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Nevada | Washoe County / Reno–Sparks
Truckee RiverUSA Parkway Bridge to Wadsworth Bridge
A quiet 14.7-mile Lower Truckee Class I–II float from the USA Parkway Bridge to the Wadsworth Bridge access on Pyramid Lake Paiute tribal land.
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Need to know
Why this call
Safety
Route safety
CautionThis route has hazards or access considerations that require extra verification.
Safety details
Wear a PFD and helmet where current or whitewater features warrant; carry communication, offline navigation and cold-water protection.
- Scout and portage diversion dams, engineered drops, strainers and bridge debris; do not run features beyond your training.
- Use only named city, county or tribal access areas and obey closure, parking, permit and whitewater-park rules.
- Cold water, rising releases, wind, remote banks and limited safe exits remain serious risks.
Keep Truckee River handy
Save this route in PaddleToday and check its conditions before your next paddle.
Route overview
Trip details
Access rules, camping, seasonal conditions and trip length.
Distance, difficulty, rules and camping
Plan ahead
Tomorrow and the weekend
Forecasts can change. Check current conditions again before leaving.
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Plan
Plan your trip
Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.
Route logistics
Access and shuttle
A quiet 14.7-mile Lower Truckee Class I–II float from the USA Parkway Bridge to the Wadsworth Bridge access on Pyramid Lake Paiute tribal land.
Access map
Put-in
USA Parkway Bridge water-entry point (hand-carry staging separate)Use only named public access points and existing paths.
Take-out
Wadsworth Bridge access (Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribal permit)Scout engineered features, diversion structures and Derby Dam before committing.
Road shuttle
Access notes and hazards
Access caveats
- Use only named public access points and existing paths.
- Scout engineered features, diversion structures and Derby Dam before committing.
- Recheck seasonal closures, water quality, weather and permit requirements.
Watch for
- Derby Dam mandatory left-bank portage
- Remote canyon, heat, wind and limited exits
- Pyramid Lake Paiute tribal permit and access rules
Plan this paddle
Choose your trip times
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Conditions
Water levels, gauge history, and hourly forecast
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USGS measurements
More about this gauge
These measurements come from the gauge station. Water depth and current can differ along your trip.
River camera · USGS
View at the gauge
Truckee River below Derby Dam near Wadsworth, NV. This view may be outside your paddling reach. Images are periodic and do not establish safe conditions.
Gauge detail
Water-level history and forecastDetailed view
Gauge note
Preferred range: 450 cfs to 1,200 cfs · Truckee River below Derby Dam near Wadsworth, NV
Does this gauge apply to my trip?
Use direct USGS 10351600 discharge and verify permits, closures, portages, weather and cold-water conditions before launch.
New to reading stage or flow? Read the paddler's gauge guide.
Gauge
Recent trend
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Gauge source
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Hourly forecast
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Route gallery
Photos
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Score & sources
Why this score
See the gauge, weather, and source notes behind today’s call.
Why this scoreData reliability: checking
This rating reflects whether the gauge measures this part of the river, whether published water-level guidance is available, and how recently the data was updated.
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- Checking evidence cautions.
Data behind the scoreWater levels, published guidance and update times
These readings and published water-level limits help explain today’s score.
| Gauge site | Truckee River below Derby Dam near Wadsworth, NV |
| 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 |
| Preferred range | 450 cfs to 1,200 cfs |
| Low threshold | 300 cfs |
| High threshold | 2,000 cfs |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Local route guidance |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | Truckee River Basin Water Group lower-river rafting 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.
- Named reach and accessUSA Parkway Bridge to Wadsworth Bridge; 14.7 miles
Nevada Trail Finder identifies the USA Parkway Bridge hand-carry launch, Wadsworth Bridge access, 14.7-mile Class I–II reach and Derby Dam left-bank portage.
- Scoring band300 cfs low-water floor; 450–1,200 cfs preferred band; review above 2,000 cfs
Truckee River Basin Water Group lower-river rafting guidance reports 450–1,200 cfs and warns of low/high-flow safety issues; verify gauge trend and local conditions.
- Direct gaugeUSGS 10351600 Truckee River below Derby Dam near Wadsworth, NV
Direct Truckee River discharge telemetry for this corridor; the gauge is upstream of the route and cannot capture every intervening diversion or power-return condition.
Verify it yourselfCheck the source links
Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
- American Whitewater Truckee Reno reach
- Truckee Meadows Water Authority river recreation map
- City of Reno Truckee River Whitewater Park
- Nevada Truckee River floatable reaches and access points map
- Nevada Trail Finder Truckee River access point KML
- Nevada Trail Finder Truckee River mapped line KML
- USGS Truckee Reno gauge
- Nevada Trail Finder USA Parkway to Wadsworth
- USGS Truckee below Derby Dam near Wadsworth
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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Quick answers
Truckee River paddling FAQ
What water level is best for the USA Parkway Bridge to Wadsworth Bridge route on the Truckee River?
Paddle Today watches Truckee River below Derby Dam near Wadsworth, NV and treats 450 cfs to 1,200 cfs as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.
Where does the USA Parkway Bridge to Wadsworth Bridge route on the Truckee River start and end?
This route starts at USA Parkway Bridge water-entry point (hand-carry staging separate) and ends at Wadsworth Bridge access (Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribal permit), about 14.7 river miles on the water.
Is the USA Parkway Bridge to Wadsworth Bridge route on the Truckee River suitable for beginners?
This is listed as an easy route, but conditions still matter. Check today's score, water level, weather, and access notes before you go.
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