters To Beaver Lake Gauge: Aspen |
Too low | 23 cfs | 200–350 cfs | III–IV |
Dams & reservoirs on the Roaring Fork River
Releases from these dams shape the flow downstream. Tap one for its daily level and history.
Roaring Fork River streamflow over time
Daily total flow across every monitored gauge on the river.
Maximum streamflow by year
Roaring Fork River
The Roaring Fork River is a tributary of the Colorado River that flows through central Colorado. The river is approximately 70 miles long and begins at Independence Pass, a high mountain pass in the Rocky Mountains. The Roaring Fork River is known for its whitewater rafting and fly fishing opportunities. The river's hydrology is influenced by the melting snowpack from the surrounding mountains, and its flow can vary greatly depending on the season. The river is also used for agricultural purposes, with irrigation ditches diverting water for farming in the surrounding valleys. Several reservoirs and dams have been built along the river, including Ruedi Reservoir and the Grizzly Reservoir Dam. These structures help control the river's flow and provide water for downstream communities. Despite human intervention, the Roaring Fork River remains a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts and a vital resource for the surrounding communities.
Fishing near the Roaring Fork River
About the Roaring Fork River
How is the Roaring Fork River flowing right now?
As of November 12, 2026, the Roaring Fork River is flowing at 523 cfs at Glenwood Springs, CO, about 96% of normal for the date. Across its 5 USGS gauges, current flows range from 1.8 to 523 cfs. Every gauge’s live reading is in the table above.
Is the Roaring Fork River running high or low?
The typical gauge on the Roaring Fork River is at 100% 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 Roaring Fork River?
The National Weather Service sets flood stages for Aspen (5.0 ft), Glenwood Springs (9.3 ft). The table shows how far each gauge is below its flood stage right now.
Is the Roaring Fork River runnable for paddling today?
2 of 7 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.