Moab River Flows and Gauges
Flow decides almost everything about a river trip near Moab: how hard the rapids are, whether a canoe is sensible, how fast you move, and how cold you get if you swim. This page lists the gauges that matter, what the numbers mean on each section, and where to check them yourself.
For the Colorado near Moab, use USGS gauge 09180500 at Cisco. For the Green, use gauge 09315000 at Green River, Utah. Both report cubic feet per second, updated continuously. Check them the week before your trip and again the morning you launch.
Current Flows
Live readings from the three USGS gauges that cover the Moab area, updated continuously and cached briefly here.
| Gauge | Flow | Water temp | Gage height | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado River near Cisco, UTWestwater Canyon, the Moab Daily | 1,500 CFS | 77.5°F (25.3°C) | 1.72 ft | 46 minutes ago |
| Green River at Green River, UTLabyrinth, Stillwater, lower Desolation | 1,590 CFS | 74.5°F (23.6°C) | 5.87 ft | 31 minutes ago |
| Colorado River near the Colorado-Utah state lineRuby-Horsethief | 1,210 CFS | 74.8°F (23.8°C) | 2.27 ft | 1 hour ago |
Live data from USGS, cached briefly. Readings are provisional and subject to revision.
The reference numbers, if you want to look them up directly: 09180500 Colorado River near Cisco, covering Westwater Canyon, the Moab Daily and the Colorado approach to Cataract, with daily values back to 1913. 09315000 Green River at Green River, covering Labyrinth, Stillwater and the lower end of Desolation and Gray, with daily values back to 1894. 09163500 Colorado River near the Colorado-Utah state line, covering Ruby-Horsethief.
Cataract sits below the Confluence, so its flow is roughly the Colorado at Cisco plus the Green at Green River combined. Add the two readings for a working estimate. It is an approximation, not a measurement, because tributaries enter between the gauges and the Confluence.
The Cisco gauge also carries a streamcam, so you can look at the water as well as the number.
MethodHow to Read a Gauge
USGS reports two things boaters care about:
- Discharge, in cubic feet per second (CFS). This is the number people mean when they say "flow." One cubic foot per second is about 7.5 gallons per second. It is the figure to plan around, because it is comparable across years and between rivers.
- Gage height, in feet. This is the water level at that specific station. It is useful for spotting a rising or falling trend at a glance, but it is not comparable between gauges, and a given gage height means nothing on another river.
Watch the trend, not just the snapshot. A river at 8,000 CFS and dropping is a different proposition from a river at 8,000 CFS and rising fast, particularly during runoff or after a storm.
Real-time USGS readings are provisional and can be revised. They are reliable enough to plan around and are what every boater uses, but treat a single anomalous reading with suspicion rather than rearranging your trip around it.
What the Numbers Mean by Section
The only Moab-area section where a land management agency publishes specific flow guidance is Ruby-Horsethief, and it is worth quoting exactly because it is unusually concrete.
| Ruby-Horsethief flow | BLM guidance |
|---|---|
| Above 30,000 CFS | Extra care needed with any type of watercraft |
| 20,000 to 30,000 CFS | Canoes not recommended at all |
| 10,000 to 20,000 CFS | Highly experienced canoeists only |
| Below 5,000 CFS | Best conditions for family raft trips |
For the other sections, no agency publishes equivalent thresholds, and we are not going to invent them. What holds generally across all of them:
- High water makes whitewater pushier, not just bigger. Features wash out, but the current gets faster and more powerful, eddies get harder to catch, and the consequences of a swim increase considerably.
- Low water makes whitewater technical. Rocks that were buried become obstacles. Rapids that were straightforward at high flow require line choice and boat control.
- Flatwater cares less about flow and more about wind. On Labyrinth, Stillwater and Meander, an afternoon headwind will shape your day far more than the gauge does.
- Rising water after a storm carries debris and reduces visibility. Side canyons can flash flood while the main stem looks normal.
For section-specific character, see the individual river pages: Westwater, Cataract, the Moab Daily, Desolation and Gray.
TimingHow Flow Moves Through the Year
Both rivers are snowmelt driven. The Colorado near Moab is fed by the Colorado Rockies; the Green by the Uinta Mountains and the wider Wyoming and Colorado headwaters. The general shape of the year:
| Period | What flow does |
|---|---|
| March to April | Rising as low-elevation snow melts. Variable and weather sensitive. |
| May to mid June | Peak runoff. Highest and fastest water of the year, and the coldest. |
| Late June to August | Falling steadily as the snowpack exhausts. Monsoon storms can spike it briefly. |
| September to October | Low and stable. Clear water, technical whitewater, easy flatwater. |
| November to February | Low base flow. Cold air and colder water. |
A strong snowpack year and a drought year produce completely different rivers in the same calendar week. This is why we point you at a live gauge rather than publishing a table of typical monthly flows. A number written last season will mislead you this one.
During spring runoff the water is snowmelt. Cold water incapacitates a swimmer long before hypothermia becomes the issue: the first minute brings involuntary gasping and loss of breathing control, and useful movement in your hands and arms fades within about ten minutes. Air temperature is irrelevant to this. Judge the water.
River Flow FAQ
What gauge should I use for the Moab Daily?
USGS 09180500, Colorado River near Cisco. It is the reference gauge for both the Moab Daily and Westwater Canyon.
What is a good flow for rafting near Moab?
It depends entirely on the section and what you want. High water suits experienced whitewater boaters; low water suits families and canoes. The only published agency thresholds are for Ruby-Horsethief, listed above.
How do I find the flow for Cataract Canyon?
There is no single gauge. Add the Colorado at Cisco to the Green at Green River for a working estimate, and treat it as approximate.
What is the difference between CFS and gage height?
CFS measures volume of water passing per second and is comparable across rivers and years. Gage height measures water level at one specific station and is only meaningful at that station.
Is USGS real-time data accurate?
Real-time readings are provisional and subject to revision, but they are the standard source every boater and outfitter uses. Watch the trend across several days rather than reacting to one reading.
Sources
Last reviewed: July 30, 2026. Flows and conditions change constantly. Always check current gauge data before you launch, and if something here is wrong, tell us.