Elkhorn River
Antelope / Dodge Co. · 290 mi · Class I
269CFS/ 3.62 ft
Flood
→Stable
Optimal: 300–3000 CFS · USGS #06799500
⚡Flow data is live from USGS·Rapid classifications and CFS ranges need community verification··Know this river?
290 mi
Length
Class I
Difficulty
300–3000 cfs
Optimal
1,400 cfs
Avg Flow
1,260 cfs
Hist. Median
#06799500
USGS Gauge
Elkhorn River Water Trail

Northeast Nebraska's family paddling river — 290 miles from the edge of the Sandhills to the Platte. The Elkhorn is wide, gentle, and sandy-bottomed with excellent sandbars for camping and swimming. Growing popularity as a multi-day canoe trail through rolling agricultural prairie.

Trip sections
Norfolk to West Point — 70 mi, upper Elkhorn, prairie riffles
West Point to Fremont — 60 mi, wider channel, sandbar camping
Fremont to Platte confluence — 30 mi, lower Elkhorn, bigger water
Outfitters
Elkhorn River Adventures
Canoe and kayak rentals, multi-day shuttle service
72-Hour Flow Forecast
NOAA NWPS
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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.