See all 5 routes on Cannon River
Minnesota | Southeast Minnesota
Cannon RiverLake Byllesby Dam to Highway 61
Official lower-Cannon through-route from the Lake Byllesby Dam carry-in to the Highway 61 access, with Riverside and Miesville as public intermediate exits and the direct Welch DNR gauge.
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Route location
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Route overview
Trip details
Access rules, camping and seasonal notes.
Permits, camping and season
Access and shuttle
Launch below Lake Byllesby Dam and paddle the full DNR-recommended lower-Cannon section to Highway 61. The Welch gauge is direct for the lower corridor, but dam releases, daylight, and public bailout timing matter.
Access map
Put-in
Cannon River, Lake Byllesby (E) Public Water Access SiteByllesby East resolves as WAS02800 and Highway 61 resolves as WAS01112 in Minnesota public-water-access GIS.
Take-out
Cannon River, Highway 61 Public Water Access SiteRiverside Park and Miesville Ravine are public intermediate exits; confirm parking and park hours before relying on them.
Road shuttle
Stage Highway 61 first, then drive back to the Lake Byllesby east carry-in below the dam. Treat Riverside Park and Miesville Ravine as public intermediate exits if the full lower-Cannon day is too long.
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Cannon River, Lake Byllesby (E) Public Water Access Site to Cannon River, Highway 61 Public Water Access Site is about 20.8 mi. Use the planner to compare shorter access pairs.
Additional access notes
- Do not approach dam infrastructure or use private banks as routine stops.
More route and safety guidance
- This is a long day route. Riverside Park and Miesville Ravine are practical public bailout options if wind, weather, daylight, or water levels change.
- Expect riffles, bridge current, strainers, cold water early or late in the season, private banks, and faster water after rain.
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Conditions
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Gauge source
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Photos and recent reports
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Paddler reports
Recent notes from paddlers
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Sources and methodology
Review source dates and published guidance below. We have not inspected this trip in person.
Why this scoreData reliability: checking
This rating reflects whether the gauge measures this part of the river, whether published water-level guidance is available, and how recently the data was updated.
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Data behind the scoreWater levels, published guidance and update times
These readings and published water-level limits help explain today’s score.
| Gauge site | Cannon River at Welch, MN |
| Discharge | Checking |
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| 24h trend | Checking |
| 24h change | Checking |
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| Rain last 24h | Checking |
| Rain last 72h | Checking |
| Air temp | Checking |
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| Wind | Checking |
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| Rain timing | Checking |
| Preferred range | 300 cfs to 1,540 cfs |
| Low threshold | 231 cfs |
| High threshold | 3,000 cfs |
| 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 Cannon River at Welch |
| Gauge source | Checking |
| Weather source | Checking |
| Rainfall source | Checking |
NotesPublished evidence and verification notes
These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.
- Official recommended routeLake Byllesby Dam to Highway 61, 20.8 mi
MN DNR recommended one-way sections list this lower Cannon access pair and mileage.
- Public access recordsByllesby East WAS02800 to Highway 61 WAS01112
Minnesota public-water-access GIS resolves both endpoints with official names, coordinates, and river-mile context.
- Official DNR bands231 / 300-1540 / 3000 cfs
MN DNR interprets Welch as Scrapable below 231 cfs, Low from 231 to 300, Medium from 300 to 1540, High from 1540 to 3000, and Very High above 3000.
- Gauge check during route review · 2026-07-231,000 cfs at 2026-07-23 14:00 CDT
This reading was saved when we checked the guide. It is not today’s water level. Check the current gauge and local conditions before paddling.
Verify it yourselfCheck the source links
Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
Other routes nearby
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