Kayak Love

Illinois · river

Kaskaskia River at New Athens

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

83of 100

Good

Paddle Score, from live wind and water conditions

Photograph taken near Kaskaskia River at New Athens
Nearby on Wikimedia Commons — Kaskaskia River Illinois and barges.jpg by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, photographer not specified or unknown, Public domain. Taken within 10km of this location — it may not show the launch itself.

Wind

12 mph

gusting to 18 mph

Air temp

70°F

13% chance of rain

River flow

1,420 cfs

low for this date

Best day to paddle this week

Tuesday · 100

  • Today

    57

  • Sun

    69

  • Mon

    92

  • Tue

    100

    Best

  • Wed

    80

  • Thu

    43

  • Fri

    55

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)
11a1319
12p1217
1p1217
2p1115
3p1014
4p914
5p514
6p515
7p718
8p1022
9p1123
10p1226

Is this flow normal for August 1?

Today's 1,420 cfs is 69% below the median for this date — which counts as low water here.

The median flow on this date is 4,580 cfs, across 16 years of USGS record at this gauge. Whether that is runnable depends on the stretch — this is context, not a recommendation.

Why this score

  • Wind12 mph — hard work, whitecaps likely-17

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 Illinois