Kayak Love

Colorado · river

Roaring Fork River above Difficult Creek near Aspen

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

97of 100

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Paddle Score, from live wind and water conditions

Photograph taken near Roaring Fork River above Difficult Creek near Aspen
Nearby on Wikimedia Commons — Aspen Mountain.jpg by This Photo was taken by Wolfgang Moroder . Feel free to use my photos, but please mention me as the author and send me a message . This image is not in the public domain . Please respect the copyright protection. It may only be used according to the rules mentioned here. This specifically excludes use in social media , if applicable terms of the licenses listed here not appropriate. Please do not upload an updated image here without consultation with the Author. The author would like to make corrections only at his own source. This ensures that the changes are preserved. Please if you think that any changes should be required, please inform the author. Otherwise you can upload a new image with a new name. Please use one of the templates derivative or extract ., CC BY-SA 3.0. Taken within 10km of this location — it may not show the launch itself.

Wind

3 mph

gusting to 6 mph

Air temp

58°F

8% chance of rain

River flow

8.99 cfs

very low for this date

Best day to paddle this week

Saturday · 91

  • Today

    88

  • Tue

    82

  • Wed

    88

  • Thu

    88

  • Fri

    89

  • Sat

    91

    Best

  • Sun

    39

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)
3a56
4a67
5a69
6a811
7a710
8a517
9a718
10a921
11a1020
12p1020
1p1120
2p1120

Is this flow normal for September 7?

Today's 8.99 cfs is 70% below the median for this date — which counts as very low water here.

The median flow on this date is 30 cfs, across 45 years of USGS record at this gauge. Whether that is runnable depends on the stretch — this is context, not a recommendation.

Why this score

  • Wind — 3 mph — calm, ideal for any boat±0
  • Cold — 58°F — dress for the water, not the air-3

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 Colorado →