Nevada · Markleeville, CA

East Fork Carson River float season

Gauge 10309000 on the Hangman's Bridge at Markleeville to the Ruhenstroth takeout near Gardnerville. The Sierra's classic snowmelt overnighter, famous for camping at riverside hot springs halfway down the canyon.

raftkayakcanoe Fullest: Apr–Jun Leanest: Sep–Nov
East Fork Carson River — typical flow through the year Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec 150 600 1.5k 2.5k
median flow for the date middle half of years (25th–75th percentile) most years (10th–90th)

Right now at this gauge

loading CFS

Checking the live gauge…

Live reading from the USGS gauge page for East Fork Carson River. Provisional data — subject to revision.

The year on this river

In a typical year at the Markleeville gauge, the East Fork Carson River runs fullest Apr–Jun and leanest Sep–Nov. 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 May days at this gauge ran above 1,070 CFS; the October median is 74 CFS.

Median of daily flows in each month across this gauge's full record — half of past days ran above these figures, half below.
Month Typical flow (CFS)
January 107
February 152
March 228
April 553
May 1,070
June 874
July 208
August 106
September 76
October 74
November 86
December 94

Record context

This gauge has measured daily flow since 1890 — 136 years of record. The largest daily average ever logged here was 17,000 CFS, in January 1997. 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 Nevada float rivers

Common questions

When is the East Fork Carson River usually at its fullest?

At the Markleeville gauge, the fullest stretch of a typical year is Apr–Jun, with the single highest monthly median in May (about 1,070 CFS). The leanest months are usually Sep–Nov.

What is a typical summer flow on the East Fork Carson River?

The July median at this gauge is about 208 CFS — half of past Julys ran higher, half lower. Check the ribbon chart above to see how summer compares with the rest of the year here.

Is the East Fork Carson 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 105 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 10309000 (E FK CARSON RV NR GARDNERVILLE, NV), chosen because it best represents the Hangman's Bridge at Markleeville to the Ruhenstroth takeout near Gardnerville. Daily records here reach back to 1890.

Data: USGS gauge 10309000, approved daily records 1890–2026, retrieved 2026-08-07. Live readings are provisional and subject to revision. U.S. Geological Survey data is public domain.