See all 5 routes on Cannon River
Minnesota | Southern Minnesota
Cannon River
Faribault to Dundas
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 at Two Rivers Park in Faribault and finish at the Highway 1 Canoe Landing in Dundas. The reach is friendly at workable flow, but it is long enough that low-water riffles and post-rain debris still change the decision.
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
Two Rivers Park canoe landingThe Two Rivers landing is more hidden and less polished than the park lot suggests, so walk it before unloading boats.
Take-out
Highway 1 Canoe Landing (Dundas)The Highway 1 take-out below the bridge is marked but easy to miss from upstream if you have not looked at it first.
Plan this segment
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- The Two Rivers landing is more hidden and less polished than the park lot suggests, so walk it before unloading boats.
- The Highway 1 take-out below the bridge is marked but easy to miss from upstream if you have not looked at it first.
- Parking at the Dundas take-out is limited, so settle the shuttle plan before launching.
Watch for
- Low-water riffles and occasional scraping near the floor.
- Snags, log piles, and fresh debris after higher water.
- Longer-mileage fatigue on hot or windy days.
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 Northfield, 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 |
| Ideal range | Needs paddler reports |
| Known low-water floor | 202 cfs |
| High threshold | Not calibrated yet |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Official and local sources |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | MilesPaddled Cannon River I + MN DNR medium-flow context |
| 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.
- Published low-water floor202 cfs
MilesPaddled points to MN DNR flow context showing 202 to 2,730 cfs as Medium at Northfield, which is a defensible floor for avoiding an obviously too-thin day.
- Strong trip-report day1,050 cfs
MilesPaddled calls 1,050 cfs at Northfield a very recommendable level for this Faribault to Dundas run.
- Route shape13.75 river miles
MN DNR Map 1 explicitly names Two Rivers Park carry-in access and Dundas City Park as the recommended day-trip endpoints for this run.
- Supplemental high-water context10.5 to 12 ft sweet spot; 14+ ft gets edgy
A Cannon outfitter using the Northfield gauge treats roughly 10.5 to 12 feet as the preferred range, with 13 to 14 feet getting harder and 14+ feet trending toward shutdown decisions. This is useful upper-flow context, but it is still stage-based and not route-specific enough to replace the app threshold model.
- Primary cautionWood and post-rain debris
The river is usually friendly, but the route report calls out snag and log-pile evidence after higher water.
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.
Share your trip
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 Northfield, MN and uses 202 cfs as the conservative low-water floor for this route. The ideal range still needs more paddler reports.
Where does this Cannon River route start and end?
This route starts at Two Rivers Park canoe landing and ends at Highway 1 Canoe Landing (Dundas), about 13.75 mi on the water.
Is this Cannon River route good for beginners?
This is listed as an easy route, but conditions still matter. Check today's score, water level, weather, and access notes before you go.
Flag a change
See something outdated?
Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.