Minnesota | Duluth Area
Cloquet River
Indian Lake Access to Bear Lake Road
Check current paddling conditions for this Cloquet 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 Indian Lake and take out at Bear Lake Road for the official DNR Map 2 day trip. The Brimson DNR gauge was in the official low band during this run, below preferred medium water, so expect shallow rock in places.
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
Cloquet River, Indian Lake Public Water Access SiteIndian Lake resolves in Minnesota public-water-access GIS as WAS01629 at DNR river mile 71.8.
Take-out
Cloquet River, Severson Landing / Bear Lake Road Public Water Access SiteSeverson Landing / Bear Lake Road resolves as WAS01633 at DNR river mile 61.5.
Plan this segment
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Indian Lake resolves in Minnesota public-water-access GIS as WAS01629 at DNR river mile 71.8.
- Severson Landing / Bear Lake Road resolves as WAS01633 at DNR river mile 61.5.
- Camp G Rapids is mapped as Class II with a portage option; inspect from shore and portage if the line, wood, or level is not appropriate for the group.
Watch for
- Class I-II rapids, Camp G Rapids, portages, exposed rocks, and shallow riffles at low Brimson stages.
- Fast rises after rain, fresh wood, strainers, cold water, and limited road access between landings.
- Private shoreland away from DNR accesses and designated/legal watercraft campsites.
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 | Cloquet River near Brimson, CSAH44 |
| Gauge height | Checking |
| Discharge | 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 | 1487.00 ft to 1489.50 ft |
| Low threshold | 1485.00 ft |
| High threshold | 1491.00 ft |
| 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 Cloquet River near Brimson |
| 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 tripIndian Lake RM 71.8 to Bear Lake Road RM 61.5, 10.3 miles
MN DNR lists Indian Lake Access to Bear Lake Road as a recommended Map 2 trip with Class II Camp G Rapids about halfway and several public campsites.
- Public access recordsWAS01629 to WAS01633
Minnesota public-water-access GIS resolves Indian Lake and Severson Landing / Bear Lake Road with DNR administration, river miles, coordinates, and directions.
- Official DNR bands1485 / 1487-1489.5 / 1491 ft
MN DNR interprets the Brimson gauge as Scrapable below 1485 ft, Low from 1485 to 1487, Medium from 1487 to 1489.5, High from 1489.5 to 1491, and Very High above 1491.
- Current gauge check1486.05 ft at 2026-07-22 23:45 CDT
The current MN DNR feed placed Brimson in the official low band during this run, below the preferred medium band.
- Camping and hazardsPrimitive watercraft campsites; Class I-II rapids and portages
DNR Map 2 identifies watercraft campsites, Camp G Rapids Class II with a 330-yard portage, and river-wide Class I-II rapid and fast-rise caveats.
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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Quick answers
Cloquet River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Cloquet River?
Paddle Today watches Cloquet River near Brimson, CSAH44 and treats 1487.00 ft to 1489.50 ft as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.
Where does this Cloquet River route start and end?
This route starts at Cloquet River, Indian Lake Public Water Access Site and ends at Cloquet River, Severson Landing / Bear Lake Road Public Water Access Site, about About 10.3 mi on the water.
Is this Cloquet River route good for beginners?
This is listed as a hard route. Treat the live score as a planning aid, then confirm conditions, hazards, access, and group skill before launching.
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