See all 10 routes on Little Fork River
Minnesota | Northern Minnesota
Little Fork RiverVeterans Park to Highway 73 Bridge
Long northern Little Fork day from Veterans Park in Cook to the Highway 73 bridge. MN DNR recommends the exact route for experienced paddlers, and the Highway 73 gauge gives it a direct official flow ladder.
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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
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.
Access map
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.
Road shuttle
Plan a rural two-car shuttle from Veterans Park in Cook to the Highway 73 bridge near Linden Grove. The take-out is next to the DNR gauge and bridge parking, but services are limited.
Additional access notes
- Much of the Little Fork shoreline is private. Use the named accesses and mapped portage locations, and follow posted property restrictions.
More route and safety guidance
- Finish at the Highway 73 carry-in. Hannine Falls, a mapped Class VI hazard with a portage, is about 3.2 river miles downstream and is not part of this route.
- River levels can change rapidly. Check the direct Highway 73 gauge and recent river conditions before launch, and use only designated access or portage locations because much of the shoreline is private.
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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.
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Data behind the scoreWater levels, published guidance and update times
These readings and published water-level limits help explain today’s score.
| Gauge site | Little Fork River nr Linden Grove, TH73 |
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| Preferred range | 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 |
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NotesPublished evidence and verification notes
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.
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