River guideIllinois and Minnesota
Mississippi River
Compare trips by distance, difficulty and current conditions. Open a trip for its map, directions and planning tools.
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Start with distance, then compare current scores where available.
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End of mapRiver overview
Mississippi River paddle planning
What to verify before you commit.
Water levels
These Mississippi River routes use 13 gauge references depending on the stretch.
Route options
Compare 39 routes (18 scored · 21 planning) across Brainerd Lakes Area, Central Minnesota, Grand Rapids Area, Headwaters, Metro-East Illinois, Mississippi Headwaters, Northern Minnesota, Northwest Metro, St. Cloud Area, Twin Cities, Twin Cities Metro. Open a route page for put-in, take-out, distance, data reliability, and access notes.
Difficulty
Mississippi River routes here are marked easy and hard and moderate, so choose the stretch that fits your group and conditions.
Quick answers
Mississippi River paddling FAQ
Where can I paddle the Mississippi River?
Paddle Today tracks 39 Mississippi River routes across Brainerd Lakes Area, Central Minnesota, Grand Rapids Area, Headwaters, Metro-East Illinois, Mississippi Headwaters, Northern Minnesota, Northwest Metro, St. Cloud Area, Twin Cities, Twin Cities Metro. Compare the route cards on this page, then open an individual route for put-in, take-out, distance, and access notes.
How should I check Mississippi River water levels?
Check the gauge notes for your stretch and its live score where available. This hub uses 13 gauges or gauge references. Planning routes have no live score; check their source guidance and current access notices.
Which Mississippi River route is best today?
Compare current scores where available, along with water level, recent trend, weather, access, and route difficulty. Planning-only cards provide trip information without a live paddling recommendation.