Caddo River — Caddo Gap to Glenwood: River Level Today — Can You Paddle It?
Verdict · updated Aug 27, 5:30 PM UTC
Too low to paddle
Not enough water to float well — expect scraping and walking. Wait for rain or a dam release.
Estimated range
18 cfs
4.7 ft gauge height
USGS gauge 07359610
Runnable 100 – 1,000 cfs
What this means today
At 18 cfs the Caddo River is 82 cfs short of the 100 cfs this reach needs to float — that is the gap between today's reading and the bottom of the runnable range, not a small margin you can paddle through.
Over the last 24 hours it has gone from 21 cfs to 18 cfs, 10% down. Daily means over the past 7 days have run between 15 cfs and 20 cfs, 34% higher at the end of the week than the start. The last day and the week as a whole point opposite ways, which usually means a recent rain bump on top of a longer rising trend — worth a second look at the chart before you commit to the drive.
Paddling Caddo Gap to Glenwood
Caddo River at Caddo Gap to Glenwood is a 7-mile Class II run in Arkansas — bouncy wave trains and the occasional small rapid. Most paddlers put in at Caddo Gap (Hwy 240) and take out at Glenwood (Hwy 70), a trip that runs about 4 hours at a relaxed pace.
Whether it's worth the drive comes down to flow. This section generally paddles well at 100–1,000 cfs (a conservative estimate — see our methodology). Much below that and the Caddo River gets low and bony, so you end up scraping gravel and walking the shallows; well above the top of the range it turns fast, cold and pushy, which is a more serious day than most casual boaters want. We read USGS gauge 07359610 about every 30 minutes and compare the live number to that window, so the verdict at the top of this page reflects conditions right now rather than a monthly average.
Flows here are usually most dependable April–September. Spring can run high after rain or snowmelt, and late summer often drops too low to float well — but the gauge always beats the calendar, so check today's reading before you go.
7-day flow trend
Section facts
- Difficulty
- Class II
- Length
- 7 mi
- Float time
- ~4 hr
- Best months
- April–September
- Put-in
- Caddo Gap (Hwy 240)
- Take-out
- Glenwood (Hwy 70)
Reading USGS gauge 07359610 — Caddo River near Caddo Gap, AR ↗ · runnable range is an estimate (see methodology)
FAQ
- What water level is good for paddling Caddo River — Caddo Gap to Glenwood?
- This section is generally runnable at 100–1,000 cfs (a conservative estimate — see our methodology). Below that it gets too low and bony; well above the top of the range it becomes pushy and then dangerous. We compare the live USGS reading to that range to produce today's verdict.
- How do I check Caddo River levels?
- We read USGS gauge 07359610 — the same public data USGS publishes — about every 30 minutes and compare it to the runnable range for this reach. You can also view the raw gauge yourself at waterdata.usgs.gov.
- Is Caddo River — Caddo Gap to Glenwood good for beginners?
- This section is rated Class II. At good levels it suits confident beginners and up, but it can have riffles or small rapids. Scout anything you can't see, and stay off it at high water.
- When is the best time to paddle Caddo River here?
- Typically April–September, when flows are most reliable for this section. Spring can run high after rain or snowmelt; late summer can drop too low. Always check today's gauge reading rather than assuming.
- How long does it take to float Caddo River — Caddo Gap to Glenwood?
- This reach is about 7 miles, roughly 4 hours at a relaxed pace. Higher water is faster; low water and headwinds are slower. Add time for stops.