Kansas (Kaw) River
Douglas / Shawnee Co. · 170 mi · Class I
1,810CFS/ 2.88 ft
Flood
↑Rising slowly (+40 cfs/hr)
Optimal: 2000–15000 CFS · USGS #06891000
⚡Flow data is live from USGS·Rapid classifications and CFS ranges need community verification·Know this river?
170 mi
Length
Class I
Difficulty
2000–15000 cfs
Optimal
6,200 cfs
Avg Flow
5,580 cfs
Hist. Median
#06891000
USGS Gauge
Kansas River Water Trail

The longest prairie river in America — 170 miles from Junction City to Kansas City. The Kaw flows through Lawrence, home of the University of Kansas, and Topeka, the state capital. An underappreciated urban paddling corridor with surprising wildlife and growing recreational access.

Trip sections
Junction City to Topeka — 70 mi, rural prairie river
Topeka to Lawrence — 50 mi, urban prairie paddle
Lawrence to KC — 50 mi, lower Kaw, joins the Missouri
Outfitters
Kansas Riverkeeper
Paddling guides, access maps, group floats
72-Hour Flow Forecast
NOAA NWPS
Loading forecast...
10-Year Flow Patterns
See 10 years of flow patterns for this river — historical analysis is a Pro feature.Upgrade to Pro →
Your Optimal Range
Set your personal optimal CFS window per river — custom ranges are a Pro feature.Upgrade to Pro →
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.