Rivermatics

3 USGS Streamgages · Colorado River system

Los Pinos River flows and levels

Los Pinos River is gauged at 3 USGS streamgages in Colorado, each tracked by Rivermatics. The mainstem runs about 82 miles (132 km) from headwaters to outlet. It drains into the Colorado River system. Drainage area at the gauges ranges from 130 square miles at Los Pinos River above Vallecito Reservoir near Bayfield, CO up to 519 at Los Pinos River at La Boca, CO. The gauged reach falls about 1,605 feet, from 7,755 feet down to 6,150. Rivermatics issues a daily machine-learned 14-day flow outlook for every one of them.

Gauges on this river, upstream to downstream

Ordered by drainage area, which is how far down the river each gauge sits. April and July figures are long-term median daily flows for that month from the USGS record — historical normals, not a forecast and not today's reading.

USGS streamgages on this river, ordered upstream to downstream
Gauge State Drainage sq mi Elevation ft April p50 cfs July p50 cfs Forecast
Los Pinos River above Vallecito Reservoir near Bayfield, CO CO 130 7,755 183.8 102.2 14-day
Los Pinos River near Ignacio, CO CO 340 6,657 78.1 4.2 14-day
Los Pinos River at La Boca, CO CO 519 6,150 154.4 156.1 14-day

Typical flow by month at Los Pinos River at La Boca, CO

The furthest-downstream gauge on this river, so the fullest flow it carries here. Long-term daily discharge percentiles from the USGS record (up to 76 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 Range
January 21.9 59.7 132.9
February 30.9 71.3 202.2
March 41.7 135.2 576.1
April 29.2 154.4 907.9
May 53.3 155.5 1,091.5
June 82.5 190.7 1,316
July 90.4 156.1 587.3
August 96.6 156.1 338
September 74.4 148.9 351.5
October 39.6 112.9 422.3
November 29.3 64.7 293.6
December 23.9 61.3 187.1

All values in cubic feet per second (cfs).

Common questions

When does the Los Pinos River run highest?
June, on the long-term record at Los Pinos River at La Boca, CO — the furthest-downstream gauge Rivermatics tracks on this river. Median daily flow there is about 190.7 cfs that month, against 59.7 cfs in January, the lowest. Upstream gauges peak on their own schedule; the table on this page gives April and July for each.
How many gauges are on the Los Pinos River?
Rivermatics tracks 3 USGS streamgages on the Los Pinos River, across Colorado. Each has its own page with the site's full flow record and monthly normals. The river may carry other gauges that publish neither daily values nor discharge statistics; those are not tracked here.
Is there a flow forecast for the Los Pinos River?
Yes, at 3 of the 3 gauges. Rivermatics trains a machine-learned model — a temporal-fusion transformer — on each basin's observed flows, weather and snowpack, and issues a daily 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 each gauge's live screen.
What river system is the Los Pinos River part of?
The Los Pinos River drains into the Colorado River system — it is a tributary somewhere in that chain, following the flowpath down to its terminal river. Rivermatics builds this from the USGS/geoconnex reference-mainstem network rather than from names.
Can I use Los Pinos River 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.

Other rivers in the Colorado River system

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