Around here
Around Mad River
Data Source: Recreation.gov · Source: USGS GNIS · Public land: USGS PAD-US
About this river
Mad River is a 38.1 mile river. Streamflow is measured at the USGS gauge Mad R near Arcata CA (site 11481000). The National Hydrography Dataset places it at stream order 7. Reach geometry comes from the USGS National Hydrography Dataset.
Typical flow by month
1963 to 2026
Mad River typically runs highest in January, at a median 2,030 cfs, and lowest in August, at 43 cfs. The highest flow on record for any single day is 58,000 cfs, in 1965.
Show the numbers
| Month | Typical (cfs) | Usual range (cfs) |
|---|---|---|
| January | 2,030 | 747 to 4,160 |
| February | 1,930 | 991 to 3,720 |
| March | 2,010 | 1,100 to 3,760 |
| April | 1,235 | 544 to 2,450 |
| May | 471 | 235 to 903 |
| June | 123 | 82 to 220 |
| July | 57 | 39 to 81 |
| August | 43 | 33 to 55 |
| September | 43 | 33 to 54 |
| October | 60 | 41 to 93 |
| November | 229 | 101 to 861 |
| December | 1,260 | 398 to 3,230 |
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 63 years of record. Statistics published by the US Geological Survey for Mad R near Arcata CA (site 11481000). 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 Mad River. Ramp data comes from the USGS national boat-ramp inventory.
Made to print
Put Mad 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 Mad 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.
