Arkansas River at Canon City
Colorado · Paddling & whitewater
Measured at USGS 07094500 — ARKANSAS RIVER AT PARKDALE, CO. · NWS forecast point PDLC2
Reading taken Jul 28, 11:45 PM UTC
Too low for most boats — rocky and technical
At 290 CFS, this gauge is running 27% of normal for late July — below the 1,070 CFS median USGS has recorded for this date across 71 years of record (1946–2026).
Data-derived guidance from USGS and NWS published values — not official advice, and not a safety assessment.
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Flood stages at Canon City
Official National Weather Service categories for gauge PDLC2, issued by WFO PUB. Impact statements are the NWS's own wording for this location, reproduced verbatim.
-
Major flood 11.0 ft
- 11.0 ft Water rises to the base of the bridge at Texas Creek.
- 11.5 ft Significant flooding occurs in Canon City.
- 12.0 ft Water reaches the base of the bridge near Parkdale.
-
Moderate flood 10.0 ft
- 10.0 ft Flood waters impact homes and businesses along the river between Cotopaxi and Texas Creek.
-
Minor flood 9.0 ft
- 9.0 ft Minor agricultural flooding of fields and pastures along the river occurs.
- 9.5 ft Water rises over railroad tracks in low spots along the river from Parkdale to Portland.
-
Action 7.0 ft
- 7.0 ft The river is bankfull.
- 8.0 ft Water threatens low spots along Highway 50 east of Cotopaxi.
- 8.5 ft Water threatens Five Points Campground near Spikebuck.
- Right now 2.35 ft
12 months of flow at Canon City
Daily values from USGS gauge 07094500. Provisional data, subject to revision.
Highest crests on record at Canon City
| Stage | Flow | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 9.13 ft | 5,960 CFS | Jun 9, 1985 |
| 8.82 ft | 6,830 CFS | Jun 18, 1995 |
| 8.74 ft | 6,330 CFS | Jun 18, 2015 |
| 8.07 ft | 5,840 CFS | Jun 12, 1980 |
| 8.06 ft | 6,310 CFS | Jun 26, 1983 |
| 8.01 ft | 5,670 CFS | Jun 15, 2019 |
| 7.91 ft | 5,550 CFS | Jun 10, 2024 |
| 7.84 ft | 5,950 CFS | Jun 10, 1987 |
| 7.82 ft | 5,280 CFS | Jun 6, 2010 |
| 7.48 ft | 4,990 CFS | Jun 21, 1997 |
Historical crests published by the National Weather Service for this gauge.
About Arkansas River at Canon City
This gauge measures Arkansas River at Canon City, Colorado — the reading paddlers, anglers and outfitters on this stretch check before committing to a shuttle.
Royal Gorge; Echo Canyon publishes cfs bands.
Raw CFS means little on its own, so every reading on this page is shown against the USGS median for the same calendar day — 1,070 CFS for late July, from 71 years of record.
Because the National Weather Service also operates a forecast point here, the page carries the official flood-category ladder and the NWS's own stage-by-stage impact statements.
Arkansas River at Canon City — common questions
What is the current flow on Arkansas River at Canon City?
As of the last reading on this page, Arkansas River at Canon City was running 290 CFS at a gage height of 2.35 ft, or 27% of the USGS median for this date. The number updates automatically from USGS gauge 07094500, which reports every 15 to 60 minutes.
Is that high or low for this time of year?
The USGS median flow for late July at this gauge is 1,070 CFS, calculated from 71 years of record (1946–2026). Comparing today's reading against that median is the only way a raw CFS number tells you anything — 200 CFS is a drought on one river and a flood on another.
How often does this reading update?
USGS transmits from this gauge every 15 to 60 minutes. This page bakes in the most recent reading when it is rebuilt, then refreshes live from USGS when you open it. Readings are provisional and subject to revision by USGS.
What is a runnable level on this stretch?
riverlvl deliberately does not publish a runnable range. American Whitewater and the local paddling community maintain the correlations for this reach, and they are the authority. This page gives you the raw inputs — current CFS, gage height, the seasonal median, and the 12-month hydrograph — so you can apply whatever range you trust.
How fast can this gauge come up?
This is a free-flowing gauge, so it rises with rain in the basin. The 12-month chart on this page shows the shape of the past year's rises, which is the best available guide to how flashy this particular reach is.
Where does this data come from?
The flow and gage height come from USGS gauge 07094500, public-domain data from the U.S. Geological Survey. The flood categories, impact statements and forecast come from the National Weather Service's National Water Prediction Service, gauge PDLC2.