See all 7 routes on Big Fork River
Minnesota | Northern Minnesota
Big Fork River
Big Falls West to Kueffners Landing
Check current paddling conditions for this Big Fork River route, including water level, recent gauge trend, weather, and route details.
Route location
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Need to know
Why this call
Conditions
Gauge history and hourly forecast
The top card is the quick read. This lower section keeps the longer gauge trend, gauge context, and hourly forecast together.
Gauge detail
Gauge history & hourly forecastDetailed view
Gauge
Recent trend
Checking preferred range.
Checking trend.
Gauge source
--Checking timestampMN DNR provides the current paddling level here, but not chart-ready recent samples.
Weather
Hourly forecast
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Next 8 hours
Short-route forecast
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Route overview
Quick facts and what's next
Distance, difficulty, shuttle basics, and the near-term outlook before you commit to the drive.
Quick facts
Plan ahead
Upcoming outlook
These are early planning reads. Re-check live conditions before you commit to the drive.
Waiting on forecast.
Waiting on forecast.
Plan
Plan your trip
Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.
Route logistics
Access and shuttle
Launch below Big Falls at Cody Landing / Big Falls West and finish at Kueffners for the longest current lower-Big-Fork continuation in the app. It adds the full rapid-stretch corridor plus a lower campsite finish with toilets.
Plan a shorter segmentOptional
Access planner
Pick a shorter segment
This changes launch and take-out logistics, not today's river score.
Peltier Lake to Long Lake is the full route. Shorter access pairs are useful when wind, time, or group energy changes the plan.
Prepare this trip
Take the plan with you
Download the canonical route, add a calendar hold, or send a simple float plan to your group.
Put-in
Big Falls West / Cody Landing Public Water Access SiteBig Falls West is the downstream put-in reached after the documented Big Falls portage. Do not start above the falls unless you have separately planned that upstream route and portage.
Take-out
Kueffners Public Water Access SiteSturgeon, Ben Linn, and Gowdy are the clearest named bailout or overnight options before the Kueffners finish.
Plan this segment
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Big Falls West is the downstream put-in reached after the documented Big Falls portage. Do not start above the falls unless you have separately planned that upstream route and portage.
- Sturgeon, Ben Linn, and Gowdy are the clearest named bailout or overnight options before the Kueffners finish.
- Stay with the named public accesses and campsites rather than improvising on brushy or private banks.
Watch for
- The mapped Class I rapid stretch between river miles 41.3 and 39.8 on the lower half of the route.
- Outside-bend strainers, fresh storm wood, and quicker current after rain.
- Long-day fatigue plus scraping and slower travel when the Big Falls gauge falls toward the 1.5 ft floor.
Route gallery
See this route on the water
Photos help show what the access looks like and what the route actually feels like on the water.
Score & sources
Why this score
See the gauge, weather, and source notes behind today's call.
Why this scoreToday's evidence strength is checking
Evidence strength mostly comes down to three things: how direct the active gauge is, how clear the range is, and how fresh the data is.
- Checking evidence-strength notes.
- Checking evidence cautions.
Data behind the scoreGauge, thresholds, and timing
These are the live readings and threshold notes behind today's score.
| Gauge site | Big Fork River at Big Falls, MN |
| Gauge height | Checking |
| Discharge | Checking |
| 24h trend | Checking |
| 24h change | Checking |
| Current band | Checking |
| Rain last 24h | Checking |
| Rain last 72h | Checking |
| Air temp | Checking |
| Water temp | Checking |
| Wind | Checking |
| Gusts | Checking |
| Rain timing | Checking |
| Target band | 2.80 ft to 4.50 ft |
| Low threshold | 1.50 ft |
| High threshold | 6.00 ft |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Official data source |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | MN DNR river-level interpretation bands for Big Fork River at Big Falls |
| Gauge source | Checking |
| Weather source | Checking |
| Rainfall source | Checking |
NotesWhat to know before you go
These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.
- Direct live gaugeBig Falls gauge 2.87 ft
The official MN DNR river-level dataset reported 2.87 ft at 2026-07-01 09:00 PM for Big Fork River at Big Falls, confirming the current direct gauge path used for this route.
- DNR bands1.5 / 2.8-4.5 / 6.0 ft
MN DNR interprets the Big Falls gauge as Scrapable below 1.5 ft, Low from 1.5 to 2.8, Medium from 2.8 to 4.5, High from 4.5 to 6.0, and Very High above 6.0.
- Map supportBig Falls West RM 52.6 to Kueffners RM 30.4
DNR Map 2 places Cody Landing / Big Falls West at river mile 52.6, Sturgeon at 47.5, Ben Linn at 43.0, Gowdy at 34.2, and Kueffners at 30.4, supporting a 22.2-mile post-portage continuation.
- Rapid supportClass I rapids at RM 41.3-39.8
The DNR map marks a Class I rapid stretch between river miles 41.3 and 39.8 on the lower half of this route.
- Public access recordsBig Falls West WAS01791 and Kueffners WAS01788
Minnesota public-water-access data resolves Big Falls West on river right and Kueffners on river right with matching water-trail river miles in the official access layer.
- Camping supportSturgeon, Ben Linn, Gowdy, and Kueffners campsites
The DNR map says Sturgeon, Ben Linn, and Gowdy have watercraft campsites and that Kueffners has toilets plus a watercraft campsite, giving this full downstream continuation multiple legal bailout or overnight options.
Verify it yourselfCheck the source links
Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
Paddler reports
Recent notes from paddlers
A few quick notes from people who were on this route recently.
Reports
Paddler reports
See recent photos and notes from people on the route.
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More routes to check next
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Quick answers
Big Fork River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Big Fork River?
Paddle Today watches Big Fork River at Big Falls, MN and treats 2.80 ft to 4.50 ft as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.
Where does this Big Fork River route start and end?
This route starts at Big Falls West / Cody Landing Public Water Access Site and ends at Kueffners Public Water Access Site, about 22.2 mi on the water.
Is this Big Fork River route good for beginners?
This is listed as a moderate route. Expect more planning than an easy float, and use the live score, route notes, and source links before committing.
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