2 USGS Streamgages · Colorado River system
Paria River flows and levels
Paria River is gauged at 2 USGS streamgages in Utah and Arizona, each tracked by Rivermatics. The mainstem runs about 94 miles (151 km) from headwaters to outlet. It drains into the Colorado River system. Drainage area at the gauges ranges from 647 square miles at Paria River near Kanab, Utah up to 1,410 at Paria River at Lees Ferry, AZ. The gauged reach falls about 1,221 feet, from 4,358 feet down to 3,136. 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.
| Gauge | State | Drainage sq mi | Elevation ft | April p50 cfs | July p50 cfs | Forecast |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paria River near Kanab, Utah | UT | 647 | 4,358 | 8.8 | 1.7 | 14-day |
| Paria River at Lees Ferry, AZ | AZ | 1,410 | 3,136 | 12 | 5.5 | 14-day |
Typical flow by month at Paria River at Lees Ferry, AZ
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 103 years of data), averaged within each month. These describe the historical normal range — they are not a forecast and not today's reading.
| Month | Low p10 | Typical p50 | High p90 | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 9.2 | 18.3 | 35 | |
| February | 13.8 | 23.1 | 62 | |
| March | 10.9 | 22 | 72.3 | |
| April | 5.1 | 12 | 42.2 | |
| May | 3.3 | 5 | 20.6 | |
| June | 2.6 | 3.8 | 11 | |
| July | 2.8 | 5.5 | 46.1 | |
| August | 3.7 | 10.7 | 122.4 | |
| September | 4.1 | 7.9 | 69.5 | |
| October | 5.6 | 10.8 | 39.3 | |
| November | 10.5 | 16.7 | 30.2 | |
| December | 8.9 | 17.6 | 29.5 |
All values in cubic feet per second (cfs).
Common questions
- When does the Paria River run highest?
- February, on the long-term record at Paria River at Lees Ferry, AZ — the furthest-downstream gauge Rivermatics tracks on this river. Median daily flow there is about 23.1 cfs that month, against 3.8 cfs in June, 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 Paria River?
- Rivermatics tracks 2 USGS streamgages on the Paria River, across Utah and Arizona. 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 Paria River?
- Yes, at 2 of the 2 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 Paria River part of?
- The Paria 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 Paria 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
- Gila River 17 gauges
- San Juan River 10 gauges
- Animas River 9 gauges
- Gore Creek 9 gauges
- Green River 9 gauges
- Little Colorado River 9 gauges
- Virgin River 8 gauges
- Yampa River 8 gauges