See all 4 routes on Chippewa River
Minnesota | West Central Minnesota
Chippewa RiverSwift County Access to Norby Landing
Upper Chippewa public-access day from the Benson-area Swift County access to Norby Landing, using the direct MN DNR Benson gauge and public-water-access river miles instead of duplicating the already-live Lentz and Lagoon cards.
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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 at the Swift County public access and take out at Norby Landing for an 11.9-mile upper-Chippewa day above the existing Lentz-to-Watson route. The Benson DNR gauge is directly on this reach and publishes official paddling bands.
Access map
Put-in
Chippewa River, Swift County Public Water Access SiteMinnesota public-water-access GIS resolves the Swift County access as WAS01373 near Chippewa River mile 52.0 and Norby Landing as WAS01651 near river mile 40.1.
Take-out
Chippewa River, Norby Landing Public Water Access SiteThis is a rural access-to-access day with limited public bailout. Keep stops to clearly public landings unless you have permission.
Road shuttle
Set a rural two-car shuttle from Norby Landing back to the Benson-area Swift County access. Inspect Norby first because the take-out is a dedicated public access but the surrounding banks are private.
Additional access notes
- The route is not a campground route; camping must be arranged separately off-route.
More route and safety guidance
- Use the named Swift County and Norby public accesses only. Do not assume private farm banks are legal bailout, rest, or camping points.
- Wind, shallow riffles, muddy banks, and outside-bend wood can slow the 11.9-mile day when the gauge is in the low band.
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Conditions
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Recent trend
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Gauge source
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Photos and recent reports
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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 | Chippewa River at Benson, US12 |
| 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 |
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| Wind | Checking |
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| Rain timing | Checking |
| Preferred range | 482 cfs to 942 cfs |
| Low threshold | 135 cfs |
| High threshold | 1,641 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 Chippewa River at Benson |
| 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.
- Public access recordsWAS01373 to WAS01651
Minnesota public-water-access GIS resolves Swift County access at river mile 52.0 and Norby Landing at river mile 40.1, supporting an 11.9-mile public-access day.
- Official DNR bands135 / 482-942 / 1641 cfs
MN DNR interprets the Benson gauge as Scrapable below 135 cfs, Low from 135 to 482, Medium from 482 to 942, High from 942 to 1641, and Very High above 1641.
- Gauge check during route review · 2026-07-16375 cfs at 2026-07-16 23:30
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.
- Route characterMostly flatwater with Class I features
MN DNR describes the Chippewa as mostly flat with some Class I rapids and notes snags and fallen trees in current river-level guidance.
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
More on Chippewa River
All 4Nearby routes within 75 miles
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