Washington · Index, WA

Skykomish River float season

Gauge 12134500 on the Index to Big Eddy near Gold Bar. The west-side whitewater standby, with snowmelt charging through granite boulder gardens from Index down to Big Eddy.

raftkayak Fullest: Apr–Jun Leanest: Aug–Oct
Skykomish River — typical flow through the year Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec 750 3k 7.5k 10k
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 Skykomish River. Provisional data — subject to revision.

The year on this river

In a typical year at the Index gauge, the Skykomish River runs fullest Apr–Jun 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 May days at this gauge ran above 6,420 CFS; the September median is 839 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 2,750
February 2,520
March 2,670
April 3,890
May 6,420
June 6,075
July 2,520
August 909
September 839
October 1,540
November 3,450
December 3,050

Record context

This gauge has measured daily flow since 1929 — 97 years of record. The largest daily average ever logged here was 88,400 CFS, in November 1991. 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

Common questions

When is the Skykomish River usually at its fullest?

At the Index gauge, the fullest stretch of a typical year is Apr–Jun, with the single highest monthly median in May (about 6,420 CFS). The leanest months are usually Aug–Oct.

What is a typical summer flow on the Skykomish River?

The July median at this gauge is about 2,520 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 Skykomish 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 98 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 12134500 (SKYKOMISH RIVER NEAR GOLD BAR, WA), chosen because it best represents the Index to Big Eddy near Gold Bar. Daily records here reach back to 1929.

Data: USGS gauge 12134500, approved daily records 1929–2026, retrieved 2026-08-07. Live readings are provisional and subject to revision. U.S. Geological Survey data is public domain.