See all 5 routes on Cannon River
Minnesota | Southeast Minnesota
Cannon River
Cannon Falls to Welch
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
Put in at Riverside Park in Cannon Falls and take out at Welch Mill. Confirm access rules and any fees at both endpoints before staging a shuttle.
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
Riverside Park canoe launch (Cannon Falls)Riverside Park has an official canoe launch, but local parking or day-use rules can still change.
Take-out
Welch Mill Canoeing, Tubing & Kayaking (Welch)Welch Mill is a private take-out. Confirm landing rules and any take-out fee before leaving a vehicle there.
Plan this segment
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Riverside Park has an official canoe launch, but local parking or day-use rules can still change.
- Welch Mill is a private take-out. Confirm landing rules and any take-out fee before leaving a vehicle there.
Watch for
- Wood or debris after storms, especially on outside bends and blind corners.
- Heavy tuber traffic in summer can slow the day and complicate landing space.
- Cold-water risk outside summer.
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 700 cfs |
| Low threshold | 220 cfs |
| High threshold | 1,540 cfs |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Official and local sources |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | MilesPaddled Cannon River II numeric range notes |
| 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.
- Ideal gauge300 to 700 cfs
Primary sweet spot from MilesPaddled. The same source treats 300 to 1,540 cfs as medium rather than extreme.
- DNR level context310 cfs = Normal; 1,840 cfs = High
MN DNR weekly stream-flow reports classified Welch as Normal at 310 cfs on October 18, 2021 and High at 1,840 cfs on May 2, 2011.
- DifficultyEasy
Good first-pass river, but not a blind yes when levels spike.
- Primary cautionWelch take-out logistics
Private landing context reduces confidence outside well-known conditions.
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 Welch, MN and treats 300 cfs to 700 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 Riverside Park canoe launch (Cannon Falls) and ends at Welch Mill Canoeing, Tubing & Kayaking (Welch), about 11.75 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
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Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.