Smith River River Levels

Last Updated: December 24, 2025

The Smith River is a 104-mile long river located in northwest California.


Summary

Total streamflow across the Smith River was last observed at 13,030 cfs, and is expected to yield approximately 25,845 acre-ft of water today; about 131% of normal. River levels are high. Average streamflow for this time of year is 9,930 cfs, with recent peaks last observed on 2016-12-15 when daily discharge volume was observed at 72,720 cfs.

Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the Smith R Nr Crescent City Ca reporting a streamflow rate of 12,800 cfs. However, the streamgauge with the highest stage along the river is the Smith River Abv Trail Brdg Resv Nr Belknap Springs with a gauge stage of 2198.61 ft. This river is monitored from 12 different streamgauging stations along the Smith River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 4,402 ft, the Smith River Near Ft Logan Mt.

River Details

Last Updated 2025-12-23
Discharge Volume 25,845 ACRE-FT
Streamflow 13,030.0 cfs
-17166.0 cfs (-56.85%)
Percent of Normal 131.22%
Maximum 72,720.0 cfs
2016-12-15
Seasonal Avg 9,930 cfs
       
River Streamflow Levels
Streamgauge Streamflow Gauge Stage 24hr Change (%) % Normal Minimum (cfs) Maximum (cfs) Air Temp Elevation
Smith River Near Ft Logan Mt
USGS 06076690
127 cfs 3.07 ft 403.97
Smith River Bl Eagle Cr Nr Fort Logan Mt
USGS 06077200
174 cfs 3.62 ft 15.23
Smith River Near Eden Mt
USGS 06077500
119 cfs 2.85 ft 26.19
Smith R Ab Smith R Res Nr Belknap Sprgs
USGS 14158790
230 cfs 6.75 ft -18.44
Smith River Abv Trail Brdg Resv Nr Belknap Springs
USGS 14158798
414 cfs 2198.61 ft -62.02
Smith River At Smith Riv Church Nr Woolwine
USGS 02071530
27 cfs 2.39 ft 0
Smith River Near Philpott
USGS 02072000
74 cfs 2.51 ft 0
Smith River At Bassett
USGS 02072500
98 cfs 1.61 ft 0
Smith River At Martinsville
USGS 02073000
135 cfs 1.71 ft -4.93
Smith River At Eden
USGS 02074000
204 cfs 2.03 ft -6.76
Smith River Near Bristol
USGS 01078000
72 cfs 2.5 ft -41.19
Smith R Nr Crescent City Ca
USGS 11532500
12800 cfs 12.56 ft -56.61
Seasonal Discharge Comparison
Maximum Streamflow Discharge
Streamflow Elevation Profile

Smith River is an unincorporated settlement in the Liard Country of far northern British Columbia, Canada. It is located southwest of the junction of Shaw Creek with the Smith River, which enters the Liard between the confluences of the Toad and Coal Rivers.The settlement, which is located just south of the British Columbia-Yukon boundary, was the location of the coldest temperature ever recorded in British Columbia and the eighth-coldest temperature on record in Canada: -58.9 °C (-74 °F), on January 31, 1947.
During World War II Smith River was built up and used as an airport base as defense against the Japanese if they should ever invade the mainland of North America. A 6000 ft long runway was built at Smith River, and government maintained it until the 1970s, at which time the town was abandoned. In the Spring and Summer of 1982 a forest fire consumed all the remaining buildings.