Raritan River
Somerset / Middlesex Co. · 85 mi · Class I
150CFS/ 1.89 ft
Below Optimal
→Stable
Optimal: 300–3000 CFS · USGS #01402000
⚡Flow data is live from USGS·Rapid classifications and CFS ranges need community verification··Know this river?
85 mi
Length
Class I
Difficulty
300–3000 cfs
Optimal
1,800 cfs
Avg Flow
1,620 cfs
Hist. Median
#01402000
USGS Gauge
Raritan River Greenway · Delaware & Raritan Canal State Park

Central New Jersey's great river flows 85 miles through the heart of the state from the Highlands to Raritan Bay. The Raritan is the longest river entirely within New Jersey and anchors one of the most ambitious urban canoe trail projects in the Northeast. Class I paddling through surprisingly green corridors past Revolutionary War sites, colonial villages, and recovering riparian habitat.

Trip sections
Three Bridges to Raritan — Class I, upper valley
Raritan to New Brunswick — Class I, D&R Canal corridor
New Brunswick to Raritan Bay — tidal, estuary
Outfitters
Raritan Riverkeeper
Guided paddle events and river access information
72-Hour Flow Forecast
NOAA NWPS
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10-Year Flow Patterns
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Your Optimal Range
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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.