Provo River at Provo Canyon
Utah · Tubing & floating
Measured at USGS 10163000 — PROVO RIVER AT PROVO, UT · NWS forecast point PPPU1
Reading taken Jul 28, 11:45 PM UTC
Running high and pushy for a tube or an inner-tube crowd
At 43 CFS, this gauge is running 305% of normal for late July — above the 14 CFS median USGS has recorded for this date across 82 years of record (1944–2026).
Data-derived guidance from USGS and NWS published values — not official advice, and not a safety assessment.
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Flood stages at Provo Canyon
Official National Weather Service categories for gauge PPPU1, issued by WFO SLC. Impact statements are the NWS's own wording for this location, reproduced verbatim.
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Major flood 9.5 ft · 2,500 CFS
- 9.5 ft or 2500 cfs, major flooding is anticipated along the Provo River from Deer Creek Reservoir in Provo Canyon along the channel downstream to Utah Lake. Home developments along this stretch can expect property damage and flooded basements.
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Moderate flood 9.2 ft · 2,300 CFS
- 9.2 ft or 2300 cfs, moderate flooding is anticipated along the Provo River from Deer Creek Reservoir in Provo Canyon along the channel downstream to Utah Lake. Home developments along this stretch can expect property damage and flooded basements.
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Minor flood 8.8 ft · 2,100 CFS
- 8.8 ft or 2100 cfs, minor flooding is anticipated along the Provo River from Deer Creek Reservoir in Provo Canyon along the channel downstream to Utah Lake. Home developments along this stretch can expect property damage and flooded basements.
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Action 8.2 ft · 1,800 CFS
- Right now 3.84 ft
12 months of flow at Provo Canyon
Daily values from USGS gauge 10163000. Provisional data, subject to revision.
Highest crests on record at Provo Canyon
| Stage | Flow | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 7.67 ft | 2,420 CFS | Jun 3, 1983 |
| 7.48 ft | 1,950 CFS | May 30, 2005 |
| 7.08 ft | 1,760 CFS | Feb 19, 1986 |
| 6.94 ft | 2,050 CFS | May 25, 1984 |
| 6.63 ft | 1,430 CFS | May 10, 1985 |
| 6.60 ft | 1,940 CFS | Jun 10, 1975 |
| 6.53 ft | 1,380 CFS | Jun 12, 1990 |
| 6.50 ft | 1,590 CFS | May 24, 1988 |
| 6.49 ft | 1,200 CFS | May 26, 1995 |
| 6.43 ft | 1,280 CFS | May 24, 1997 |
Historical crests published by the National Weather Service for this gauge.
About Provo River at Provo Canyon
This gauge measures Provo River at Provo Canyon, Utah — the reading paddlers, anglers and outfitters on this stretch check before committing to a shuttle.
Vivian Park to Bridal Veil; commercial tubing.
Raw CFS means little on its own, so every reading on this page is shown against the USGS median for the same calendar day — 14 CFS for late July, from 82 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.
Provo River at Provo Canyon — common questions
What is the current flow on Provo River at Provo Canyon?
As of the last reading on this page, Provo River at Provo Canyon was running 43 CFS at a gage height of 3.84 ft, or 305% of the USGS median for this date. The number updates automatically from USGS gauge 10163000, 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 14 CFS, calculated from 82 years of record (1944–2026). 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 Provo River?
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.