See all 10 routes on Little Fork River
Minnesota | Northern Minnesota
Little Fork River
Veterans Park to Highway 73 Bridge
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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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
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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 Veterans Park in Cook and take out at the Highway 73 bridge. MN DNR recommends this 15.2-mile Little Fork route for paddlers with experience running Class II rapids.
Prepare this trip
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Put-in
Veterans Park carry-in access, CookVeterans Park is the practical town-side put-in, while the downstream Highway 73 bridge access is a bridge/gauge-area carry-in rather than a developed park.
Take-out
Highway 73 bridge carry-in accessCheck weather, daylight, the direct Highway 73 gauge, and shuttle reliability before launch; this is a long rural route with limited services.
Plan this segment
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Veterans Park is the practical town-side put-in, while the downstream Highway 73 bridge access is a bridge/gauge-area carry-in rather than a developed park.
- Check weather, daylight, the direct Highway 73 gauge, and shuttle reliability before launch; this is a long rural route with limited services.
- Much of the Little Fork shoreline is private. Use the named accesses and mapped portage locations, and follow posted property restrictions.
Watch for
- Multiple rock riffles and Class I-II rapids; scout larger rapids before committing.
- Scrapable or too-shallow rapids when the Highway 73/Linden Grove flow falls toward the low band.
- Downed trees and sweepers after storms or rapid level changes.
- Take out at Highway 73. Class VI Hannine Falls is mapped about 3.2 river miles downstream and is not part of this route.
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 | Little Fork River nr Linden Grove, TH73 |
| 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 | 175 cfs to 500 cfs |
| Low threshold | 100 cfs |
| High threshold | 1,000 cfs |
| Evidence strength 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 Little Fork River near Linden Grove |
| 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 bands100 / 175-500 / 1,000 cfs
MN DNR interprets the Linden Grove / Highway 73 gauge as Scrapable below 100 cfs, Low from 100 to 175, Medium from 175 to 500, High from 500 to 1,000, and Very High above 1,000.
- Recommended trip15.2 river miles
MN DNR recommends Veterans Park to Highway 73 bridge as a 15.2-mile Little Fork route for paddlers with experience running Class II rapids.
- Map supportVeterans Park RM 142 to Highway 73 RM 126.8
DNR Map 1 places Veterans Park carry-in at river mile 142.0 and Highway 73 bridge carry-in at river mile 126.8, with the river level gauge at the take-out bridge.
- Route characterClass I-II rapids and rock riffles
DNR says to expect several rock riffles and multiple rapids, and to scout larger rapids before attempting them.
- Downstream boundaryHannine Falls at river mile 123.6
The planned Highway 73 take-out is at river mile 126.8. DNR Map 1 places Class VI Hannine Falls about 3.2 river miles downstream and marks a river-right portage, so paddlers should not continue past the route finish without a separate plan.
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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Quick answers
Little Fork River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Little Fork River?
Paddle Today watches Little Fork River nr Linden Grove, TH73 and treats 175 cfs to 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 Veterans Park carry-in access, Cook and ends at Highway 73 bridge carry-in access, about 15.2 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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