About Paddle Today
About Paddle Today
Paddle Today is for river paddlers who want to find the best paddling options today without bouncing between gauges, maps, weather forecasts, and river notes.
Route coverage now spans the contiguous 48 states, though the depth of information varies by river. The state directory shows which routes have live-score support and which are planning-only references.
Paddle Today is built and maintained by Jeff Eckerson. Route pages link the gauge, weather, and access sources used so paddlers can verify details with the agencies and local sources responsible for them. Feedback helps identify information that needs review.
Scores
How Scoring Works
Bottom line: Water level/flow decides if a river is paddleable. Weather and other factors increase or decrease the score from there.
Scroll sideways to compare all scoring criteria →
Everything starts with enough water to paddle. From there, the score drops for storms, wind, cold air or water, incoming rain, or weak data confidence.
Coverage
Scored and planning-only routes
A route can be useful to plan without having enough evidence for a same-day score. Paddle Today labels those two kinds of listings separately:
- Live-scored routes need a suitable direct gauge and route-specific water-level guidance from a reliable source.
- Planning-only routes may be listed when route and access information has been reviewed, even if a suitable gauge or defensible scoring range is unavailable. They do not receive a live route score.
- High-consequence whitewater routes (Class IV or harder) remain planning-only under the current scoring policy.
Gauge methodology
How Paddle Today handles proxy gauges
An official streamgage measures conditions at its own station. USGS converts stage readings to discharge using a site-specific relationship, so a reading from one location is not automatically a measurement of every reach upstream or downstream.
When a route does not have a suitable direct gauge, Paddle Today may show the nearest reviewed proxy gauge as planning context. We do not use that proxy reading to issue a same-day score, rank the route as a recommendation, or send a route alert.
Planning routes still include access, hazards, logistics, and the source gauge so paddlers can verify local conditions before launching.
Learn how USGS streamgages work
Data Sources
Sources vary by route and are linked on each route page.
- USGS and state or regional water agencies (live gauges, water levels, and interpretation guidance where available)
- National Weather Service (forecasts, wind, temps, storm risk)
- State and local parks, water-trail agencies, and land managers (access, notices, and route logistics)
- Local trip reports and paddling references (route context)
- OpenStreetMap and other mapped sources (access context)
Some route pages include an access and safety source-check date in the trip notes. It records when the linked guide or manager pages were checked; it does not confirm that an access point is open today. When a page has no date, Paddle Today does not publish a review date for it. Always check current notices with the responsible agency before launch.
Safety & Limits
Use this as a planning tool, not a guarantee.
A good score doesn't mean a river is automatically safe. And a low score doesn't replace your judgment either. Conditions can change fast. Rain, debris, strainers, ice, or access issues can turn a decent-looking day into a bad one.
Always do your own due diligence, check the river when you get there, and paddle within your skill level.
