See all 6 routes on Snake River
Wyoming | Snake River Canyon / Alpine
Snake River
West Table Boat Ramp to Sheep Gulch Boat Ramp
Route planning details, access notes, and local verification guidance.
Route location
Loading the route coverage map.
Need to know
Why this call
Conditions
Gauge history and hourly forecast
Use the gauge context and hourly forecast to verify local conditions before launching.
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
Checking weather.
Loading today's forecast.
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
A guarded 8.5-mile Class III Snake River Canyon run between the USFS West Table and Sheep Gulch ramps.
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
West Table Boat RampUse only the named public or land-manager access; a nearby shoreline is not proof of a legal launch.
Take-out
Sheep Gulch Boat RampConfirm seasonal gates, parking, fees, permits, AIS inspection, carry path, and take-out status immediately before the trip.
Plan this segment
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Use only the named public or land-manager access; a nearby shoreline is not proof of a legal launch.
- Confirm seasonal gates, parking, fees, permits, AIS inspection, carry path, and take-out status immediately before the trip.
- Private banks and easements may constrain landing, scouting, camping, or portage; remain within the authorized corridor.
Watch for
- Class III rapids, strainers, cold water, and changing level
- limited cell coverage and delayed rescue
- permit/group-size, road, and ramp restrictions
- 6,500 cfs preferred lower cue; 9,000–13,000 cfs optimal surfing; 10,000–12,000 cfs may become Class IV big water
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
Data and sources
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 | Snake River above reservoir near Alpine, WY |
| 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 |
| Ideal range | Needs paddler reports |
| Known low-water floor | 1,800 cfs |
| High threshold | Not calibrated yet |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Official and local sources |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | American Whitewater Alpine Canyon flow 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.
- Official route corridorWest Table Boat Ramp to Sheep Gulch Boat Ramp; About 8.5 river miles
USFS/Recreation.gov Snake River Canyon access identifies the access pair and operational character.
- Direct live gaugeUSGS 13022500 — Snake River above reservoir near Alpine, WY
Gauge is on the named river corridor.
- Threshold postureMinimum-only planning cue (floor 1800; preferred cue 6500)
American Whitewater documents 6,500 cfs as a good Lunch Counter surfing level and 9,000–13,000 cfs as optimal; its exact reach uses the same Alpine gauge. A secondary AW/USGS-derived gauge panel lists 1,800–20,000 cfs as runnable. Paddle Today records 1,800 cfs as a conservative planning floor and 6,500 cfs as a preferred lower cue; neither is a safety guarantee, and spring 10,000–12,000 cfs can produce Class IV big water.
- Public access controlWest Table Boat Ramp to Sheep Gulch Boat Ramp
Named agency/park access points are retained, including any intentional parking or campground offset from the shoreline.
- Safety and land managementPFD, AIS, water temperature, current hazards, and current closures govern the decision
Review current agency rules, dam/release notices, wind, debris, and private-bank restrictions before launching.
- Camping classificationnearby_basecamp
No high-use dispersed camping is assumed on the run. Use designated Forest Service campgrounds or an authorized nearby basecamp and confirm group-size rules.
- Image decisionNPS Snake River corridor context photograph
Approved same-river context image; it is not presented as a photograph of every point in this reach.
- Overlap decisionRetained as a distinct access-to-access card
Adjacent cards have different launch/take-out pairs, operational boundaries, difficulty, or trip length; no duplicate corridor was found in the Wyoming baseline.
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.
Share your trip
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
Snake River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Snake River?
Paddle Today watches Snake River above reservoir near Alpine, WY and uses 1,800 cfs as the conservative low-water floor for this route. The ideal range still needs more paddler reports.
Where does this Snake River route start and end?
This route starts at West Table Boat Ramp and ends at Sheep Gulch Boat Ramp, about About 8.5 river miles on the water.
Is this Snake River route good for beginners?
This is listed as a hard route. Treat the live score as a planning aid, then confirm conditions, hazards, access, and group skill before launching.
Flag a change
See something outdated?
Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.