Kayak Love

South Dakota · river

Bear Gulch near Hayward

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

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Paddle Score, from live wind and water conditions

Photograph taken near Bear Gulch near Hayward
Nearby on Wikimedia Commons — Gaslight dining saloon rapid city.jpg by RadicalHarmony, CC0. Taken within 10km of this location — it may not show the launch itself.

Wind

10 mph

gusting to 12 mph

Air temp

81°F

0% chance of rain

River flow

0.94 cfs

normal for this date

Best day to paddle this week

Wednesday · 84

  • Today

    44

  • Sat

    25

  • Sun

    55

  • Mon

    42

  • Tue

    67

  • Wed

    84

    Best

  • Thu

    61

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)
9p89
10p1012
11p1112
12a1317
1a1216
2a1419
3a1619
4a1416
5a1011
6a77
7a1112
8a911

Is this flow normal for September 5?

Today's 0.94 cfs is 185% above the median for this date — which counts as normal water here.

The median flow on this date is 0 cfs, across 8 years of USGS record at this gauge. Whether that is runnable depends on the stretch — this is context, not a recommendation.

Why this score

  • Wind10 mph — noticeable but manageable-9

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

All paddling spots in South Dakota