Troutline

Colorado Snowpack & River Runoff

Snow-water equivalent by basin and the seasonal runoff outlook for Colorado's rivers, translated into what it means for fishing — early or late runoff, high or low summer flows, and which waters hold up best. Updated daily through the snow season.

Basin SWE vs. median — water year 2026

Average across the Colorado basins we track, in inches of snow-water equivalent.

17 Colorado rivers tracked
RiverRegionBasin snowpackSWE now / normalMedian melt-outRunoff forecast
Animas RiverSan Juan0.1" / 0.0"~May 2929%Jun–Jul · 52k acre-ft
Arkansas RiverArkansas Valley0.0" / 0.0"~Jun 544%Jun–Jul · 90k acre-ft
Blue RiverWestern Slope0.0" / 0.0"~Jun 527%Jun–Jul · 44k acre-ft
Cache la Poudre RiverFront Range0.1" / 0.0"~Jun 18
Colorado RiverWestern Slope0.0" / 0.0"~Jun 2319%Jun–Jul · 255k acre-ft
Conejos RiverSan Luis Valley0.0" / 0.0"~May 2531%Jun–Sep · 27k acre-ft
Crystal RiverWestern Slope0.0" / 0.0"~Jun 10
Eagle RiverWestern Slope0.1" / 0.0"~Jun 117%Jun–Jul · 34k acre-ft
East RiverWestern Slope0.0" / 0.0"~May 2121%Jun–Jul · 19k acre-ft
Frying Pan RiverWestern Slope0.0" / 0.0"~May 30
Gunnison RiverWestern Slope0.0" / 0.0"~May 2717%Jun–Jul · 95k acre-ft
Lake Fork of the Gunnison RiverWestern Slope~May 2724%Jun–Jul · 17k acre-ft
Rio GrandeSan Luis Valley0.2" / 0.0"~May 2925%Jun–Sep · 65k acre-ft
Roaring Fork RiverWestern Slope0.0" / 0.0"~Jun 1020%Jun–Jul · 88k acre-ft
South Platte RiverFront Range0.0" / 0.0"~Jun 6
Taylor RiverWestern Slope0.0" / 0.0"~May 21
Yampa RiverWestern Slope0.0" / 0.0"~Jun 2720%Jun–Jul · 22k acre-ft
Runoff forecasts are the projected seasonal streamflow volume versus the long-term average, issued monthly January–June. Only rivers with a published forecast point show one.

Snowpack percentages compare current basin snow-water content to historical norms; the Colorado figure is statewide, not specific to any one basin. Snowpack varies with elevation and aspect — treat basin figures as a guide. Updated Jul 16, 2026.