Today's paddling conditions
Pick a river gauge, search a launch, or use your location. We pull the nearest USGS gauge, the NWS forecast and active NWS alerts, and list every reason for caution with its source and threshold. Readouts are Calm, Use caution or Hazardous conditions.
My usual rivers
Privacy: your saved rivers are kept only in this browser (localStorage) on your device. There's no account and nothing is sent to us. Use Remove or Clear all to delete them. Location is used on your device to find the nearest gauge and is not stored.
Gear check
Save your kayak, paddle and safety items in My gear and they fill in here automatically.
Tell us what you paddle with. We check it against your saved rivers' typical and current conditions and your body size, and suggest what may suit them better, with the reason and source.
Privacy: your gear is kept only in this browser (localStorage). No account, nothing sent to us.
Rules we apply
- Gusts over 20 mph: use caution (NWS Beaufort force 5). Gusts of 32 mph or more: hazardous (force 7).
- Water under 60 °F: use caution for cold shock (National Center for Cold Water Safety; NWS).
- Flow above the 90th percentile for the date: use caution (USGS percentile classes).
- Gauge at NWS action stage: use caution. At flood stage: hazardous (NOAA NWPS).
- Active NWS warning: hazardous. Advisory or watch, including small craft advisories: use caution.
- Boat fit: recreational, fishing, tandem and inflatable kayaks are made for calm lakes and slow rivers, so flow above the 75th percentile adds caution (REI). Inflatable and foldable kayaks in wind over 15 mph add caution (REI). Sit-inside kayaks in water under 60 °F: a spray skirt and immersion clothing are advised (National Center for Cold Water Safety; U.S. Coast Guard).
Conditions summary from official data, not a safety guarantee. Check local conditions and wear a life jacket.