Minnesota | Twin Cities West Metro
Minnehaha Creek
Gray's Bay to Longfellow Lagoon
Check current paddling conditions for this Minnehaha Creek 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
Checking the next several hours.
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
The official MCWD access list turns Minnehaha into a choose-your-segment corridor. Use the planner below instead of assuming one default put-in and take-out.
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
Gray's Bay headwatersMCWD says to respect private property and land only at designated sites. Several official access points are parks or roadside landings rather than formal ramps, so confirm parking and current closures before staging vehicles.
Take-out
Longfellow LagoonRequired portages around dams and lake transitions matter as much as the gauge on this creek.
Plan this segment
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- MCWD says to respect private property and land only at designated sites. Several official access points are parks or roadside landings rather than formal ramps, so confirm parking and current closures before staging vehicles.
- Required portages around dams and lake transitions matter as much as the gauge on this creek.
Watch for
- Low bridges, wood, rocks, and fast current after rain, especially when flows rise toward or above 150 cfs.
- Required portages around the Edina Mills dam, the 54th Street dam, and the Lake Nokomis transition.
- Urban access complexity. Use only the designated MCWD landing points rather than random bank openings.
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 | Minnehaha Creek at Hiawatha Ave. in Minneapolis, 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 | 75 cfs to 150 cfs |
| Low threshold | 75 cfs |
| High threshold | 150 cfs |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Official data source |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | Minnehaha Creek Watershed District paddling guidance |
| 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.
- Official band75 to 150 cfs
MCWD says ideal paddling conditions are when the Hiawatha gauge reads between 75 and 150 cfs.
- Below rangePoor
MCWD says below 75 cfs you may need to portage over portions of the creek.
- Above rangeDangerous
MCWD says above 150 cfs it becomes difficult to navigate through fast-moving rapids and under bridges.
- Trip length21.3 miles
MCWD treats the entire creek from Gray's Bay headwaters to Longfellow Lagoon as about 6 to 9 hours, with shorter official sub-segments in between.
- Required portagesEdina Mills, West 54th Street, and Lake Nokomis
The official MCWD creek map marks required portages around the Edina Mills and West 54th Street dams and a required carry into Lake Nokomis.
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.
Share your trip
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
Minnehaha Creek paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Minnehaha Creek?
Paddle Today watches Minnehaha Creek at Hiawatha Ave. in Minneapolis, MN and treats 75 cfs to 150 cfs as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.
Where does this Minnehaha Creek route start and end?
This route starts at Gray's Bay headwaters and ends at Longfellow Lagoon, about 21.3 mi on the water.
Is this Minnehaha Creek route good for beginners?
This is listed as an easy route, but conditions still matter. Check today's score, water level, weather, and access notes before you go.
Flag a change
See something outdated?
Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.