Colorado River — Wharton: River Level Today — Can You Paddle It?
Verdict · updated Oct 19, 4:15 AM UTC
Good to paddle
Levels are within the typical runnable range for this section.
Estimated range
391 cfs
8.1 ft gauge height
USGS gauge 08162000
Runnable 200 – 7,000 cfs
What this means today
At 391 cfs the Colorado River is inside the runnable range but only 191 cfs above the 200 cfs floor, so it is sitting at the shallow end of what this reach runs at. A dry few days would take it under.
Over the last 24 hours it has barely moved, 404 cfs to 391 cfs. Daily means over the past 7 days have run between 238 cfs and 436 cfs, 9% lower at the end of the week than the start.
Paddling Wharton
Colorado River at Wharton is a 8-mile Flatwater float in Texas — no rapids under normal flows, just moving water and the odd riffle. Most paddlers put in at Wharton (Riverfront Park) and take out at downstream county ramp, 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 200–7,000 cfs (a conservative estimate — see our methodology). Much below that and the Colorado 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 08162000 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.
This reach can run year-round in a typical year, though levels still swing with rain and dry spells — the live gauge always beats the calendar, so check today's reading before you load the car.
7-day flow trend
Section facts
- Difficulty
- Flatwater
- Length
- 8 mi
- Float time
- ~4 hr
- Best months
- Year-round
- Put-in
- Wharton (Riverfront Park)
- Take-out
- downstream county ramp
Reading USGS gauge 08162000 — Colorado Rv at Wharton, TX ↗ · runnable range is an estimate (see methodology)
FAQ
- What water level is good for paddling Colorado River — Wharton?
- This section is generally runnable at 200–7,000 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 Colorado River levels?
- We read USGS gauge 08162000 — 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 Colorado River — Wharton good for beginners?
- This is a flatwater section — no rapids under normal levels — so it's beginner-friendly when the gauge is in range. High water changes everything: cold, fast water is dangerous for anyone.
- When is the best time to paddle Colorado River here?
- Typically Year-round, 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 Colorado River — Wharton?
- This reach is about 8 miles, roughly 4 hours at a relaxed pace. Higher water is faster; low water and headwinds are slower. Add time for stops.