Kayak Love

California · river

Donner Creek A Donner Lake near Truckee

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

100of 100

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Paddle Score, from live wind and water conditions

Photograph taken near Donner Creek A Donner Lake near Truckee
Nearby on Wikimedia Commons — Donner Creek leaving Donner Lake.jpg by Dicklyon, CC BY-SA 4.0. Taken within 10km of this location — it may not show the launch itself.

Wind

2 mph

gusting to 9 mph

Air temp

73°F

0% chance of rain

River flow

5.13 cfs

normal for this date

Best day to paddle this week

Tuesday · 84

  • Today

    80

  • Sun

    79

  • Mon

    77

  • Tue

    84

    Best

  • Wed

    77

  • Thu

    75

  • Fri

    79

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)
9a27
10a28
11a811
12p914
1p1116
2p1217
3p1318
4p1319
5p1218
6p1218
7p1017
8p516

Is this flow normal for August 1?

Today's 5.13 cfs is 71% above the median for this date — which counts as normal water here.

The median flow on this date is 3 cfs, across 96 years of USGS record at this gauge. Whether that is runnable depends on the stretch — this is context, not a recommendation.

Why this score

  • Wind2 mph — calm, ideal for any boat±0

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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