Minnesota | Beaver Bay
Beaver RiverLax Lake Road / County Road 4 to Highway 61
Very steep lower Beaver run with large slides, boulders, holes, and a direct gauge inside the reach, ending at Highway 61 before the river reaches Lake Superior.
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Route location
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Route overview
Trip details
Access rules, camping and seasonal notes.
Permits, camping and season
Access and shuttle
A very short but severe expert creek run where scouting and access verification dominate the day.
Access map
Put-in
Lax Lake Road / County Road 4 bridge carry-inBoth endpoints are bridge carries rather than confirmed developed launches.
Take-out
Highway 61 bridge take-outDo not block County Road 4 or Highway 61 shoulders, gates, or emergency access.
Road shuttle
Verify safe legal parking at both road bridges before staging the short shuttle.
More route and safety guidance
- Take out at Highway 61 before the lower slide and Lake Superior. American Whitewater reports severe consequences from the slide visible near the highway.
- No validated runnable band exists. Never interpret the direct gauge reading as a launch recommendation without same-day local inspection and experienced judgment.
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Conditions
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Recent trend
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Gauge source
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Detailed weather
Weather
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Next 8 hours
Short-route forecast
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Plan ahead
Tomorrow and the weekend
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Photos and recent reports
Look for recent access, obstruction and hazard observations. Context photos may show a different part of the river.
Paddler reports
Recent notes from paddlers
A few quick notes from people who were on this route recently.
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Sources and methodology
Review source dates and published guidance below. We have not inspected this trip in person.
NotesPublished evidence and verification notes
These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.
- Reach and difficulty1.8 miles; Class IV-V+
American Whitewater documents the County Road 4 start, large slides and holes, in-reach gauge, and Highway 61 take-out.
- Direct telemetryDNR 02006003 inside the reach
The active DNR station is about 0.6 mile below the put-in and reports both stage and discharge.
- Threshold limitationRunnable levels unknown
American Whitewater explicitly says it has no familiarity with runnable levels; this route therefore retains incomplete thresholds and conservative planning status.
Verify it yourselfCheck the source links
Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
Other routes nearby
Nearby routes within 75 miles
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