Kayak Love

California · river

Donner Creek at Highway 89 near Truckee

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

100of 100

Send it

Paddle Score, from live wind and water conditions

Photograph taken near Donner Creek at Highway 89 near Truckee
Nearby on Wikimedia Commons — Truckee, CA, from Above 9-2010 (5782425765).jpg by inkknife_2000 (7.5 million views +), CC BY-SA 2.0. Taken within 10km of this location — it may not show the launch itself.

Wind

2 mph

gusting to 5 mph

Air temp

71°F

0% chance of rain

River flow

7.74 cfs

normal for this date

Best day to paddle this week

Sunday · 84

  • Today

    83

  • Sun

    84

    Best

  • Mon

    75

  • Tue

    84

  • Wed

    77

  • Thu

    75

  • Fri

    77

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)
9a26
10a27
11a37
12p912
1p1014
2p1116
3p1217
4p1218
5p1218
6p1117
7p916
8p415

Is this flow normal for August 1?

Today's 7.74 cfs is 6% above the median for this date — which counts as normal water here.

The median flow on this date is 7 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

  • 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

All paddling spots in California