Minnesota | North Shore
Knife River
County Road 102 to Knife River Beach
Check current paddling conditions for this Knife 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
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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 the County Road 102 bridge, paddle the full American Whitewater Knife River reach, and finish on river right at Minnesota DNR's public Knife River Beach carry-in access.
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.
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
County Road 102 Knife River bridgeCounty Road 102 is a bridge put-in rather than a developed launch. Inspect the bank, parking, and any posted restrictions before unloading.
Take-out
Knife River Beach carry-in accessAt the mouth, land on river right at Knife River Beach. Do not use private river-left property or substitute the marina basin unless current local rules explicitly allow it.
Plan this segment
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- County Road 102 is a bridge put-in rather than a developed launch. Inspect the bank, parking, and any posted restrictions before unloading.
- At the mouth, land on river right at Knife River Beach. Do not use private river-left property or substitute the marina basin unless current local rules explicitly allow it.
- The USGS gauge is direct and near the route finish, but flow bands remain community guidance; verify the hydrograph trend and visible bridge conditions.
Watch for
- Cables, sweepers, fresh wood, and a 6- to 7-foot ledge after the easier opening miles.
- The major Highway 61 drop sequence, possible low-head structures, difficult hydraulics, and changing portage lines.
- Lake Superior surf, wind, fog, cold water, and the ability to reach the public beach safely at the finish.
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 | Knife River near Two Harbors, MN |
| 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 | 400 cfs to 700 cfs |
| Low threshold | 200 cfs |
| High threshold | 1,000 cfs |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Local route guidance |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | American Whitewater Knife River flow bands |
| 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.
- Reach and difficulty6.2 miles; Class II-III(IV)
American Whitewater documents the County Road 102 start, progressive whitewater, ledges, Highway 61 sequence, and Lake Superior finish.
- Direct flow model200 / 400 / 700 / 1,000 cfs
American Whitewater ties low, medium, high, and above-recommended bands to USGS 04015330, located near the end of the run.
- Public finishKnife River Beach carry-in access
Minnesota DNR Lake Superior Water Trail Map 1 identifies public carry-in access, parking, a toilet, and a sand-and-pebble beach at the Knife River mouth.
- Current gauge check4 cfs at 2026-08-01 10:00 CDT
USGS instantaneous values and American Whitewater both reported the direct gauge far below the 200 cfs runnable floor during qualification.
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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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
Knife River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Knife River?
Paddle Today watches Knife River near Two Harbors, MN and treats 400 cfs to 700 cfs as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.
Where does this Knife River route start and end?
This route starts at County Road 102 Knife River bridge and ends at Knife River Beach carry-in access, about About 6.2 mi on the water.
Is this Knife 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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Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.