About this river
Elk River is an 18.2 mile river near Yak House Rentals in West Virginia. Streamflow is measured at the USGS gauge Elk River at Charleston, WV (site 03197950). The National Hydrography Dataset places it at stream order 6. Reach geometry comes from the USGS National Hydrography Dataset.
Typical flow by month
2018 to 2026
Elk River typically runs highest in February, at a median 4,740 cfs, and lowest in October, at 301 cfs. The highest flow on record for any single day is 38,500 cfs, in 2021.
| Month | Typical (cfs) | Usual range (cfs) | Relative level |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 3,240 | 1,960 to 5,690 | |
| February | 4,740 | 2,435 to 8,775 | |
| March | 2,910 | 1,860 to 4,980 | |
| April | 2,530 | 1,095 to 5,750 | |
| May | 2,110 | 1,190 to 4,220 | |
| June | 1,360 | 360 to 3,215 | |
| July | 661 | 322 to 1,390 | |
| August | 461 | 208 to 1,190 | |
| September | 405 | 169 to 1,375 | |
| October | 301 | 177 to 1,270 | |
| November | 1,170 | 583 to 3,505 | |
| December | 2,310 | 1,340 to 4,540 |
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 8 years of record. Statistics published by the US Geological Survey for Elk River at Charleston, WV (site 03197950). Conditions on any given day can fall well outside the usual range. Check the current reading before you go.
Boat access nearby
One mapped launch sits in the mapped area of Elk River. Ramp data comes from the USGS national boat-ramp inventory.
- ClendininElk RiverPublic
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