Truckee River
Placer / Nevada Co. · 121 mi · Class II–III
1,140CFS/ 4.99 ft
Optimal→Stable· -40 cfs in 3h
Water temp: 47°F — Hypothermia risk, wear a drysuit
Optimal: 200–1500 CFS · USGS #10346000
Length
Difficulty
Optimal
Avg Flow
Hist. Median
USGS Gauge
Truckee River Water Quality Settlement · Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit
The Truckee is the only outflow of Lake Tahoe and delivers 121 miles of accessible Class II–III whitewater from the lake to Pyramid Lake in Nevada. The California reach flows past Truckee and along I-80 through the northern Sierra, featuring cold clear water, granite boulder gardens, and a solid wild trout fishery. Late spring through summer offers dependable flows.
Trip sections
Tahoe City to Truckee — Class II, alpine meadows and granite
Truckee to Floriston — Class II–III, canyon below town
Floriston to Nevada state line — Class II–III, final California reach
Outfitters
Truckee River Raft Company
Tahoe City to River Ranch raft rentals
72-Hour Flow Forecast
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10-Year Flow Patterns
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Data Quality
River conditions are community-verified. CFS ranges, difficulty ratings, and trip sections may not reflect every flow level or seasonal change. Always check current conditions, scout unfamiliar rapids, and paddle within your skill level. If you spot an error, use the Improve This River button at the top of the page — your local knowledge is what makes this atlas accurate.