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Minnesota | St. Cloud Area
Mississippi RiverBeaver Island Trail Access to Clearwater
Official MN DNR State Wild and Scenic River day trip from Beaver Island Park through the island channels to Clearwater, using the St. Cloud interpreted gauge at the put-in corridor.
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Route overview
Trip details
Access rules, camping and seasonal notes.
Permits, camping and season
Access and shuttle
Launch at Beaver Island Trail Access and take out at Clearwater for DNR's 12.1-mile Map 8 day trip. The St. Cloud DNR river-level site is at the launch corridor and provides official interpreted bands for this island-channel reach.
Access map
Put-in
Mississippi River, Beaver Island Trail Public Water Access SiteBeaver Island Trail Access resolves as WAS01281 at river mile 925.8; Clearwater resolves as WAS01309 at river mile 913.7.
Take-out
Mississippi River, Clearwater Public Water Access SiteThe DNR map notes both public and private islands in this reach. Confirm campsite identity before landing or camping.
Road shuttle
Stage Clearwater first, then drive back to Beaver Island Trail Access in St. Cloud. Pick a main-channel plan before launching because side channels, islands, and private land can make informal exits confusing.
Additional access notes
- The St. Cloud gauge is just upstream in the launch corridor; use it for flow screening, then make a visual call at Beaver Island before committing to side channels.
More route and safety guidance
- Low water can make shallow riffles and side channels hard to read; high water can turn the same channels fast and debrisier.
- Confirm the Clearwater take-out before launch and leave daylight margin for a 12-mile shuttle with wind or low-water delays.
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Gauge source
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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 | Mississippi River at St. Cloud, MN |
| Discharge | Checking |
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| 24h trend | Checking |
| 24h change | Checking |
| Current band | Checking |
| Rain last 24h | Checking |
| Rain last 72h | Checking |
| Air temp | Checking |
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| Wind | Checking |
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| Rain timing | Checking |
| Preferred range | 3,000 cfs to 9,000 cfs |
| Low threshold | 2,000 cfs |
| High threshold | 12,000 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 Mississippi River at St. Cloud |
| Gauge source | Checking |
| Weather source | Checking |
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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.
- Recommended day tripBeaver Island RM 925.8 to Clearwater RM 913.7
MN DNR recommends Beaver Island Trail Access to Clearwater as a 12.1-mile Mississippi River day trip through island channels and bluff country.
- Public access recordsWAS01281 to WAS01309
Minnesota public-water-access GIS resolves Beaver Island and Clearwater with coordinates, administrators, and river-mile records.
- Official DNR bands2,000 / 3,000-9,000 / 12,000 cfs
MN DNR interprets St. Cloud as Scrapable below 2,000 cfs, Low from 2,000 to 3,000, Medium from 3,000 to 9,000, High from 9,000 to 12,000, and Very High above 12,000.
- Gauge check during route review · 2026-07-222,850 cfs at 2026-07-22 19:45 CDT
This reading was saved when we checked the guide. It is not today’s water level. Check the current gauge and local conditions before paddling.
- Camping and channel contextDNR campsites and island channels
MN DNR Map 8 and the segment page document primitive campsites, public/private islands, shallow riffles at low water, and faster current at high water.
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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