Arkansas River level at Canon City
Colorado · Paddling & whitewater
Measured at USGS 07094500 — ARKANSAS RIVER AT PARKDALE, CO. · NWS forecast point PDLC2
Reading taken · as of 18 min ago
Too low for most boats — rocky and technical
At 203 CFS, this gauge is running 46% of normal for mid-September — below the 445 CFS median USGS has recorded for this date across 71 years of record (1946–2026).
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Flood stages at Canon City
National Weather Service categories for gauge PDLC2, WFO PUB. Impact wording is the NWS's own, verbatim.
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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.
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Moderate flood 10.0 ft
- 10.0 ft Flood waters impact homes and businesses along the river between Cotopaxi and Texas Creek.
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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 2.12 ft
Flow history at Canon City
Daily values from USGS 07094500, updated every 15 to 60 minutes; NWS forecast for PDLC2 reissued through the day. Provisional.
Highest crests on record at Canon City
12 on record
| 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 |
Crests published by the National Weather Service.
About Arkansas River at Canon City
In Colorado — the reading paddlers, anglers and outfitters here check before committing to a shuttle. Royal Gorge; Echo Canyon publishes cfs bands.
Arkansas River at Canon City — common questions
3 questions
How fast can Arkansas River at Canon City come up?
Fast. It is free-flowing, so rain upstream moves it directly. Several feet in a few hours is normal after a heavy storm.
Is Arkansas River at Canon City high or low for this time of year?
The USGS median flow for mid-September here is 445 CFS, from 71 years of record (1946–2026). Today is 46% of it. The comparison is what makes the raw number mean anything: the same reading is a drought on one river and a flood on another.
How often does this reading update?
USGS transmits from gauge 07094500 every 15 to 60 minutes, and the National Weather Service reissues the flood forecast for PDLC2 a few times a day — more often when the river is rising. This page refreshes from both when you open it. The timestamp is in the gauge's local time.