Kayak Love

South Dakota · river

Cleghorn Springs at Rapid City

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

53of 100

Fair

Paddle Score, from live wind and water conditions

Photograph taken near Cleghorn Springs at Rapid City
Nearby on Wikimedia Commons — ChapelInTheHills1.JPG by Jake DeGroot, CC BY-SA 3.0. Taken within 10km of this location — it may not show the launch itself.

Wind

19 mph

gusting to 28 mph

Air temp

82°F

17% chance of rain

River flow

9.33 cfs

low for this date

Wind, next 12 hours

mph
Hourly wind forecast
HourWind (mph)Gusts (mph)
4p1420
5p1726
6p1521
7p1524
8p1427
9p1528
10p1226
11p715
12a311
1a410
2a59
3a69

Is this flow normal for July 30?

Today's 9.33 cfs is 22% below the median for this date — which counts as low water here.

The median flow on this date is 12 cfs, across 32 years of USGS record at this gauge. Whether that is runnable depends on the stretch — this is context, not a recommendation.

Why this score

  • Wind19 mph — stay off open water-47

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