Arkansas River at Granite
Colorado · Paddling & whitewater
Measured at USGS 07087050 — ARKANSAS RIVER BELOW GRANITE, CO
Reading taken Jul 28, 11:45 PM UTC
Too low for most boats — rocky and technical
At 283 CFS, this gauge is running 46% of normal for late July — below the 619 CFS median USGS has recorded for this date across 27 years of record (1999–2025).
Data-derived guidance from USGS and NWS published values — not official advice, and not a safety assessment.
Sponsor Arkansas River
Put your outfitter, guide service, cabin rental or shuttle in front of everyone checking this stretch before they drive out. One exclusive sponsor per river.
Cancel anytime · Questions?
12 months of flow at Granite
Daily values from USGS gauge 07087050. Provisional data, subject to revision.
About Arkansas River at Granite
This gauge measures Arkansas River at Granite, Colorado — the reading paddlers, anglers and outfitters on this stretch check before committing to a shuttle.
The Numbers; the flow gauge above Buena Vista.
Raw CFS means little on its own, so every reading on this page is shown against the USGS median for the same calendar day — 619 CFS for late July, from 27 years of record.
Arkansas River at Granite — common questions
What is the current flow on Arkansas River at Granite?
As of the last reading on this page, Arkansas River at Granite was running 283 CFS at a gage height of 11.49 ft, or 46% of the USGS median for this date. The number updates automatically from USGS gauge 07087050, 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 619 CFS, calculated from 27 years of record (1999–2025). 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 07087050, public-domain data from the U.S. Geological Survey.