Washington · Marblemount, WA
Skagit River float season
Gauge 12181000 on the Marblemount to Rockport. Glacier-fed water beneath the North Cascades, famous for winter bald-eagle floats and unhurried summer drifts to Rockport.
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 Skagit River. Provisional data — subject to revision.
The year on this river
In a typical year at the Marblemount gauge, the Skagit River runs fullest May–Jul 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 6,990 CFS; the September median is 3,830 CFS.
| Month | Typical flow (CFS) | Relative volume |
|---|---|---|
| January | 6,990 | |
| February | 6,880 | |
| March | 5,720 | |
| April | 5,415 | |
| May | 6,080 | |
| June | 6,935 | |
| July | 6,790 | |
| August | 4,130 | |
| September | 3,830 | |
| October | 4,030 | |
| November | 5,610 | |
| December | 5,520 |
Record context
This gauge has measured daily flow since 1943 — 83 years of record. The largest daily average ever logged here was 54,700 CFS, in November 2022. 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 Washington float rivers
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Green River
Green River Gorge and Flaming Geyser State Park
Fullest: Mar–May
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Little Spokane River
St. George's put-in through the Little Spokane Natural Area
Fullest: Mar–May
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Methow River
Winthrop to Twisp
Fullest: Apr–Jun
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Sauk River
Darrington to the Skagit confluence
Fullest: May–Jul
-
Skykomish River
Index to Big Eddy near Gold Bar
Fullest: Apr–Jun
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Snoqualmie River
Below Snoqualmie Falls to Fall City
Fullest: Apr–Jun
Common questions
When is the Skagit River usually at its fullest?
At the Marblemount gauge, the fullest stretch of a typical year is May–Jul, with the single highest monthly median in January (about 6,990 CFS). The leanest months are usually Aug–Oct.
What is a typical summer flow on the Skagit River?
The July median at this gauge is about 6,790 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 Skagit 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 56 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 12181000 (SKAGIT RIVER AT MARBLEMOUNT, WA), chosen because it best represents the Marblemount to Rockport. Daily records here reach back to 1943.
Data: USGS gauge 12181000, approved daily records 1943–2026, retrieved 2026-08-07. Live readings are provisional and subject to revision. U.S. Geological Survey data is public domain.