California · Gasquet, CA
Smith River float season
Gauge 11532500 on the Gasquet and the Forks of the Smith down to Jedediah Smith Redwoods. California's last major undammed river runs absurdly clear jade-green through redwood gorges beloved by winter and spring boaters.
Right now at this gauge
loading CFS
Checking the live gauge…
Well above typical for this date
Live reading from the USGS gauge page for Smith River. Provisional data — subject to revision.
The year on this river
In a typical year at the Gasquet gauge, the Smith River runs fullest Jan–Mar and leanest Aug–Oct. Where today's reading falls inside that rhythm matters more than the raw number — the same flow that feels thin in spring can be the summer norm. Half of all past January days at this gauge ran above 5,000 CFS; the September median is 258 CFS.
| Month | Typical flow (CFS) | Relative volume |
|---|---|---|
| January | 5,000 | |
| February | 4,630 | |
| March | 4,880 | |
| April | 3,675 | |
| May | 2,200 | |
| June | 915 | |
| July | 473 | |
| August | 306 | |
| September | 258 | |
| October | 286 | |
| November | 1,715 | |
| December | 3,950 |
Record context
This gauge has measured daily flow since 1932 — 94 years of record. The largest daily average ever logged here was 180,000 CFS, in December 1965. Rivers do that sometimes; it's why the safety panel above isn't decoration.
Planning dates? The trip-window checker shows what flows have historically looked like on any week you pick for this river, or see what a CFS actually looks like.
More California float rivers
-
American River
Lower American, Sunrise Avenue to River Bend through Sacramento
Fullest: May–Jul
-
Cache Creek
Cache Creek canyon from Rumsey through Camp Haswell
Fullest: May–Jul
-
Klamath River
Mid-Klamath canyon around Seiad Valley and Happy Camp
Fullest: Feb–Apr
-
Merced River
Yosemite Valley bridges and the El Portal canyon below Redbud
Fullest: Apr–Jun
-
North Fork American River
Chamberlain Falls canyon above Lake Clementine
Fullest: Mar–May
-
Russian River
Forestville to Guerneville past Johnson's Beach
Fullest: Jan–Mar
Common questions
When is the Smith River usually at its fullest?
At the Gasquet gauge, the fullest stretch of a typical year is Jan–Mar, with the single highest monthly median in January (about 5,000 CFS). The leanest months are usually Aug–Oct.
What is a typical summer flow on the Smith River?
The July median at this gauge is about 473 CFS — half of past Julys ran higher, half lower. Late summer is this river's lean season, so expect readings to drift down as the season goes on.
Is the Smith River safe to float right now?
No flow number can answer that, and this site never labels a river safe. What the data can tell you is how today's reading compares with 94 years of this date's history — well above typical means pushier, colder, faster water. Pair that context with a PFD, a look at the river from the bank, and a call to a local outfitter before you commit.
Which USGS gauge does this page use?
USGS gauge 11532500 (SMITH R NR CRESCENT CITY CA), chosen because it best represents the Gasquet and the Forks of the Smith down to Jedediah Smith Redwoods. Daily records here reach back to 1932.
Data: USGS gauge 11532500, approved daily records 1932–2026, retrieved 2026-08-07. Live readings are provisional and subject to revision. U.S. Geological Survey data is public domain.