Paddle TodayFind the best paddle near you today
RequestRequest

Live score, water level, and weather.

See all 5 routes on Cannon River

Minnesota | Southern Minnesota

Cannon River

Cannon River Wilderness Area to Riverside City Park, Northfield

Check current paddling conditions for this Cannon River route, including water level, recent gauge trend, weather, and route details.

Route location

Loading the route snapshot. This usually takes a few seconds.

Open access map
DistanceAbout 8.5 mi
DifficultyEasy
Typical timeAbout 3 hr to 4.5 hr
ShuttleCar shuttle
The Cannon River flows through Welch Township in spring with wooded banks and a broad current.
River contextSpring flow on the Cannon at Welch river-level photo — not necessarily this exact reach.Photo by Iulus Ascanius via Wikimedia Commons

Need to know

Why this call
Pulling the latest gauge and weather. This usually takes a few seconds.
View Primary Source

Route alerts

Email me when this route improves

We'll email you when this route climbs into Good or Strong. Every email includes an unsubscribe link.

We only email on a new threshold crossing.

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.

------------

Weather

Hourly forecast

Checking weather.

Loading today's forecast.

Next 8 hours

Short-route forecast

Checking the next several hours.

Checking the best short-route window.
----Loading--

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

On-water distanceAbout 8.5 miCannon River Wilderness Area to Riverside City Park, Northfield
DifficultyeasyThe selected recommended section avoids the Northfield dam by ending at Riverside City Park. Expect mostly moderate current with few rapids, but low-water rocks, strainers, and the mandatory take-out keep it from being a casual lake paddle.
ShuttleCar shuttleStage at Riverside City Park in Northfield, then launch from the Cannon River Wilderness Area carry-in. Confirm the take-out before launch because the Northfield dam is immediately downstream of the park.
PermitsNone notedNo route-specific paddling permit is known. Use the named public accesses, follow Minnesota boating/PFD rules, and obey city, county, DNR, and private-property postings.
CampingOptions nearbyDNR maps show Wilderness-area watercraft campsites and amenities, but camping must stay in designated sites. Do not use private banks or riverbed bars next to private property for informal overnight stops.
SeasonApr-OctDNR says Cannon River paddling is generally possible unless unusually dry, but shallow rocky areas appear in dry periods and heavy rain can produce flooding. Pair the Northfield reading with a fresh visual check at the Wilderness access.

Plan ahead

Upcoming outlook

These are early planning reads. Re-check live conditions before you commit to the drive.

TomorrowChecking

Waiting on forecast.

WeekendChecking

Waiting on forecast.

Plan

Plan your trip

Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.

Route logistics

Access and shuttle

Paddle the DNR-recommended Wilderness Area to Northfield day trip with a direct interpreted gauge at the take-out. The trip must end at Riverside City Park before the 10-foot Northfield dam, which DNR maps as having no developed portage.

DirectionsApple MapsOpenStreetMap

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.

Download GPXAdd to calendar

Start

Put-in

Cannon River Wilderness Area carry-in
Open map

Minnesota public-water-access GIS resolves the Wilderness Area carry-in and Riverside City Park / Highway 3 access with river-mile records.

Finish

Take-out

Riverside City Park / Highway 3 access
Open map

The route ends just above the Northfield dam. Treat Riverside City Park as the mandatory take-out, not an optional stop.

Plan this segment

Skip map

Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.

End of map
Access caveats and watch for

Access caveats

  • Minnesota public-water-access GIS resolves the Wilderness Area carry-in and Riverside City Park / Highway 3 access with river-mile records.
  • The route ends just above the Northfield dam. Treat Riverside City Park as the mandatory take-out, not an optional stop.
  • DNR warns that public route maps do not imply permission to use private banks; stay on public accesses and designated campsites.

Watch for

  • Shallow rocky water in dry periods, especially below the official medium band.
  • Flooding, fast current, and new trees or snags after heavy rain.
  • The Northfield dam corridor immediately below the take-out.

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.

The Cannon River flows through Welch Township in spring with wooded banks and a broad current.
Spring flow on the Cannon at Welch river-level photo — not necessarily this exact reach.Photo by Iulus Ascanius via Wikimedia Commons
Wikimedia Commons: public domain

Score & sources

Why this score

See the gauge, weather, and source notes behind today's call.

Read quality
Checking live inputs.

Pulling the latest gauge and weather. Usually under 10 seconds.

Gauge inputChecking

Waiting on the gauge read.

Weather inputChecking

Waiting on weather.

Next stepChecking

Waiting on enough data to give the next step.

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.

Why
  • Checking evidence-strength notes.
Data behind the scoreGauge, thresholds, and timing

These are the live readings and threshold notes behind today's score.

Gauge siteCannon River at Northfield, 2nd St West
DischargeChecking
Gauge heightChecking
24h trendChecking
24h changeChecking
Current bandChecking
Rain last 24hChecking
Rain last 72hChecking
Air tempChecking
Water tempChecking
WindChecking
GustsChecking
Rain timingChecking
Target band202 cfs to 2,730 cfs
Low threshold88 cfs
High threshold3,710 cfs
Evidence strength behind the rangeOfficial data source
Gauge observedChecking
Paddle Today updatedChecking
Main source behind this scoreMN DNR river-level interpretation bands for Cannon River at Northfield
Gauge sourceChecking
Weather sourceChecking
Rainfall sourceChecking
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.

  • DNR recommended one-way8.5 mi, Wilderness Area to Riverside City Park

    MN DNR lists Cannon River Wilderness Area Carry-in Access to Riverside City Park in Northfield as a recommended one-way paddle.

    Source

  • Public access recordsWAS01381 to WAS01379

    Minnesota public-water-access GIS resolves the Wilderness Area and Riverside City Park / Highway 3 public access sites with coordinates and river-mile records.

    Source

  • Official DNR bands88 / 202-2,730 / 3,710 cfs

    MN DNR interprets the Northfield gauge as Scrapable below 88 cfs, Low from 88 to 202, Medium from 202 to 2,730, High from 2,730 to 3,710, and Very High above 3,710.

    Source

  • Current gauge check855 cfs at 2026-07-23 10:45 CDT

    The current MN DNR feed placed the direct Northfield gauge in the official medium band during this run.

    Source

  • Camping and dam contextWilderness watercraft campsites; Northfield dam below take-out

    DNR Cannon maps show Wilderness-area campsite amenities upstream and a 10-foot Northfield Dam just below Riverside City Park with no developed portage.

    Source

Verify it yourselfCheck the source links

Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.

Reports

Paddler reports

See recent photos and notes from people on the route.

Share your trip

Help build the route page

Add photos or send a quick condition report.

Photos

Upload route photos

Add access, hazard, or on-water photos.

No files selected yet.

Keep exploring

More routes to check next

Compare another stretch on this river, or jump to nearby options before you pick a plan.

More in Minnesota

All 232 routes
Minnesota route guideBrowse every tracked Minnesota route.Southern MinnesotaJump to routes in this region.

More on Cannon River

All 5
Cannon Falls to WelchSoutheast MinnesotaEasy · 11.75 miFaribault to DundasSouthern MinnesotaEasy · 13.75 miLake Byllesby Dam to Highway 61Southeast MinnesotaModerate · About 20.8 miRiverside Park to Miesville Ravine County ParkSoutheast MinnesotaEasy · About 6.9 mi

Nearby routes by distance

Straight RiverKrogh's Landing to Faribault · about 9 mi awayModerate · 10 miStraight RiverMedford City Park to Kroghs Landing · about 13 mi awayModerate · About 7.0 miStraight RiverCounty Road 45 to Medford City Park · about 15 mi awayModerate · About 3.7 miNorth Fork Zumbro RiverCovered Bridge Park to Walking Bridge Park · about 28 mi awayModerate · About 9.5 mi

Quick answers

Cannon River paddling FAQ

What water level is good for paddling Cannon River?

Paddle Today watches Cannon River at Northfield, 2nd St West and treats 202 cfs to 2,730 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 Wilderness Area carry-in and ends at Riverside City Park / Highway 3 access, about About 8.5 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.

Report a changeEmail update