Kayak Love

California · river

Ward Creek at Highway 89 near Tahoe Pines

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

88of 100

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Paddle Score, from live wind and water conditions

Photograph taken near Ward Creek at Highway 89 near Tahoe Pines
Nearby on Wikimedia Commons — Lake Tahoe Dam 1.jpg by Little Mountain 5, CC BY-SA 3.0. Taken within 10km of this location — it may not show the launch itself.

Wind

11 mph

gusting to 19 mph

Air temp

75°F

1% chance of rain

River flow

0.32 cfs

normal for this date

Best day to paddle this week

Wednesday · 85

  • Today

    77

  • Fri

    52

  • Sat

    26

  • Sun

    71

  • Mon

    84

  • Tue

    81

  • Wed

    85

    Best

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)
5p1118
6p1119
7p1020
8p920
9p821
10p616
11p521
12a520
1a520
2a419
3a519
4a619

Is this flow normal for September 11?

Today's 0.32 cfs is 58% below the median for this date — which counts as normal water here.

The median flow on this date is 1 cfs, across 52 years of USGS record at this gauge. Whether that is runnable depends on the stretch — this is context, not a recommendation.

Why this score

  • Wind11 mph — noticeable but manageable-12

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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