The latest San Juan River flow appears in the Current Conditions section above. It updates automatically from the U.S. Geological Survey gauge at Pagosa Springs and includes the reading time, 24-hour trend and historical average. Check the live reading near the top of this page

The graph in the Short Term Forecast section compares the latest flow with the historical average for this time of year. “Normal” changes throughout the season: flows are generally lowest during winter, rise with spring snowmelt, peak around late spring and decline into summer unless rain produces another increase.

The River Desk’s 7–10 Day Outlook combines the published river forecast, recent gauge movement, forecast weather and seasonal conditions. During spring runoff, headwater temperatures and remaining snowpack become especially important. During summer, forecast rainfall and recent basin moisture have more influence. The outlook shows a likely range—not a guaranteed daily flow.

The San Juan can change noticeably within hours during rapid snowmelt or widespread headwater rain. Warm spring days and nights can accelerate runoff, while colder weather can slow it. Summer storms may produce a delayed rise after the rain has ended, and that rise can fade quickly. The 24-hour trend and short-term forecast above provide more context than one gauge reading alone.

Many people enjoy Pagosa Springs tubing between approximately 90 and 180 cubic feet per second. Flows from 30 to 90 CFS are shallower, while the upper 100s through the upper 200s create a faster, livelier trip. Tubing between 300 and 399 CFS can be rowdy. Around 400 CFS and higher, the river generally shifts toward rafting.

Yes. Below approximately 30 CFS, the river is generally too shallow for Pagosa Outside’s normal tubing operations. Lower flows expose more rocks and may require walking through shallow sections. At the other end of the range, flows from 300 to 399 CFS can produce rowdy tubing, while approximately 400 CFS and higher generally favors rafting. Water temperature, debris, weather and changing river features also affect daily operations.

Different Pagosa Springs rafting trips require different amounts of water. Splash & Dash can sometimes operate as low as 300 CFS, Mesa Canyon generally needs minimum of 600 CFS and the West Fork generally requires at least 800 CFS. These are useful guidelines rather than automatic operating rules. Water temperature, debris, access and current channel conditions also help determine which trips are available.

Pagosa Springs rafting usually occurs during May and June, when melting mountain snow supplies the San Juan River. Peak runoff commonly arrives from mid-May into early June, followed by gradually decreasing flows. A strong snow year may extend rafting, while a low-snow year can produce an earlier and shorter rafting season. Pagosa Outside’s operating calendar runs from May 1 through Labor Day, but the river determines which activities are available within that window.

The rafting-to-tubing transition usually occurs when spring runoff falls and remains below approximately 400 CFS as summer weather warms. It often happens during June or early July, although every water year is different. A low-snow year may bring an earlier transition to a longer tubing season which can be supported by the normal monsoon rains.

The latest water temperature appears in the Current Conditions section above. The San Juan is generally coldest during spring snowmelt and gradually warms as runoff decreases. Water temperature can change during the day and may differ between the headwaters, downtown Pagosa Springs and downstream locations.

CFS means cubic feet per second. It measures how much water passes the gauge every second. One CFS is approximately 7.5 gallons per second, so a reading of 250 CFS represents about 1,870 gallons passing the gauge each second. CFS measures water volume, but channel shape, gradient and recent river changes also affect what a particular flow feels like.

Mountain snowpack stores most of the water that produces Pagosa’s spring runoff. Above-normal snowpack generally supports stronger and longer rafting flows, while below-normal snowpack often concentrates rafting into a shorter window. Spring temperatures determine how quickly that stored snow reaches the river, so a large snowpack does not automatically guarantee a long runoff season.

Summer rain can temporarily raise the San Juan River, but storm location and coverage matter. Widespread rain over the East Fork, West Fork and other headwater drainages usually affects the Pagosa gauge more than a brief cloudburst over town. A strong monsoon pattern may return the river to the tubing range or occasionally produce another stretch of rafting flows. These rises can arrive several hours after the rain and may fade quickly.

No. Pagosa Springs is upstream of Navajo Reservoir and Navajo Dam, so dam releases do not control the San Juan River through town. Pagosa flows are primarily shaped by mountain snowmelt, rainfall, groundwater and local diversions. The dam-controlled section of the San Juan is much farther downstream.

River flow comes from U.S. Geological Survey gauge 09342500 at Pagosa Springs. Water temperature comes from the U.S. Geological Survey station below County Road 119. River forecasts come from the National Weather Service and Colorado Basin River Forecast Center, weather comes from the National Weather Service, and headwater snowpack comes from Natural Resources Conservation Service SNOTEL stations.

The River Desk checks for new flow readings hourly, weather information every three hours and snowpack information daily. Each measurement retains its source timestamp so visitors can see when it was recorded.

The current gauge reading measures water that has already reached Pagosa Springs. The published forecast estimates what may arrive later using weather observations, upstream conditions and hydrologic models. Forecasts can change as new information becomes available, especially during rapid snowmelt or summer thunderstorms. The River Desk keeps measured flow and forecast flow separate so visitors can distinguish what the river is doing now from what it might do next.

Because the river did not come with an owner’s manual—or even a decent dashboard. Our mornings used to begin with at least five government websites, a growing herd of browser tabs and several cups of coffee. We would compare flow, water temperature, forecasts, snowpack and weather, then add decades of local experience to figure out what the San Juan was doing and what it might do next. The River Desk puts that entire head-scratching ritual onto one screen. It is essentially a look inside the brain of a river guide or operations manager—just better organized and with fewer coffee stains.

Read the whole backstory on our blog HERE.