See all 7 routes on Big Fork River
Minnesota | Northern Minnesota
Big Fork River
Highway 6 North to Johnson Landing
Check current paddling conditions for this Big Fork River route, including water level, recent gauge trend, weather, and route details.
Route snapshot
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Today
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Start with the verdict, current conditions, route plan, and quick facts before you commit to the drive.
Today's conditions
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
Best window today
Checking weather.
Today by hour
Short-route forecast
Checking the next several hours.
Quick facts
Plan
Dial in the shuttle, distance, and access.
Use this section once the route looks viable and you need to turn it into an actual trip plan.
Access plan
Access, shuttle, and map
Launch at Highway 6 North and paddle the upper part of Big Fork Map 2 to Johnson Landing. This fills the public-access gap above the existing Johnson-to-Big-Falls route without adding the downstream falls take-out consequence.
Put-in
Big Fork River, State Hwy 6 (S) / Highway 6 North Public Water Access SiteOpen mapMinnesota public-water-access GIS labels the put-in as State Hwy 6 (S), while DNR route/map copy calls it Highway 6 North; use the river-mile 75.8 record and coordinates to avoid confusing it with the upstream Highway 6 South access.
Take-out
Big Fork River, Johnson Public Water Access SiteOpen mapThe Craigsville gauge is upstream of the route, so check actual depth and wood at Highway 6 North before committing.
Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Minnesota public-water-access GIS labels the put-in as State Hwy 6 (S), while DNR route/map copy calls it Highway 6 North; use the river-mile 75.8 record and coordinates to avoid confusing it with the upstream Highway 6 South access.
- The Craigsville gauge is upstream of the route, so check actual depth and wood at Highway 6 North before committing.
- Do not casually continue below Johnson toward Big Falls unless the group planned the separate full-day Johnson-to-Big-Falls route and mandatory take-out above the falls.
Watch for
- Low-water rock, shallow riffles, and possible scraping when the upstream gauge is near the floor.
- Strainers, fresh storm wood, cold water, private banks, and limited rescue exposure on a remote northern river.
- Reilly Brook and Reilly Creek confluence current, beaver activity, and long gaps between public road crossings.
Route gallery
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Sources
Check the data behind today's call.
Use this section when the page shows stale data, limited confidence, or a call you want to verify before driving.
Why this scoreToday's data confidence is checking
Data confidence mostly comes down to three things: how direct the gauge is, how clear the range is, and how fresh the data is.
- Checking data confidence notes.
- Checking data confidence cautions.
OutlookTomorrow and weekend
This is a cautious early look. If the data is too thin, we leave it out.
Waiting on forecast.
Waiting on forecast.
Data behind the scoreGauge, thresholds, and timing
These are the live readings and threshold notes behind today's score.
| Gauge site | Big Fork River nr Craigsville, MN6 |
| 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 | 4.50 ft to 8.50 ft |
| Low threshold | 4.00 ft |
| High threshold | 9.50 ft |
| Data confidence 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 near Craigsville |
| 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.
- DNR map access chainHighway 6 North RM 75.8 to Johnson RM 67.5
MN DNR Big Fork Map 2 places Highway 6 North, Reilly Brook, Reilly Creek, and Johnson Landing in downstream order, with Johnson identified as a carry-in access, rest area, and watercraft campsite.
- Public access recordsWAS01792 to WAS02708
Minnesota public-water-access GIS resolves Big Fork River State Hwy 6 (S) / Highway 6 North and Johnson public access sites with coordinates and river-mile records.
- Official DNR bands4.0 / 4.5-8.5 / 9.5 ft
MN DNR interprets the Craigsville / Highway 6 gauge as Scrapable below 4.0 ft, Low from 4.0 to 4.5, Medium from 4.5 to 8.5, High from 8.5 to 9.5, and Very High above 9.5.
- Current gauge check4.76 ft at 2026-07-23 09:00 CDT
The current MN DNR feed placed the upstream Craigsville gauge in the official medium band during this run.
- Safety contextClass I-II context, remote banks, Big Falls downstream
DNR says most Big Fork rapids are Class I-II, water can be too rocky below four feet at Bigfork, and Big Falls downstream is a serious portage-only falls sequence.
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
Photos, paddler notes, and updates.
See what others have shared, then add a condition report, upload photos, or flag anything that needs fixing.
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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 nr Craigsville, MN6 and treats 4.50 ft to 8.50 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 Fork River, State Hwy 6 (S) / Highway 6 North Public Water Access Site and ends at Big Fork River, Johnson Public Water Access Site, about About 8.3 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.
Flag a change
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Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.