Oak Creek at Sedona
Arizona · Tubing & floating
Measured at USGS 09504420 — OAK CREEK NEAR SEDONA, AZ · NWS forecast point OAKA3
Reading taken Jul 28, 11:45 PM UTC
Right around its normal summer float level
At 32 CFS, this gauge is running 110% of normal for late July — close to the 29 CFS median USGS has recorded for this date across 44 years of record (1982–2026).
Data-derived guidance from USGS and NWS published values — not official advice, and not a safety assessment.
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Flood stages at Sedona
Official National Weather Service categories for gauge OAKA3, issued by WFO FGZ. Impact statements are the NWS's own wording for this location, reproduced verbatim.
-
Major flood 20.0 ft · 25,038 CFS
- 20.0 ft Major flooding to mobile homes downstream from the Tlaquepaque bridge and access roads along Oak Creek through Sedona.
- 24.5 ft Creek reaches bottom of pedestrian and highway bridges at Tlaquepaque.
-
Moderate flood 17.0 ft · 19,350 CFS
- 18.0 ft Minor damage to shops and galleries near the Tlaquepaque bridge.
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Minor flood 14.0 ft · 14,133 CFS
- 14.0 ft Flood stage. Several islands downstream in Sedona evacuated. Minor flooding of access roads, buildings, and residences along Oak Creek.
- 16.0 ft Flooding begins at Rancho Sedona RV Park on Bear Wallow Lane, Trails End Drive, Oak Creek Mobilodge, Poco Diablo Resort on Sycamore Road and Oak Creek Cliffs Drive, and Chavez Crossing Campground.
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Action 7.0 ft · 12,500 CFS
- 7.0 ft Likely to cause minor flooding downstream in Page Springs area near stream gage OACA3 4 to 6 hours later.
- 13.0 ft Stream reaches terrace under Tlaquepaque bridge. Low water crossings closed.
- Right now 2.21 ft
NWS forecast: 2.22 ft by Jul 29, 1:00 AM UTC.
12 months of flow at Sedona
Daily values from USGS gauge 09504420. Provisional data, subject to revision.
Highest crests on record at Sedona
| Stage | Flow | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 20.33 ft | 23,200 CFS | Feb 19, 1993 |
| 18.47 ft | 17,100 CFS | Mar 6, 1995 |
| 18.47 ft | 19,000 CFS | Dec 29, 2004 |
| 16.40 ft | 17,967 CFS | Mar 22, 2023 |
| 12.11 ft | 11,100 CFS | Feb 15, 2019 |
| 11.59 ft | 9,460 CFS | Nov 30, 1982 |
| 11.34 ft | 9,820 CFS | Dec 7, 2007 |
| 10.95 ft | 9,130 CFS | Mar 2, 2015 |
| 10.29 ft | 6,680 CFS | Feb 13, 1992 |
| 9.32 ft | 5,240 CFS | Mar 1, 1991 |
Historical crests published by the National Weather Service for this gauge.
About Oak Creek at Sedona
This gauge measures Oak Creek at Sedona, Arizona — the reading paddlers, anglers and outfitters on this stretch check before committing to a shuttle.
Slide Rock State Park; one of the most-visited swim holes in the West.
Raw CFS means little on its own, so every reading on this page is shown against the USGS median for the same calendar day — 29 CFS for late July, from 44 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.
Oak Creek at Sedona — common questions
What is the current flow on Oak Creek at Sedona?
As of the last reading on this page, Oak Creek at Sedona was running 32 CFS at a gage height of 2.21 ft, or 110% of the USGS median for this date. The number updates automatically from USGS gauge 09504420, 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 29 CFS, calculated from 44 years of record (1982–2026). 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 Oak 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.