Wisconsin | Western Wisconsin
Kinnickinnic RiverGlen Park to Kinnickinnic State Park
Clear, fast, bluff-lined Class II day paddle where the main call is whether the River Falls gauge is clearly above a scrape-heavy floor and whether your group is ready for sustained swiftwater plus a steep carry out.
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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
Put in below the second River Falls dam at Glen Park and finish at the state-park beach where the Kinnickinnic meets the St. Croix. This is a beautiful but committed swiftwater day, not a casual scenic float.
Access map
Put-in
Glen Park (River Falls)The Glen Park launch is reached by a footpath and staircase down the bluff, not by a polished ramp, so expect a real carry to the river.
Take-out
St. Croix River beach / concrete take-out at Kinnickinnic State ParkThe official state-park take-out is followed by a steep carry back up to the main parking area. Bring a cart or plan for the climb before you launch.
Road shuttle
Car shuttle is simplest. The road shuttle is about 10.5 miles, and the state-park finish is much easier if you bring a boat cart for the carry out.
More route and safety guidance
- Anglers, strainers after storms, and cold water outside peak summer require conservative decisions.
- Both launch and take-out involve real carries; confirm the group can manage steep access before launching.
Plan this paddle
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Conditions
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Recent trend
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Gauge source
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Weather
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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
Kinnickinnic River near River Falls, WI. This view may be outside your paddling reach. Images are periodic and do not establish safe conditions.
Photos and recent reports
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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 | Kinnickinnic River near River Falls, WI |
| Discharge | Checking |
| Gauge height | Checking |
| 24h trend | Checking |
| 24h change | Checking |
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| Rain last 24h | Checking |
| Rain last 72h | Checking |
| Air temp | Checking |
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| Wind | Checking |
| Gusts | Checking |
| Rain timing | Checking |
| Preferred range | 175 cfs to 225 cfs |
| Low threshold | 125 cfs |
| High threshold | 250 cfs |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Local route guidance |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | MilesPaddled and Wisconsin River Trips Kinnickinnic flow notes |
| 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.
- Scrape-heavy trip day125 cfs
MilesPaddled ran the full River Falls to state-park route at 125 cfs and described it as doable but scrape-prone.
- Practical minimum~175 cfs
The same source says about 175 cfs is the better minimum for a fun run that is less damaging to boats.
- DifficultyClass II swiftwater
The route stays lively for miles below River Falls before easing near the St. Croix.
- Launch supportOfficial Glen Park corridor launch shown on city map
River Falls city mapping for the Kinni Trail System shows a canoe and kayak launch in the Glen Park corridor, which strengthens the below-dam put-in story beyond community trip notes alone.
- Supplemental high-water caution250+ cfs may get pushy
Wisconsin River Trips treats roughly 250 cfs and above at River Falls as the point where this lower Kinni run may become too pushy and murky for a typical day.
- Take-out frictionSteep carry and park admission
The state-park finish uses the official concrete take-out but requires a steep carry back to the parking area and a Wisconsin state-park pass.
Verify it yourselfCheck the source links
Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
- City of River Falls Glen Park
- City of River Falls mapping portal
- City of River Falls Kinni Trail System map
- Wisconsin DNR Kinnickinnic State Park
- Wisconsin DNR Kinnickinnic State Park map
- Wisconsin DNR Kinnickinnic River Gorge and Delta SNA
- Wisconsin DNR Kinnickinnic River Fishery Area
- USGS 05342000 monitoring location
- Wisconsin River Trips Kinnickinnic segment notes
- MilesPaddled Kinnickinnic River
Other routes nearby
Nearby routes within 75 miles
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