Kayak Love

Colorado · river

Arkansas River near Nathrop

Live conditions for this USGS-monitored stretch of water, updated every 15 minutes.

71of 100

Good

Paddle Score, from live wind and water conditions

Photograph taken near Arkansas River near Nathrop
Nearby on Wikimedia Commons — Arkansas River (2020).jpg by Roy Luck, CC BY 2.0. Taken within 10km of this location — it may not show the launch itself.

Wind

15 mph

gusting to 18 mph

Air temp

85°F

20% chance of rain

River flow

207 cfs

very low for this date

Best day to paddle this week

Tuesday · 70

  • Today

    36

  • Thu

    43

  • Fri

    30

  • Sat

    36

  • Sun

    51

  • Mon

    33

  • Tue

    70

    Best

Scored from each day's peak forecast wind, heat, and rain chance — river flow isn't forecastable, so check back before you load the boat.

Wind, next 12 hours

mph
Hourly wind forecast
HourWind (mph)Gusts (mph)
4p2326
5p2331
6p1317
7p1018
8p1023
9p1326
10p814
11p57
12a510
1a611
2a513
3a511

Is this flow normal for August 19?

Today's 207 cfs is 60% below the median for this date — which counts as very low water here.

The median flow on this date is 520 cfs, across 60 years of USGS record at this gauge. Whether that is runnable depends on the stretch — this is context, not a recommendation.

Why this score

  • Wind15 mph — hard work, whitecaps likely-29

We don't have launch notes for this one

This page is built from the USGS gauge at this location, so the flow and weather are real — but we haven't verified where to put in, what the hazards are, or whether this stretch is legal or sensible to paddle. We'd rather say that than invent it. The links below are where to find out.

We also don't have a verified safe-flow range here, so the Paddle Score reflects weather only. Judge the flow number against local knowledge, not against our score.

Do your own homework

We show you live conditions. For local knowledge — where to put in, what the hazards are, whether it's worth the drive — here's where paddlers actually talk about this water. We don't vet these sources; check the dates and judge for yourself.

Nearby water

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