Oklahoma | Northeast Oklahoma
Flint Creek
US-412 bridge to Chewey Bridge on the Illinois River
Check current paddling conditions for this Flint Creek route, including water level, recent gauge trend, weather, and route details.
Route location
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Need to know
Why this call
Conditions
Gauge history and hourly forecast
The top card is the quick read. This lower section keeps the longer gauge trend, gauge context, and hourly forecast together.
Gauge detail
Gauge history & hourly forecastDetailed view
Gauge
Recent trend
Checking preferred range.
Checking trend.
Gauge source
--Checking timestampMN DNR provides the current paddling level here, but not chart-ready recent samples.
Weather
Hourly forecast
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Next 8 hours
Short-route forecast
Checking the next several hours.
Route overview
Quick facts and what's next
Distance, difficulty, shuttle basics, and the near-term outlook before you commit to the drive.
Quick facts
Plan ahead
Upcoming outlook
These are early planning reads. Re-check live conditions before you commit to the drive.
Waiting on forecast.
Waiting on forecast.
Plan
Plan your trip
Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.
Route logistics
Access and shuttle
Use only the named public US-412 and Chewey Bridge access points. Make a same-day flow, weather, dam, debris, access, and shuttle decision.
Prepare this trip
Take the plan with you
Download the canonical route, add a calendar hold, or send a simple float plan to your group.
Put-in
US-412 bridge public parking and Flint Creek put-inAmerican Whitewater identifies the first legal take-out as Chewey Road/Chewey Bridge and warns that Fidler's Bend access is private.
Take-out
Chewey Bridge public access on the Illinois RiverChewey Bridge public access is documented by Illinois River outfitters, but current reservation, parking, and fee rules must be confirmed before launch.
Plan this segment
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- American Whitewater identifies the first legal take-out as Chewey Road/Chewey Bridge and warns that Fidler's Bend access is private.
- Chewey Bridge public access is documented by Illinois River outfitters, but current reservation, parking, and fee rules must be confirmed before launch.
- Do not use private banks or informal pull-outs for scouting, camping, or take-out.
- The long shuttle and mixed Flint Creek/Illinois River reach require a vehicle and float plan that can handle changing road and river conditions.
Watch for
- US-412 dam and bridge current
- strainers and debris
- rapidly rising water
- private Fidler's Bend access
- Chewey Bridge parking or fee changes
- weather and cold-water exposure
Route gallery
See this route on the water
Photos help show what the access looks like and what the route actually feels like on the water.
Score & sources
Why this score
See the gauge, weather, and source notes behind today's call.
Why this scoreToday's evidence strength is checking
Evidence strength mostly comes down to three things: how direct the active gauge is, how clear the range is, and how fresh the data is.
- Checking evidence-strength notes.
- Checking evidence cautions.
Data behind the scoreGauge, thresholds, and timing
These are the live readings and threshold notes behind today's score.
| Gauge site | Flint Creek near Kansas, OK |
| Discharge | Checking |
| Gauge height | Checking |
| 24h trend | Checking |
| 24h change | Checking |
| Current band | Checking |
| Rain last 24h | Checking |
| Rain last 72h | Checking |
| Air temp | Checking |
| Water temp | Checking |
| Wind | Checking |
| Gusts | Checking |
| Rain timing | Checking |
| Target band | 74 cfs to 241 cfs |
| Low threshold | 74 cfs |
| High threshold | 241 cfs |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Local route guidance |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | American Whitewater Flint Creek reach and Save the Illinois River / local high-water guidance |
| Gauge source | Checking |
| Weather source | Checking |
| Rainfall source | Checking |
NotesWhat to know before you go
These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.
- Named route reachUS-412 to Illinois River, about 9.1 miles
American Whitewater names the Flint Creek reach, direct Kansas gauge, Class II(IV) character, dam and strainer hazards, and the first legal Chewey Road take-out.
- Direct live gaugeUSGS 07196000 Flint Creek near Kansas
USGS provides direct discharge and gage-height telemetry for the named reach.
- Endpoint coordinates36.1867733, -94.70680493 to 36.1042527, -94.7827283
OWRB/Water Quality Portal records the US-412 Flint Creek site; USGS and Corps records provide the Chewey Bridge station coordinates used as a defensible access anchor.
- Flow planning74 cfs minimum; 75–241 cfs conservative planning band
The band combines American Whitewater's gauge-linked recommended-flow signal, local normal-flow context at the Kansas gauge, and a high-water advisory; it is conservative community guidance, not an official safe limit.
- Public take-out and logisticsChewey Bridge public access with shuttle/outfitter support
Illinois River outfitters list Chewey Bridge as a public access and shuttle destination; current reservation, fee, parking, and access rules must be checked.
- Rights-clean image decisionUse approved route-photo fallback until a route-specific license is verified
No image is copied from American Whitewater, TravelOK, or outfitters; the route remains eligible with approved fallback imagery.
Verify it yourselfCheck the source links
Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
Paddler reports
Recent notes from paddlers
A few quick notes from people who were on this route recently.
Reports
Paddler reports
See recent photos and notes from people on the route.
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Keep exploring
More routes to check next
Compare another stretch on this river, or jump to nearby options before you pick a plan.
Quick answers
Flint Creek paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Flint Creek?
Paddle Today watches Flint Creek near Kansas, OK and treats 74 cfs to 241 cfs as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.
Where does this Flint Creek route start and end?
This route starts at US-412 bridge public parking and Flint Creek put-in and ends at Chewey Bridge public access on the Illinois River, about About 9.1 river miles on the water.
Is this Flint Creek route good for beginners?
This is listed as a moderate route. Expect more planning than an easy float, and use the live score, route notes, and source links before committing.
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