Kayak Love

South Dakota · river

Whitewood Creek above Whitewood

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

53of 100

Fair

Paddle Score, from live wind and water conditions

Photograph taken near Whitewood Creek above Whitewood
Nearby on Wikimedia Commons — Whitewood, South Dakota (2014).jpg by Jerry Huddleston from Hampton, Minnesota, US, CC BY 2.0. Taken within 10km of this location — it may not show the launch itself.

Wind

18 mph

gusting to 24 mph

Air temp

76°F

39% chance of rain

River flow

8.91 cfs

low for this date

Wind, next 12 hours

mph
Hourly wind forecast
HourWind (mph)Gusts (mph)
4p2128
5p1422
6p1116
7p1015
8p917
9p1325
10p710
11p66
12a711
1a911
2a57
3a78

Is this flow normal for July 30?

Today's 8.91 cfs is 36% below the median for this date — which counts as low water here.

The median flow on this date is 14 cfs, across 41 years of USGS record at this gauge. Whether that is runnable depends on the stretch — this is context, not a recommendation.

Why this score

  • Wind18 mph — hard work, whitecaps likely-43
  • Rain39% chance in the next 6 hours-4

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 South Dakota