Gauge Description:

Traditionally Canyon Creek is gauged at the put-in bridge by the level of the water relative to "the unit" which is the platform at the bridge footing (photo). With the PacifiCorp's recent addition of a real-time gauge on Canyon Creek paddlers can now check discharge directly. The minimum flow for a standard boating trip is about 500 cfs or -8" below the unit. Technical boating opportunities are available between about 300-500 cfs. High water runs from 1500-2000 cfs are also possible for those who know the run. Runs above 2000 cfs are certainly possible and have been done but this flow is not for mere mortals.

If you're going off the relative reading  from "the unit", the creek can be run as low -12" although it's boney in places. A reading of -8" is the minimum flow for a standard trip. A good range for first timers is -6" to -4". Once you get above +3" things start to get pushy at +6" some of the ledges get pretty sticky. You can still run it above +12" but it's class V and there are consequences if you make a mistake. Things are raging at +18" and some of the holes are really rententive.

Here's the approximate correlation for the East Fork Lewis gauge (which was historically used). If you have the unit correlation for the new Canyon Creek gauge please post a comment.