See all 11 routes on Crow Wing River
Minnesota | Brainerd Lakes Area
Crow Wing River
Green Oak Landing to Lake Placid Reservoir Landing #3
Check current paddling conditions for this Crow Wing River route, including water level, recent gauge trend, weather, and route details.
Route snapshot
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Today
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Start with the verdict, current conditions, route plan, and quick facts before you commit to the drive.
Today's conditions
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
Best window today
Checking weather.
Today by hour
Short-route forecast
Checking the next several hours.
Quick facts
Plan
Dial in the shuttle, distance, and access.
Use this section once the route looks viable and you need to turn it into an actual trip plan.
Access plan
Access, shuttle, and map
Launch at Green Oak, pass Truck Station and Al Vah, and finish at Lake Placid Reservoir Landing #3. The finish is immediately above Pillager Dam, so this card is only appropriate when the take-out is confirmed and conditions are controlled.
Plan a shorter segmentOptional
Access planner
Pick a shorter segment
This changes launch and take-out logistics, not today's river score.
Peltier Lake to Long Lake is the full route. Shorter access pairs are useful when wind, time, or group energy changes the plan.
Put-in
Green Oak Landing carry-in accessOpen mapLake Placid Reservoir Landing #3 is the mandatory finish. DNR Map 2 places Pillager Dam just downstream, so do not miss the landing or continue casually.
Take-out
Lake Placid Reservoir Landing #3 public water accessOpen mapThe route transitions from river bends into Lake Placid Reservoir; wind, waves, boat traffic, and slower current can dominate the final miles.
Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Lake Placid Reservoir Landing #3 is the mandatory finish. DNR Map 2 places Pillager Dam just downstream, so do not miss the landing or continue casually.
- The route transitions from river bends into Lake Placid Reservoir; wind, waves, boat traffic, and slower current can dominate the final miles.
- The Sylvan Dam gauge is downstream of the route and below the dam corridor. Use the official bands as a lower-river guide, then make a local visual call before launching.
Watch for
- Pillager Dam immediately below the take-out and the consequences of drifting past Lake Placid Reservoir Landing #3.
- Reservoir wind, waves, fishing or motor traffic, and fatigue near the end of a long route.
- Sandbars, strainers, private banks, and faster current after rain in the upper half of the segment.
Route gallery
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Photos help show what the access looks like and what the route actually feels like on the water.
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Sources
Check the data behind today's call.
Use this section when the page shows stale data, limited confidence, or a call you want to verify before driving.
Why this scoreToday's data confidence is checking
Data confidence mostly comes down to three things: how direct the gauge is, how clear the range is, and how fresh the data is.
- Checking data confidence notes.
- Checking data confidence cautions.
OutlookTomorrow and weekend
This is a cautious early look. If the data is too thin, we leave it out.
Waiting on forecast.
Waiting on forecast.
Data behind the scoreGauge, thresholds, and timing
These are the live readings and threshold notes behind today's score.
| Gauge site | Crow Wing River near Pillager, Sylvan Dam |
| 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 | 800 cfs to 3,000 cfs |
| Low threshold | 400 cfs |
| High threshold | 5,000 cfs |
| Data confidence 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 Crow Wing River near Pillager / Sylvan Dam |
| 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.
- DNR bands400 / 800-3000 / 5000 cfs
MN DNR interprets the Sylvan Dam gauge as Scrapable below 400 cfs, Low from 400 to 800, Medium from 800 to 3,000, High from 3,000 to 5,000, and Very High above 5,000.
- Current gauge check1,150 cfs at 2026-07-17 06:45
The live MN DNR feed placed the Sylvan Dam gauge inside the official medium band during this run.
- Map supportGreen Oak RM 26.4 to Lake Placid RM 11.8
MN DNR Map 2 places Green Oak, Truck Station, Al Vah, Lake Placid Reservoir Landing #3, Placid Lake campsite, and Pillager Dam in downstream order.
- Mandatory dam boundaryPillager Dam RM 11.7
DNR Map 2 places Pillager Dam immediately below Lake Placid Reservoir Landing #3 and describes mapped portages; this card treats the landing as the required finish.
- Public access recordsWAS01756 / WAS02854 / WAS01949 / WAS01657
Minnesota public-water-access GIS resolves Green Oak, Truck Station, Al Vah, and Lake Placid Reservoir #3 with coordinates and public access records.
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
Photos, paddler notes, and updates.
See what others have shared, then add a condition report, upload photos, or flag anything that needs fixing.
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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
Crow Wing River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Crow Wing River?
Paddle Today watches Crow Wing River near Pillager, Sylvan Dam and treats 800 cfs to 3,000 cfs as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.
Where does this Crow Wing River route start and end?
This route starts at Green Oak Landing carry-in access and ends at Lake Placid Reservoir Landing #3 public water access, about 14.6 mi on the water.
Is this Crow Wing River route good for beginners?
This is listed as a moderate route. Expect more planning than an easy float, and use the live score, route notes, and source links before committing.
Flag a change
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Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.