What will the 2025 Snake River runoff look like?

JACKSON, Wyo. — 70 degrees the first weekend in May?! You better believe it!

River enthusiast all over Jackson took full advantage, dusting off the cobwebs from their rafts and launching into spring. That warm sunshine didn’t just heat up your weekend plans—it jumpstarted the 2025 runoff season, too!

Now it’s time to focus on the truly important things in life:

Where in the garage did I stash my life jacket?
Do my raft trailer lights still work?
And most crucially… what’s the Snake River’s peak flow going to be this year so I can win a brand-new raft in Dave Hansen Whitewater’s 7th Annual High Water Heyday Contest?!

We’ve got the inside scoop on snowpack stats, spring temps, and reservoir levels—and how they all work together to make some whitewater magic. (P.S. We’ll also happily help you find that life jacket. We’re team players like that.)

Last Year’s Flow Flashback: With an average snowpack, Jackson Lake hitting capacity in early June, and solid spring moisture, the 2024 peak hit 20,676 cubic feet per second. This year? Jackson Lake is already sitting at 82% capacity (just like last year at this time), and moisture levels are on par. That might point to a similar peak… or will Mother Nature toss in a curveball?

“It’s shaping up to look that way,” says Bud Chatham, owner of Dave Hansen Whitewater. “But this spring’s been warmer and drier than last year so far, and that can sometimes stretch the runoff out a bit—maybe even soften the peak. Of course, we all know how fast Wyoming spring weather can flip the script!”

Here’s the big twist: American Falls Reservoir—the system’s largest—is already 97% full. That usually means the Bureau of Reclamation will hold water upstream longer than usual. Jackson Lake is still releasing just 280 cfs (typical winter flows), but once the lake hits capacity, inflows will have to equal outflows. And that’s when we get those big spike moments (and big grins from our river guides).

In fact, last year’s Snake River Canyon peak flows lined up perfectly with a peak 5,640 cfs release from Jackson Lake Dam. That timing made Lunch Counter one epic and thrilling ride that I know we are hoping to see again this season!

Stay on top of the latest river flows and spring weather updates with the Dave Hansen River Report, exclusively on Buckrail!