JACKSON, Wyo. — Who is ready to be the next Shane Darnell or Bechler Bryan? The 8th Annual Dave Hansen High Water Heyday is officially live!
For nearly a decade, we’ve turned the spring runoff into a community-wide guessing game to kick off the summer. The challenge is simple: without going over, can you predict the exact peak flow (in cubic feet per second) of the Snake River this season?
There has been plenty of talk around the valley about what the water season will look like. The great news? Jackson Lake is already at 81%, ensuring we’ll have plenty of water in the Snake River Canyon all summer long!
Part of your mission in predicting the peak flow is to figure out when that high-elevation snowpack will finally let loose, how wet our spring rains will be, and when the Bureau of Reclamation will start moving water downstream.
The stakes are high: with the perfect hit, you could walk away with some epic gear. The Grand Prize winner will be awarded a brand-new NRS STAR Outlaw 142 Self-Bailing Raft (MSRP $3,395). Our under-18 winner will go home with a Tributary Spud Inflatable Kayak (MSRP $600)!
Hometown Heroes vs. Out-of-Towners: this one’s for the local Big Kahuna hole-crushers and Lunch Counter wave-train riders! The NRS raft and Tributary kayak are eddied out and waiting exclusively for our hometown river community (check the rules for the local coordinates).
But don’t worry, out-of-towners—we won’t leave you stuck in a hole! You’re still in the running for a world-class prize: your choice of a private 8-man whitewater charge or a golden-hour scenic float through the heart of the Snake River Range.
Why enter early? In the river world, timing is everything. If the peak flow hits 18,500 CFS and three people guess it correctly, the person who submitted their guess first wins. We’ve had several years where the “early bird” rule determined the winner, so don’t wait until the water is already rising—study the gauges and get your number in now!
Whether you’re a seasoned guide or a first-time floater, the High Water Heyday is our favorite way to celebrate the start of another epic Jackson Hole summer.
Dave Hansen reserves the right to extend the contest period past May 15, 2026 or end it before May 15, 2026. Should the contest be extended, it will be publicized.
Dave Hansen's High Water Heyday Contest 2026
