Spring is springing and the promise of outdoor adventure in the canyons and the mountains is just around the corner.
In snowy sum, this year’s swell through the Colorado Plateau looks like it’s going to ripple and flow right down the middle— not unmanageably high nor rock-snaggingly low.
Mild to Wild’s founder and season forecaster, Alex Mickel, says, “While the Snotel readings use a barometer to forecast, all we know for sure is that this spring the Colorado plateau will be alive and well with water coursing through the canyons.”
“Mother Nature is in charge, and like she has done before, she could play her hand to make big changes during the spring runoff in April and May”
So while you’re planning adventures and dreaming of exhilarating white water rapids, do a little rain dance and cross your fingers for a cool spring!
With no further ado, here is the Forecast for the 2025 whitewater season.
*Snowpack levels were referenced from the National Water and Climate Center on March 24th
Colorado River
The Upper Colorado snow pack is currently 100%.
The Colorado River basin above Lake Powell, which feeds the flows through the Castle Valley, Fisher Towers, and Cataract Canyon rafting sections near Moab, Utah is right on par with its historical averages. Depending on how early Utah’s impressive desert heat sets in, we should expect a fairly typical runoff throughout the season.
Castle Valley Forecasted Flows
For the Moab Daily, flows on the Castle Valley and Fisher Towers sections of the Colorado River are expected to peak around 18,000 CFS from late May until early June, dropping down to 3,000 CFS by August.
Cataract Canyon Forecasted Flows
The Big Drops and the rest of Cataract’s monstrous rapids will be on display with all their grandeur during peak run off again this year. Expect 38,000 CFS by early June, with low flows running around 5,500 CFS by early August.
Green River
The Upper Green River snowpack is 110%.
The Green River this year, like most others, will have very predictable flows from the scheduled releases of Flaming Gorge Reservoir. These releases are always dependent on the spawning schedule of the endangered fish species. Typically the fish start spreading eggs by mid-spring leading to the discovery of Razorback Sucker Larvae which triggers a highwater release at the end of May.
Gates of Lodore
Between the crumbling quartzite of Lodore Canyon, the Green River will flow mighty and proud with strong reservoir levels and a healthy snow pack in 2025! Expect a peak of 9,000 CFS in the last few days of May with flows dropping to 1,600 CFS by August.
Desolation Canyon
After flowing through Dinosaur National Monument, and picking up some water from the Yampa, Dushchense, and White rivers, Desolation Canyon will most likely peak at 18,000 CFS from late May to early June. Low flows should be a typical 3,000 CFS in the heat of August.
Desolation Canyon Rafting Trips
Yampa River
Snowpack levels in the basins above Steamboat Springs and the Yampa River are sitting at 100%. We’re thrilled to be expecting a full season, with late June and early July launches! Expect flows to peak at 14,500 CFS in the last week of May with flows dropping to 1,400 CFS by early July.
Animas River
Parts of the Animas River Basin hold a healthy snowpack including Red Mountain and Mineral Creek resting at 100% and 90% respectively. Fortunately, these gauges indicate where the majority of summer flows come from! This means we expect great flows for family rafting but not a sustained highwater season.
Upper Animas
Rippling down from Silverton’s surrounding summits, the Upper Animas is expected to peak at 2,000 CFS in early June and drop to 250 CFS by the 1st of August. This year, Mild to Wild is just running the Needleton Section of the Animas River.
Lower Animas
Expect peak flows in the first week of June around 3,270 CFS and low flows around 300 CFS by early August.
San Miguel River and Dolores Rivers
With a snow pack hovering around 90 plus percent, we expect a fun season on the San Miguel beginning late May and lasting into mid July. This is a guide’s favorite that offers plenty of splashes throughout.
San Miguel
Peak flow first week of June 750 CFS low flow late July 200 CFS.
The San Miguel is expected to peak at 750 CFS by the second week of June, slowing down to 220 CFS by late July.
Dolores
For the Dolores River, we’re not expecting a release from McPhee Reservoir right now, but if April stays wet and cool, keep your dry bag ready!
Piedra River
While the Northwest portion of the San Juan Mountains have seen good snow as indicated by the 100% reading of the 30 year average on Red Mountain, the south eastern snow pack has not fared as well. While high water timing is hard to predict, we expect a season for this awe inspiring wilderness trip from late May through the first week of June. Life is about timing and so is the Piedra River this year! Expect flows to peak at 1050 CFS in the 3rd week of May.
Salt River
Sadly, the White Mountains in Arizona have not seen enough snow to generate sufficient runoff for a rafting season. After a couple of years of great flows with a heavy heart but excited eyes we look to next season’s awakening of whitewater on the Salt River.