Boulder Creek at Boulder
Colorado · Tubing & floating
Measured at USGS 06730200 — BOULDER CREEK AT NORTH 75TH ST. NEAR BOULDER, CO · NWS forecast point BOLC2
Reading taken Jul 28, 11:15 PM UTC
Right around its normal summer float level
At 115 CFS, this gauge is running 112% of normal for late July — close to the 103 CFS median USGS has recorded for this date across 39 years of record (1987–2026). The stage is 2.3 ft below the NWS action stage of 7.5 ft.
Data-derived guidance from USGS and NWS published values — not official advice, and not a safety assessment.
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Flood stages at Boulder
Official National Weather Service categories for gauge BOLC2, issued by WFO BOU. Impact statements are the NWS's own wording for this location, reproduced verbatim.
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Major flood 10.0 ft
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Moderate flood 9.0 ft
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Minor flood 8.0 ft
- 8.0 ft CONSIDERABLE LOWLAND FLOODING IN EAST BOULDER.
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Action 7.5 ft
- 7.5 ft WATER OVERFLOWS BANKS INTO LOW LYING AREAS.
- Right now 5.21 ft
12 months of flow at Boulder
Daily values from USGS gauge 06730200. Provisional data, subject to revision.
Highest crests on record at Boulder
| Stage | Flow | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 10.60 ft | 8,400 CFS | Sep 13, 2013 |
| 7.85 ft | 1,950 CFS | May 17, 1995 |
| 7.41 ft | 1,460 CFS | May 9, 2015 |
| 7.32 ft | 1,500 CFS | Jun 13, 1997 |
| 7.16 ft | 1,330 CFS | Aug 5, 1999 |
| 7.11 ft | 120 CFS | May 30, 2014 |
| 7.00 ft | 1,180 CFS | Jul 17, 2000 |
| 6.98 ft | 1,220 CFS | Jul 13, 2011 |
| 6.97 ft | 1,000 CFS | May 26, 1996 |
| 6.76 ft | 1,080 CFS | Jun 9, 1987 |
Historical crests published by the National Weather Service for this gauge.
About Boulder Creek at Boulder
This gauge measures Boulder Creek at Boulder, Colorado — the reading paddlers, anglers and outfitters on this stretch check before committing to a shuttle.
Boulder Creek path; 2013 flood reference.
Raw CFS means little on its own, so every reading on this page is shown against the USGS median for the same calendar day — 103 CFS for late July, from 39 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.
Boulder Creek at Boulder — common questions
What is the current flow on Boulder Creek at Boulder?
As of the last reading on this page, Boulder Creek at Boulder was running 115 CFS at a gage height of 5.21 ft, or 112% of the USGS median for this date. The number updates automatically from USGS gauge 06730200, 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 103 CFS, calculated from 39 years of record (1987–2026). 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 flow is good for tubing Boulder Creek?
riverlvl does not publish a recommended tubing range — that call belongs to the outfitters and the local authorities who know this stretch. What this page gives you is the objective input: today's flow, the seasonal median for the same date, and where the reading sits in the 12-month record. Local outfitters generally publish their own cutoffs, and they close when the river is up.
Does rain upstream change this reading quickly?
Yes. This is a free-flowing gauge, so it responds directly to rain in the basin upstream. Flashy rises of several feet in a few hours are normal on rivers like this after a heavy storm, which is why the reading is worth checking the morning you go.
What does gage height mean versus CFS?
Gage height is how high the water surface is above the gauge's own zero point, in feet — a local measure, not depth and not elevation. CFS is cubic feet per second, the volume of water moving past the gauge. Flood stages are set in gage height; float and paddling conditions are usually discussed in CFS.