When does Yampa River above Elkhead Creek near Hayden, CO normally run highest?

May, on the long-term record. The median daily flow that month is about 4,212.6 cfs, against 142.6 cfs in September, the lowest month. These are historical normals for the date, not a forecast and not today's reading.

What is a normal flow for Yampa River above Elkhead Creek near Hayden, CO?

It depends on the month. In January, half of days historically fall near 189.3 cfs, with the middle 80% of days between 123.8 and 279.7 cfs. The month-by-month table on this page gives the full range.

How long has Yampa River above Elkhead Creek near Hayden, CO been measured?

Discharge records at USGS site 09244490 begin in 2004, about 22 years, covering roughly 8,178 days of published daily values. The long record is what makes the monthly percentiles on this page meaningful.

Is there a flow forecast for Yampa River above Elkhead Creek near Hayden, CO?

Yes. Rivermatics trains a machine-learned model — a temporal-fusion transformer — on this basin's observed flows, weather, and snowpack, and issues a daily flow outlook reaching 14 days ahead: a median estimate inside a confidence band, not a single number to bet on. Every forecast is scored against days the model never trained on, and that track record is published on the live gauge screen. Open live conditions to see the current outlook.

Where is Yampa River above Elkhead Creek near Hayden, CO?

The gauge sits at 40.51793, -107.39894, in Colorado, in hydrologic subbasin 14050001, at an elevation of about 6,244 feet, draining roughly 1,575 square miles.

Can I use Yampa River above Elkhead Creek near Hayden, CO data for flood or safety decisions?

No. Rivermatics provides estimates, not guarantees, and the readings and forecasts here may be delayed, inaccurate, or wrong. Do not use them for navigation or for any safety, rescue, or emergency decision. Check the National Weather Service and USGS directly, and use your own judgment.

USGS Streamgage 09244490

Yampa River above Elkhead Creek near Hayden, CO

Yampa River above Elkhead Creek near Hayden, CO is USGS streamgage 09244490 in Colorado, monitoring river discharge in hydrologic subbasin 14050001. It sits on the Yampa River, alongside 7 other gauges Rivermatics tracks on the same river. It drains a watershed of about 1,575 square miles. Discharge records at this site go back to 2004. Typical flow runs near 615.8 cfs in July and 1,790.9 cfs in April, with the higher of the two arriving in April. Rivermatics issues a daily machine-learned flow outlook for this gauge, reaching 14 days ahead.

View live conditions & forecast →

Gauge details

State: Colorado
Drainage area: 1,575 sq mi
Gauge elevation: 6,244 ft
Subbasin (HUC-8): 14050001
Coordinates: 40.51793, -107.39894
USGS site number: 09244490
Records begin: 2004-03-16 (22 years)
Rivermatics forecast: 14-day flow outlook

14-day flow forecast

Based on observations through September 10 for Yampa River above Elkhead Creek near Hayden, CO. Each day carries a median estimate and the band the model expects the flow to fall within — not a single number to plan against. Forecasts are re-issued daily; see the live screen for the current outlook.

Forecast daily mean discharge in cubic feet per second, by date
Date	Low p10	Expected p50	High p90
September 11	46.2	49.5	52.9
September 12	42.5	46.8	51.5
September 13	40.1	45.2	52.1
September 14	41.5	50	69.8
September 15	44.5	57.4	94.9
September 16	49.8	72.9	151
September 17	57.5	105	259
September 18	57.2	109	263
September 19	55	95.8	198
September 20	52.1	86.4	162
September 21	49.7	80.3	145
September 22	45.8	73.4	131
September 23	43.8	70.6	127
September 24	42.2	67.2	119

All values in cubic feet per second (cfs). Estimates only — do not use them for navigation or for any safety, rescue, or emergency decision.

Typical flow by month

Long-term daily discharge percentiles from the USGS record (up to 22 years of data), averaged within each month. These describe the historical normal range — they are not a forecast and not today's reading.

Historical monthly discharge percentiles in cubic feet per second
Month	Low p10	Typical p50	High p90
January	123.8	189.3	279.7
February	127.3	206.9	281.2
March	183.7	384.5	981.9
April	728.4	1,790.9	3,506.7
May	2,220.6	4,212.6	6,883.9
June	1,298	4,029.3	7,490.3
July	212	615.8	2,311
August	97.2	203	457.2
September	78	142.6	364.6
October	143.6	243.8	518.9
November	169.4	274.8	418.2
December	129	200.1	295.8

All values in cubic feet per second (cfs).

Common questions

When does Yampa River above Elkhead Creek near Hayden, CO normally run highest?: May, on the long-term record. The median daily flow that month is about 4,212.6 cfs, against 142.6 cfs in September, the lowest month. These are historical normals for the date, not a forecast and not today's reading.
What is a normal flow for Yampa River above Elkhead Creek near Hayden, CO?: It depends on the month. In January, half of days historically fall near 189.3 cfs, with the middle 80% of days between 123.8 and 279.7 cfs. The month-by-month table on this page gives the full range.
How long has Yampa River above Elkhead Creek near Hayden, CO been measured?: Discharge records at USGS site 09244490 begin in 2004, about 22 years, covering roughly 8,178 days of published daily values. The long record is what makes the monthly percentiles on this page meaningful.
Is there a flow forecast for Yampa River above Elkhead Creek near Hayden, CO?: Yes. Rivermatics trains a machine-learned model — a temporal-fusion transformer — on this basin's observed flows, weather, and snowpack, and issues a daily flow outlook reaching 14 days ahead: a median estimate inside a confidence band, not a single number to bet on. Every forecast is scored against days the model never trained on, and that track record is published on the live gauge screen. Open live conditions to see the current outlook.
Where is Yampa River above Elkhead Creek near Hayden, CO?: The gauge sits at 40.51793, -107.39894, in Colorado, in hydrologic subbasin 14050001, at an elevation of about 6,244 feet, draining roughly 1,575 square miles.
Can I use Yampa River above Elkhead Creek near Hayden, CO data for flood or safety decisions?: No. Rivermatics provides estimates, not guarantees, and the readings and forecasts here may be delayed, inaccurate, or wrong. Do not use them for navigation or for any safety, rescue, or emergency decision. Check the National Weather Service and USGS directly, and use your own judgment.

Upstream and downstream on the Yampa River

Every gauge Rivermatics tracks on this river, ordered by drainage area — upstream first. See the Yampa River in full.

Yampa River above Stagecoach Reservoir, CO 206 sq mi
Yampa River below Stagecoach Reservoir, CO 228 sq mi
Yampa River at Steamboat Springs, CO 567 sq mi
Yampa River below Soda Creek at Steamboat Springs, CO 597 sq mi
Yampa River above Elkhead Creek near Hayden, CO this page
Yampa River below Craig, CO 2,128 sq mi
Yampa River near Maybell, CO 3,383 sq mi
Yampa River at Deerlodge Park, CO 7,931 sq mi