Roaring Fork Flow Planning

Start with a current reading

Open River conditions and check the reading time, gauge location and trend. A gauge is a measurement at one place, not a live inspection of every access or hazard.

Match the gauge to your stretch

Upper-valley trips around Basalt and lower-valley trips toward Two Rivers cover different reaches. Confirm the put-in and take-out before interpreting the data. Tributaries and local conditions can change what you encounter.

Do not turn CFS into a safety rating

Cubic feet per second describes discharge. It does not establish a universal safe threshold for a raft, kayak, SUP or fishing trip. Get current local advice for your equipment and experience.

Keep the shuttle plan flexible

Flow, weather and stops affect time on the water. Choose a realistic take-out time and contact Driftline if your vehicle or trip logistics need clarification before launch.

What CFS means

CFS is cubic feet per second: how much water passes the gauge each second. One cubic foot is about 7.5 gallons. Higher CFS means more water and usually faster current. The live Glenwood Springs reading is below, and every gauge is on River conditions.

How flows change through the year

USGS 09085000, Roaring Fork River at Glenwood Springs. Average of monthly mean flows, 2001–2025:

• January: about 420 CFS
• April: about 790 CFS
• May: about 1,940 CFS
• June: about 3,430 CFS
• July: about 1,630 CFS
• August: about 830 CFS
• September: about 710 CFS
• October: about 660 CFS

The yearly peak came in June in 19 of those 25 years, May in 4 and July in 2. Peaks ranged from 2,110 CFS (2012) to 10,100 CFS (2010). This gauge is at the bottom of the river; upper-valley stretches carry less water. Averages are history, not a forecast.

Plan by season

For runoff and fall fishing trips, see seasonal float planning and floating and fishing the Roaring Fork. All guides: River guides.