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See all 10 routes on Little Fork River

Minnesota | Northern Minnesota

Little Fork River

Lofgren Park to Kuttes Landing

Check current paddling conditions for this Little Fork River route, including water level, recent gauge trend, weather, and route details.

Route location

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Open access map
DistanceAbout 21.8 mi
DifficultyModerate
Typical timeAbout 7 hr to 10 hr
ShuttleCar shuttle
The Little Fork River tumbles through a rocky rapid below tree-lined banks near Cook, Minnesota.
River contextLittle Fork River below the rapids near Cook river-level photo — not necessarily this exact reach.Photo by Minnesota State University Moorhead via DPLA/Wikimedia Commons

Need to know

Why this call
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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

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Weather

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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

On-water distanceAbout 21.8 miLofgren Park to Kuttes Landing
DifficultymoderateThis is a long lower-river commitment with rapids near Highway 217, rapidly changing water levels, limited intermediate public exits, and a Rainy River finish.
ShuttleCar shuttleStage Kuttes Landing near Pelland first, then drive back to Lofgren Park in Littlefork. Build in time for the Rainy River finish and for checking Highway 217 rapids before committing.
PermitsNone notedNo route-specific paddling permit is known. Follow Minnesota boating/PFD rules, use only public or permissioned stops, and obey City of Littlefork campground rules if camping at Lofgren Park.
CampingOptions nearbyLofgren Park is documented by DNR as a city campground with trailer access, toilets, drinking water, picnic shelter, and a camping fee. No intermediate public campsite is assumed on the lower run.
SeasonMay-SepDNR notes that Little Fork flows usually peak in late April and fall through summer; rapids may become impassable in summer unless rain has raised the river.

Plan ahead

Upcoming outlook

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TomorrowChecking

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WeekendChecking

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Plan

Plan your trip

Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.

Route logistics

Access and shuttle

Launch from Lofgren Park and paddle the lower Little Fork to the Rainy River confluence, then finish at Kuttes Landing. This is a long, remote-feeling route that depends on the direct Little Fork DNR gauge and local rapid checks.

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Prepare this trip

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Start

Put-in

Little Fork River, Lofgren Park Public Water Access Site
Open map

Lofgren Park resolves as WAS02245 near DNR river mile 21 and Kuttes resolves as WAS02155 on the Rainy River in Pelland.

Finish

Take-out

Rainy River, Kuttes Public Water Access Site
Open map

DNR Map 2 places rapids and the river-level gauge near the Highway 217 bridge just upstream of the main lower route commitment.

Plan this segment

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End of map
Access caveats and watch for

Access caveats

  • Lofgren Park resolves as WAS02245 near DNR river mile 21 and Kuttes resolves as WAS02155 on the Rainy River in Pelland.
  • DNR Map 2 places rapids and the river-level gauge near the Highway 217 bridge just upstream of the main lower route commitment.
  • The take-out is not at the Little Fork mouth itself; plan the extra Rainy River travel to Kuttes Landing and account for wind or motorboat traffic.

Watch for

  • Rapids near Highway 217, rapidly changing levels, strainers, cold water, and remote rescue exposure.
  • Scrapable conditions below the official 400 cfs floor; DNR notes summer rapids may be impassable without recent rain.
  • Rainy River wind, current, motor traffic, border-water exposure, and long mileage fatigue.

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.

The Little Fork River tumbles through a rocky rapid below tree-lined banks near Cook, Minnesota.
Little Fork River below the rapids near Cook river-level photo — not necessarily this exact reach.Photo by Minnesota State University Moorhead via DPLA/Wikimedia Commons
Public domain

Score & sources

Why this score

See the gauge, weather, and source notes behind today's call.

Read quality
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Gauge inputChecking

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Weather inputChecking

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Next stepChecking

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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.

Why
  • Checking evidence-strength notes.
Data behind the scoreGauge, thresholds, and timing

These are the live readings and threshold notes behind today's score.

Gauge siteLittle Fork River at Little Fork, MN
DischargeChecking
Gauge heightChecking
24h trendChecking
24h changeChecking
Current bandChecking
Rain last 24hChecking
Rain last 72hChecking
Air tempChecking
Water tempChecking
WindChecking
GustsChecking
Rain timingChecking
Target band600 cfs to 1,500 cfs
Low threshold400 cfs
High threshold2,100 cfs
Evidence strength behind the rangeOfficial data source
Gauge observedChecking
Paddle Today updatedChecking
Main source behind this scoreMN DNR river-level interpretation bands for Little Fork River at Little Fork
Gauge sourceChecking
Weather sourceChecking
Rainfall sourceChecking
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 route shapeLofgren Park RM 20.8 to Rainy River mouth plus Kuttes Landing

    MN DNR Little Fork Map 2 places Lofgren Park, Highway 217 rapids and gauge, the Rainy River confluence, and Kuttes Landing in sequence.

    Source

  • Public access recordsLofgren Park WAS02245 to Kuttes WAS02155

    Minnesota public-water-access GIS resolves both staging points with official names, administrators, and coordinates.

    Source

  • Official DNR bands400 / 600-1500 / 2100 cfs

    MN DNR interprets Little Fork at Little Fork as Scrapable below 400 cfs, Low from 400 to 600, Medium from 600 to 1500, High from 1500 to 2100, and Very High above 2100.

    Source

  • Current gauge check86.5 cfs at 2026-07-23 16:30 CDT

    The current MN DNR feed placed Little Fork at Little Fork below the official scrapable floor during this run.

    Source

Verify it yourselfCheck the source links

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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.

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Nearby routes by distance

Big Fork RiverGowdy Landing to Reedy Flats · about 14 mi awayModerate · 33.7 miBig Fork RiverBig Falls West to Kueffners Landing · about 18 mi awayModerate · 22.2 miBig Fork RiverBen Linn Landing to Ivan Crawford Landing · about 18 mi awayModerate · 34.0 miBig Fork RiverHighway 6 North to Johnson Landing · about 27 mi awayModerate · About 8.3 mi

Quick answers

Little Fork River paddling FAQ

What water level is good for paddling Little Fork River?

Paddle Today watches Little Fork River at Little Fork, MN and treats 600 cfs to 1,500 cfs as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.

Where does this Little Fork River route start and end?

This route starts at Little Fork River, Lofgren Park Public Water Access Site and ends at Rainy River, Kuttes Public Water Access Site, about About 21.8 mi on the water.

Is this Little Fork 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.

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