See all 7 routes on Big Fork River
Minnesota | Northern Minnesota
Big Fork River
Gowdy Landing to Reedy Flats
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
Checking the next several hours.
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 at Gowdy and finish at Reedy Flats for the full lower Big Fork continuation above the Rainy River. The current is usually gentler than the upper routes, but the mileage and finish demand real planning discipline.
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
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Put-in
Gowdy Public Water Access SiteKueffners and Ivan Crawford are the only major named checkpoints before the final Reedy Flats finish.
Take-out
Reedy Flats Public Water Access SiteReedy Flats is the intended final public take-out above the Rainy River confluence. Do not assume a safe or public continuation beyond it.
Plan this segment
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Kueffners and Ivan Crawford are the only major named checkpoints before the final Reedy Flats finish.
- Reedy Flats is the intended final public take-out above the Rainy River confluence. Do not assume a safe or public continuation beyond it.
- Use only the named public accesses and campsites because surrounding shoreline remains private or undeveloped.
Watch for
- Long-day fatigue, cold shoulder-season water, and broad exposed bends.
- Fresh storm wood, undercut outside bends, and few easy exit points after Gowdy.
- Slow travel and shallow bends 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 2.82 ft
The official MN DNR river-level dataset reported 2.82 ft at 2026-07-03 08:00 AM for Big Fork River at Big Falls, confirming the current same-river 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 supportGowdy RM 34.2 to Reedy Flats RM 0.5
DNR Map 2 places Gowdy at river mile 34.2, Kueffners at 30.4, Ivan Crawford at 9.0, and Reedy Flats at 0.5 just above the Rainy River confluence, supporting a 33.7-mile lower continuation.
- Public access recordsGowdy WAS02706 and Reedy Flats WAS02709
Minnesota public-water-access data resolves Gowdy on river right and Reedy Flats on river left with exact coordinates and matching water-trail river miles in the official access layer.
- Camping supportGowdy, Kueffners, and Reedy Flats campsites
The DNR map says Gowdy has a watercraft campsite, Kueffners adds toilets plus a campsite, and Reedy Flats has a toilet and watercraft campsite just above Highway 11, giving this route real overnight structure on the full lower continuation.
- Route characterCommitted lower corridor above Rainy River
DNR Map 2 shows only Kueffners and Ivan Crawford between Gowdy and the Reedy Flats finish, which makes this route a full lower-corridor commitment rather than a sequence of short public hops.
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
Compare another stretch on this river, or jump to nearby options before you pick a plan.
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 Gowdy Public Water Access Site and ends at Reedy Flats Public Water Access Site, about 33.7 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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Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.