See all 5 routes on Cannon River
Minnesota | Southeast Minnesota
Cannon River
Lake Byllesby Dam to Highway 61
Check current paddling conditions for this Cannon 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 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.
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
Download the canonical route, add a calendar hold, or send a simple float plan to your group.
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.
Plan this segment
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Byllesby East resolves as WAS02800 and Highway 61 resolves as WAS01112 in Minnesota public-water-access GIS.
- Riverside Park and Miesville Ravine are public intermediate exits; confirm parking and park hours before relying on them.
- Do not approach dam infrastructure or use private banks as routine stops.
Watch for
- Lake Byllesby Dam release effects, riffles, strainers, bridge current, and cold water.
- Long mileage, changing daylight, storms, and fatigue between public exits.
- Very high water above the official Welch high band and shallow scraping below the low 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 | Cannon River at Welch, MN |
| Discharge | Checking |
| Gauge height | 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 | 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 |
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.
- 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.
- Current gauge check1,000 cfs at 2026-07-23 14:00 CDT
The current MN DNR feed placed Welch in the official medium band during this run.
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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Keep exploring
More routes to check next
Compare another stretch on this river, or jump to nearby options before you pick a plan.
Quick answers
Cannon River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Cannon River?
Paddle Today watches Cannon River at Welch, MN and treats 300 cfs to 1,540 cfs as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.
Where does this Cannon River route start and end?
This route starts at Cannon River, Lake Byllesby (E) Public Water Access Site and ends at Cannon River, Highway 61 Public Water Access Site, about About 20.8 mi on the water.
Is this Cannon 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.