See all 4 routes on Kettle River
Minnesota | East Central Minnesota
Kettle River#5 trailer access to #6 trailer access
Lower-Kettle day trip that is mostly flatwater, but still runoff-sensitive and noticeably pushier when the Sandstone gauge climbs.
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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
The official Map 2 reach is a mostly-flatwater day trip with one Class I rapid around river mile 11. Use the Sandstone gauge as a trend check and stay conservative after rain.
Access map
Put-in
#5 trailer access (Kettle River State Water Trail - Map 2)The route pair and mileage are backed by MN DNR Map 2, but landing amenities and seasonal closures still need on-site confirmation.
Take-out
#6 trailer access (Kettle River State Water Trail - Map 2)Verify parking and launch conditions at both trailer accesses before you leave a shuttle vehicle.
Road shuttle
Plan a car shuttle. Exact driving distance varies by route taken, so confirm your pickup plan before launching.
More route and safety guidance
- The Kettle responds dramatically to rain. Recheck the gauge and weather immediately before launch, and avoid high or rising water beyond the group's moving-water skills.
Plan this paddle
Choose your trip times
No account needed. Check the selected access points above, then choose both dates and times. For an overnight paddle, set take-out to the following date.
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Conditions
Check how the river is changing and what weather to expect.
Recent trend
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Gauge source
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Weather
Hourly forecast
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Next 8 hours
Short-route forecast
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Plan ahead
Tomorrow and the weekend
Forecasts can change. Check current conditions again before leaving.
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Station details and river cameras
Station observations
USGS measurements
Measurement notes and coverage
These are observations at the station. Water depth and current can differ along your trip.
River camera · USGS
View at the gauge
Kettle River near Sandstone, MN. This view may be outside your paddling reach. Images are periodic and do not establish safe conditions.
Photos and recent reports
Look for recent access, obstruction and hazard observations. Context photos may show a different part of the river.
Paddler reports
Recent notes from paddlers
A few quick notes from people who were on this route recently.
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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.
- Checking data sources and update times.
- Checking evidence cautions.
Data behind the scoreWater levels, published guidance and update times
These readings and published water-level limits help explain today’s score.
| Gauge site | Kettle River near Sandstone, MN |
| 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 |
| Preferred range | 6.00 ft to 10.00 ft |
| Low threshold | 6.00 ft |
| High threshold | 10.00 ft |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Official and local sources |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | American Whitewater Lower Kettle gauge info |
| 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.
- Working gauge band6.0 to 10.0 ft
American Whitewater lists this as the Lower Kettle gauge range at Sandstone for the same reach family.
- DNR route contextMostly flat water, one Class I rapid
MN DNR Map 2 describes the #5 to #6 day trip as mostly flat water with a noted Class I rapid around river mile 11.
- Flow styleRunoff sensitive
The Sandstone gauge trend matters almost as much as the current reading because this reach responds to rain and spring runoff.
- DifficultyModerate
This is not technical whitewater, but it is still a longer river day that deserves respect once levels rise.
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 Kettle River
All 4Nearby routes within 75 miles
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