Colorado River at Lees Ferry water level
River gauge, Colorado River, Arizona, United States
Right now
Low for mid-October
Water level
- Flow
- 5,080 cfs
- Water temperature
- 67 °F
History
What this means
Low water at Colorado River at Lees Ferry: the gauge reads 7.13 ft, below normal for mid-October.
It has barely moved over the past 24 hours. Without real rain upstream, that is unlikely to change quickly. The 30-day range is 7.07 ft – 8.14 ft.
Fall is often low-water season on rivers, and it usually takes a few days of steady rain to change that. The water temperature at the gauge is 67 °F.
Compared with 5 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Highest on record
- 31.50 ftJuly 7, 1884
Paddling and fishing conditions
At low levels, plan for shorter paddling trips and expect to walk your boat through a few shoals.
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 31.50 ft | July 7, 1884 |
| 2 | 26.50 ft | June 18, 1921 |
| 3 | 21.15 ft | June 12, 1952 |
| 4 | 21.14 ft | June 12, 1957 |
| 5 | 20.51 ft | May 17, 1941 |
| 6 | 20.35 ft | July 1, 1927 |
| 7 | 13.84 ft | November 20, 2012 |
| 8 | 13.59 ft | March 6, 2008 |
| 9 | 13.55 ft | November 22, 2004 |
| 10 | 11.57 ft | July 7, 2011 |
Weather at the gauge
The forecast is not available right now.
Map
Other gauges on the Colorado River
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado River at PotashRiver gauge, Colorado River | 3,470 cfs | Normal | −700.0 cfs | 155 mi |
| Colorado River at Gypsum Canyon near HiteRiver gauge, Colorado River | 29.56 ft | No reference yet | −0.58 ft | 115 mi |
| Colorado River above Dirty Devil River near HiteRiver gauge, Colorado River | 3,569.68 ft | Very low | −0.04 ft | 97 mi |
| Colorado River near Grand CanyonRiver gauge, Colorado River | 6,080 cfs | Low | −320.0 cfs | 60 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paria River at Lees FerryRiver gauge, Paria River | 9.2 cfs | Normal | −2.4 cfs | 0.7 mi |
| Lake Powell at Glen Canyon DamReservoir, Lake Powell | 3,523.10 ft | Very low | +0.20 ft | 8 mi |
| Lake PowellLake | 3,520.02 ft | Very low | 21 mi | |
| Paria River near Kanab, UtahRiver gauge, Paria River | 3.5 cfs | Normal | −0.4 cfs | 24 mi |
Questions and answers
Is gage height the same as water depth?
No. Gage height is measured from a fixed reference point chosen by the agency, so a reading of 10 ft does not mean the river is 10 ft deep.
What is the water level of Colorado River at Lees Ferry today?
On Oct 18, 2026, 09:00 AM MST, the water level was 7.13 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.
Is Colorado River at Lees Ferry rising or falling?
Steady over the last 24 hours.
Is the level of Colorado River at Lees Ferry normal?
Low for mid-October. Compared with 5 years of daily readings for this time of year.
What is the highest water level ever recorded at Colorado River at Lees Ferry?
The highest level on record is 31.50 ft on July 7, 1884.
How often is this data updated?
The U.S. Geological Survey publishes a new reading every 15 minutes. This page refreshes within minutes of each update.
Where does this data come from?
The values come directly from the U.S. Geological Survey, the official operator of this gauge, and are in the public domain. We do not estimate or model live values.
For specialists
Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads
- Operator
- U.S. Geological Survey
- Station code
usgs:09380000(Agency page)- Coordinates
36.86433, -111.58787(WGS84)- Vertical datum
- NAVD88
- Update interval
- every 15 minutes
- Licence
- Public domain. Data: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), provisional data subject to revision
Published series
| Parameter | Last value | Time (UTC) | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water level | 7.13 ft | 2026-10-18 16:00 | Provisional |
| Flow | 5,080 cfs | 2026-10-18 16:00 | Provisional |
| Water temperature | 67 °F | 2026-10-18 16:00 | Provisional |
Download
Embed this gauge
Add a live card for this gauge to your website. It updates on its own and links back here.
How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Colorado River at Lees Ferry (usgs:09380000). Accessed October 18, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/arizona/colorado-river-at-lees-ferry
How we check values
Each reading is stored as published. We hold back values that jump faster than physically plausible and show the measurement time with every value.
Readings are provisional, can be delayed or wrong and are not a flood warning. Read the disclaimer