8 USGS Streamgages · Colorado River system
Yampa River flows and levels
Yampa River is gauged at 8 USGS streamgages in Colorado, each tracked by Rivermatics. The mainstem runs about 255 miles (411 km) from headwaters to outlet. It drains into the Colorado River system. Drainage area at the gauges ranges from 206 square miles at Yampa River above Stagecoach Reservoir, CO up to 7,931 at Yampa River at Deerlodge Park, CO. The gauged reach falls about 1,641 feet, from 7,239 feet down to 5,598. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yampa River above Stagecoach Reservoir, CO | CO | 206 | 7,239 | 92.2 | 84.3 | 14-day |
| Yampa River below Stagecoach Reservoir, CO | CO | 228 | 7,069 | 63 | 74.4 | 14-day |
| Yampa River at Steamboat Springs, CO | CO | 567 | 6,701 | 554.4 | 250.1 | 14-day + temp |
| Yampa River below Soda Creek at Steamboat Springs, CO | CO | 597 | 6,684 | — | 250.7 | 14-day |
| Yampa River above Elkhead Creek near Hayden, CO | CO | 1,575 | 6,244 | 1,790.9 | 615.8 | 14-day |
| Yampa River below Craig, CO | CO | 2,128 | 6,146 | 2,084.7 | 632.5 | 14-day |
| Yampa River near Maybell, CO | CO | 3,383 | 5,920 | 2,253 | 978.1 | 14-day + temp |
| Yampa River at Deerlodge Park, CO | CO | 7,931 | 5,598 | 3,178 | 862.2 | 14-day + temp |
Typical flow by month at Yampa River at Deerlodge Park, 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 44 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 | 226.5 | 355 | 625.2 | |
| February | 258.1 | 407 | 716.1 | |
| March | 457.9 | 1,004.1 | 2,240 | |
| April | 1,548.6 | 3,178 | 6,365.7 | |
| May | 3,251.3 | 7,277.1 | 14,106.5 | |
| June | 1,851.5 | 6,243 | 13,479 | |
| July | 197.7 | 862.2 | 3,964.2 | |
| August | 76.9 | 245.6 | 941.9 | |
| September | 76.9 | 219.4 | 592.1 | |
| October | 197 | 378.7 | 1,010.4 | |
| November | 284.4 | 453.3 | 884.9 | |
| December | 235.1 | 357.3 | 642.5 |
All values in cubic feet per second (cfs).
Common questions
- When does the Yampa River run highest?
- May, on the long-term record at Yampa River at Deerlodge Park, CO — the furthest-downstream gauge Rivermatics tracks on this river. Median daily flow there is about 7,277.1 cfs that month, against 219.4 cfs in September, 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 Yampa River?
- Rivermatics tracks 8 USGS streamgages on the Yampa 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 Yampa 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 Yampa River part of?
- The Yampa 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 Yampa 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
- Dolores River 7 gauges