Kayak Love

California · river

Tuolumne River near Hetch Hetchy

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

95of 100

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Paddle Score, from live wind and water conditions

Photograph taken near Tuolumne River near Hetch Hetchy
Nearby on Wikimedia Commons — View east across Hetch Hetchy Reservoir towards Kolana Rock - panoramio.jpg by Richard Wood, CC BY-SA 3.0. Taken within 10km of this location — it may not show the launch itself.

Wind

8 mph

gusting to 9 mph

Air temp

92°F

0% chance of rain

River flow

113 cfs

normal for this date

Best day to paddle this week

Today · 77

  • Today

    77

    Best

  • Sun

    75

  • Mon

    69

  • Tue

    67

  • Wed

    70

  • Thu

    70

  • Fri

    71

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)
10a89
11a810
12p810
1p911
2p1012
3p1113
4p1013
5p1012
6p1012
7p811
8p611
9p46

Is this flow normal for August 1?

Today's 113 cfs is 10% below the median for this date — which counts as normal water here.

The median flow on this date is 125 cfs, across 57 years of USGS record at this gauge. Whether that is runnable depends on the stretch — this is context, not a recommendation.

Why this score

  • Wind8 mph — noticeable but manageable-2
  • Heat92°F — bring more water than you think-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.

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