Rivermatics

8 USGS Streamgages · Colorado River system

Virgin River flows and levels

Virgin River is gauged at 8 USGS streamgages in Utah and Arizona, each tracked by Rivermatics. The mainstem runs about 166 miles (267 km) from headwaters to outlet. It drains into the Colorado River system. Drainage area at the gauges ranges from 956 square miles at Virgin River at Virgin, UT up to 5,090 at Virgin River at Littlefield, AZ. The gauged reach falls about 1,732 feet, from 3,496 feet down to 1,764. 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
Virgin River at Virgin, UT UT 956 3,496 283 80.5 14-day + temp
Virgin River Ab La Verkin Creek near La Verkin, UT UT 980 2,985 80.6 47.5 14-day
Virgin River Ab Quail Creek near Hurricane, UT UT 1,314 2,822 138.8 61.5 14-day
Virgin River near Hurricane, UT UT 1,493 2,739 206.9 77.6 14-day
Virgin River near Bloomington, UT UT 3,853 2,511 208.2 41.6 14-day
Virgin River near St. George, UT UT 4,123 2,402 151.8 36.5 14-day
Virgin River above the Narrows near Littlefield, AZ AZ 4,415 2,000 101.9 16.6 14-day
Virgin River at Littlefield, AZ AZ 5,090 1,764 224.6 68.9 14-day

Typical flow by month at Virgin River at Littlefield, 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 97 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 130 189.9 303.2
February 126.2 204.4 409.9
March 105.6 205.5 648.9
April 72.6 224.6 1,043.8
May 63 171.2 1,271.9
June 55.2 71.7 361.9
July 54.5 68.9 185.5
August 56.7 80.6 304.6
September 57.6 82.9 241.8
October 71.9 112 236.8
November 107.6 154.8 262.7
December 125.2 176.3 284.5

All values in cubic feet per second (cfs).

Common questions

When does the Virgin River run highest?
April, on the long-term record at Virgin River at Littlefield, AZ — the furthest-downstream gauge Rivermatics tracks on this river. Median daily flow there is about 224.6 cfs that month, against 68.9 cfs in July, 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 Virgin River?
Rivermatics tracks 8 USGS streamgages on the Virgin 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 Virgin River?
Yes, at 8 of the 8 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 Virgin River part of?
The Virgin 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 Virgin 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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