Alaska · Paxson, AK

Gulkana River float season

Gauge 15200280 on the Paxson Lake to Sourdough Creek. Alaska's classic road-accessible canoe expedition, running from Paxson Lake to Sourdough through grayling water and Copper Basin backcountry.

canoeraftkayak Fullest: May–Jul Leanest: Jan–Mar
Gulkana River — typical flow through the year Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec 500 2k 5k 7.5k
median flow for the date middle half of years (25th–75th percentile) most years (10th–90th)

Right now at this gauge

loading CFS

Checking the live gauge…

Live reading from the USGS gauge page for Gulkana River. Provisional data — subject to revision.

The year on this river

In a typical year at the Paxson gauge, the Gulkana River runs fullest May–Jul and leanest Jan–Mar. Where today's reading falls inside that rhythm matters more than the raw number — the same flow that feels thin in spring can be the summer norm. Half of all past May days at this gauge ran above 3,200 CFS; the March median is 320 CFS.

Median of daily flows in each month across this gauge's full record — half of past days ran above these figures, half below.
Month Typical flow (CFS)
January 380
February 340
March 320
April 385
May 3,200
June 2,165
July 1,350
August 1,180
September 1,350
October 978
November 570
December 460

Record context

This gauge has measured daily flow since 1973 — 53 years of record. The largest daily average ever logged here was 18,700 CFS, in May 2013. Rivers do that sometimes; it's why the safety panel above isn't decoration.

Planning dates? The trip-window checker shows what flows have historically looked like on any week you pick for this river, or see what a CFS actually looks like.

More Alaska float rivers

Common questions

When is the Gulkana River usually at its fullest?

At the Paxson gauge, the fullest stretch of a typical year is May–Jul, with the single highest monthly median in May (about 3,200 CFS). The leanest months are usually Jan–Mar.

What is a typical summer flow on the Gulkana River?

The July median at this gauge is about 1,350 CFS — half of past Julys ran higher, half lower. Check the ribbon chart above to see how summer compares with the rest of the year here.

Is the Gulkana River safe to float right now?

No flow number can answer that, and this site never labels a river safe. What the data can tell you is how today's reading compares with 37 years of this date's history — well above typical means pushier, colder, faster water. Pair that context with a PFD, a look at the river from the bank, and a call to a local outfitter before you commit.

Which USGS gauge does this page use?

USGS gauge 15200280 (GULKANA R AT SOURDOUGH AK), chosen because it best represents the Paxson Lake to Sourdough Creek. Daily records here reach back to 1973.

Data: USGS gauge 15200280, approved daily records 1973–2026, retrieved 2026-08-07. Live readings are provisional and subject to revision. U.S. Geological Survey data is public domain.