Kayak Love

Vermont · river

West River below Townshend Dam near Townshend

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

80of 100

Good

Paddle Score, from live wind and water conditions

Photograph taken near West River below Townshend Dam near Townshend
Nearby on Wikimedia Commons — USACE Townshend Lake and Dam.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

13 mph

gusting to 21 mph

Air temp

76°F

0% chance of rain

River flow

45.1 cfs

normal for this date

Best day to paddle this week

Saturday · 98

  • Today

    73

  • Tue

    94

  • Wed

    68

  • Thu

    50

  • Fri

    87

  • Sat

    98

    Best

  • Sun

    93

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)
3p1218
4p1321
5p1118
6p1018
7p613
8p57
9p57
10p56
11p67
12a68
1a58
2a58

Is this flow normal for September 7?

Today's 45.1 cfs is 33% above the median for this date — which counts as normal water here.

The median flow on this date is 34 cfs, across 5 years of USGS record at this gauge. Whether that is runnable depends on the stretch — this is context, not a recommendation.

Why this score

  • Wind13 mph — hard work, whitecaps likely-20

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 Vermont