Marais des Cygnes River
Miami / Linn Co. · 150 mi · Class I
62.6CFS/ 3.83 ft
Below Optimal
→Stable
Optimal: 200–2000 CFS · USGS #06914000
⚡Flow data is live from USGS·Rapid classifications and CFS ranges need community verification··Know this river?
150 mi
Length
Class I
Difficulty
200–2000 cfs
Optimal
1,100 cfs
Avg Flow
990 cfs
Hist. Median
#06914000
USGS Gauge
Marais des Cygnes National Wildlife Refuge · Marais des Cygnes Massacre Memorial

'Marsh of the Swans' — this French-named river flows through eastern Kansas, home to the Marais des Cygnes National Wildlife Refuge and rich Civil War history. The river passes through some of Kansas's best remaining bottomland hardwood forest, with excellent birding and a haunting historical landscape. The 40-mile reach from Ottawa to Osawatomie crosses Bleeding Kansas country, with the National Wildlife Refuge corridor below offering the best wildlife viewing.

Trip sections
Ottawa to Osawatomie — 40 mi, eastern Kansas prairie and forest
Osawatomie to Trading Post — 40 mi, NWR corridor, best wildlife
Trading Post to Missouri line — 30 mi, wider river, bottomland forest
Outfitters
Marais des Cygnes Paddling Club
Group floats, access information, seasonal conditions
72-Hour Flow Forecast
NOAA NWPS
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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.