State of the River

At this level you will be scraping rock and sometimes walking your tube through the shallows. Expect a slow trip and bring sturdy water shoes. Cool River allows its own push sticks without sharp edges, and on low-water days its shorter ride, where the water is deeper, is the better choice. The gauge read about 0.4 ft on the morning of October 8, 2026.

Floatable but bumpy. Look for the deeper channel through each shallow stretch and expect some grounding on gravel bars. It's easier if you untether tubes from the group in the shallows and reconnect in the pools.

Our pick for the best conditions: enough water to cover most of the rocks and a current gentle enough that groups stay together. Cool River lists its long ride at 2 to 2.5 hours and its short ride at 1 to 1.5 hours. Children 12 and under are required to wear a life jacket at Cool River.

The water turns brown and picks up speed. Bridge supports and low branches become hazards, so this level is for confident swimmers. Cool River closes at 1.5 ft on the river gauge, which it says happens once or twice a summer after a heavy overnight rain.

Cool River is closed above 1.5 ft. Helen Tubing says water over 3 feet may be too high and dangerous and that it may decide to close, so the two outfitters can differ. Treat this range as a no-go unless you are an expert swimmer, and never stand in fast current, because a trapped foot is dangerous.

Above 3.0 feet the river is in flood conditions, and Helen Tubing says it may close over 3 feet. Debris moves in the water and the current can pin a person against fixed objects. A sudden storm can raise this mountain stream quickly, so stay out of the water and off the banks, and enjoy the restaurants, shops and wineries instead.