Around here
Around Cowlitz River
Data Source: Recreation.gov · Source: USGS GNIS · Public land: USGS PAD-US
About this river
Cowlitz River is a 62.1 mile river. Streamflow is measured at the USGS gauge Cowlitz River near Kosmos, WA (site 14233500). The National Hydrography Dataset places it at stream order 8. Reach geometry comes from the USGS National Hydrography Dataset.
Typical flow by month
1948 to 2025
Cowlitz River typically runs highest in May, at a median 7,330 cfs, and lowest in September, at 1,270 cfs. The highest flow on record for any single day is 84,300 cfs, in 1996.
Show the numbers
| Month | Typical (cfs) | Usual range (cfs) |
|---|---|---|
| January | 4,540 | 3,070 to 7,320 |
| February | 4,130 | 2,960 to 6,370 |
| March | 3,890 | 2,920 to 5,570 |
| April | 5,200 | 3,995 to 7,025 |
| May | 7,330 | 5,710 to 9,710 |
| June | 6,155 | 4,345 to 8,880 |
| July | 2,940 | 2,250 to 4,390 |
| August | 1,580 | 1,370 to 2,020 |
| September | 1,270 | 1,085 to 1,610 |
| October | 1,300 | 984 to 2,150 |
| November | 3,725 | 2,275 to 5,950 |
| December | 4,500 | 3,020 to 7,040 |
Typical is the median of each month’s daily median values, and the usual range runs from the median 25th to the median 75th percentile, across about 78 years of record. Statistics published by the US Geological Survey for Cowlitz River near Kosmos, WA (site 14233500). Conditions on any given day can fall well outside the usual range. Check the current reading before you go.
Boat access nearby
8 mapped launches sit in the mapped area of Cowlitz River. Ramp data comes from the USGS national boat-ramp inventory.
- Cowlitz Valley Wildlife LeagueSilver LakePublic
- Streeter's ResortSilver LakeRestricted
- Silver LakeSilver LakePublic
- Olequa CreekCowlitz RiverPublic
- I-5Cowlitz RiverPublic
- Massey BarCowlitz RiverPublic
- Taidnapam ParkRiffe LakePublic
- Cowlitz FallsCowlitz River - Scanewa LakePublic
Made to print
Put Cowlitz River on your wall
This river section as an art print, drawn over the real terrain with its miles, plus the trails, roads and peaks around it. Pick the colors and the size, and see the finished print before you buy. From $39, shipping included.
Embed this gauge on your site
Paste this snippet anywhere, an outfitter page, a club site, a trip report, to show Cowlitz River's live streamflow, water level and 7-day trend. It reads the USGS gauge directly, updates itself, and links back here.
See every free widget you can put on your site, including live conditions and a 7 day forecast.
