River guideMinnesota
St. Louis River
Choose from the first two DNR map sections, then select the exact launch and take-out. Start with the recommended Forbes–Zim or Paupores–Brookston day trip; use the selected card for its gauge, access, and hazard notes. The separate Highway 2–Lake Superior map describes a different downstream whitewater area.
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St. Louis River paddle planning
What to verify before you commit.
Water levels
These St. Louis River routes use 2 gauge references depending on the stretch.
Route options
Compare all 9 public St. Louis River choices here. Every trip page provides its endpoints, distance, access notes, and route-specific Forbes or Floodwood water-level information.
Difficulty
St. Louis River routes here are marked hard and moderate, so choose the stretch that fits your group and conditions.
Minnesota DNR · St. Louis River State Water Trail
Start with a map section and its recommended trip
The nine selectable trip choices here cover DNR Maps 1 and 2. The maps describe different reaches, access chains, and gauge zones; choose a trip card with matching endpoints before checking conditions.
Map 1 · County Road 4 to County Road 95 · 7.3 miles
DNR recommends this upper-river day trip. It is not currently one of PaddleToday’s nine selectable trips. The put-in is an undeveloped bridge carry-in at river mile 151.9; the take-out is the County Road 95 access at mile 144.6. DNR describes shallow, sandy sections along this trip, so verify the bridge launch and local depth before setting out.
View the official DNR Map 1Map 1 · Forbes to Zim · 12.9 miles
This separate recommended section runs from the Forbes carry-in at river mile 125.9 to Zim at mile 113. DNR notes Class I rapids and a watercraft campsite near mile 121. The Forbes Dam is upstream of this trip’s put-in; trips starting above the dam need a separate river-right portage plan.
Open the recommended Forbes–Zim tripMap 2 · Paupores to Brookston · 7.9 miles
DNR recommends this wooded middle-river day trip from river mile 61.8 to 53.9. The map lists Class I–II rapids, some dangerous in high water, and several watercraft campsites. The route card uses Floodwood as an upstream gauge proxy, so pair it with same-day observations at both accesses.
Open the recommended Map 2 tripLonger combinations · choose the exact endpoints
Three longer choices remain available: County Road 95–Zim (31.5 miles), Forbes–Toivola (31.7 miles), and Toivola–Floodwood (22.1 miles). County Road 95–Zim crosses the Forbes Dam boundary and requires the river-right portage; review its trip details before choosing that itinerary.
Compare County Road 95–ZimCompare Forbes–ToivolaCompare Toivola–FloodwoodMinnesota DNR divides the full water trail into three maps. Map 3, from Highway 2 to Lake Superior, includes multiple dams and Class I–VI rapids, with parts of Jay Cooke State Park reserved for expert whitewater kayakers; it is a separate paddling area and is not represented by these nine selectable trips. Review the official segment notes, Map 1, and Map 2. Use the gauge assigned to your exact trip: Forbes for the upper corridor and Floodwood for the lower one. Gauge heights from different stations are not directly comparable.
Quick answers
St. Louis River paddling FAQ
Where can I paddle the St. Louis River?
Choose among nine trips across the first two Minnesota DNR map sections. Start with the recommended 12.9-mile Forbes–Zim trip on Map 1 or the 7.9-mile Paupores–Brookston trip on Map 2; the selector keeps shorter access legs and longer combinations with their exact gauge and access details.
How should I check St. Louis River water levels?
Use the station and direct-or-proxy label shown on the selected trip. Upper Map 1 choices use the Forbes water-level information (3.7–7.6 ft medium; below 3 ft scrapable; above 8 ft very high); Map 2 choices use Floodwood (28–37 ft medium; below 24.4 ft scrapable; above 42 ft very high). These interpreted stage bands belong to different stations and are not interchangeable or river-wide thresholds. Verify local depth and conditions at the launch.
Which St. Louis 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.