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Minnesota | Mississippi Headwaters
Mississippi RiverCoffee Pot Landing to Bear Den
Upper Mississippi Map 1 connector from Coffee Pot Landing to Bear Den, threading wetland channels, Stumphges Rapids Class I, watercraft campsite options, and the Wilton interpreted DNR gauge.
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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 Coffee Pot Landing and finish at Bear Den for a long upper-Mississippi headwaters day through wetland channels and Stumphges Rapids. Use Wilton as a downstream same-map DNR gauge proxy and make same-day vegetation and wood checks.
Access map
Put-in
Mississippi River, Coffee Pot Landing Public Water Access SiteCoffee Pot and Bear Den are both DNR-administered public accesses in the Minnesota public-water-access layer, but the landings are rural and should be checked before the shuttle is committed.
Take-out
Mississippi River, Bear Den Public Water Access SiteThe reach passes through a large wetland area where vegetation can obscure the best channel. Do not shortcut across private banks or side channels just because the river looks braided.
Road shuttle
Stage Bear Den first, then drive back to Coffee Pot Landing. Identify Bear Den from the DNR access road before launching because public exits are sparse between the named landings.
Additional access notes
- Bear Den is the planned finish. Continuing to Iron Bridge is a separate route with a different shuttle and gauge relationship.
More route and safety guidance
- Stumphges Rapids are Class I for two half-mile segments. Scout or walk if low water, wood, or group skill makes the line unclear.
- Use designated campsites and public accesses only. Riverbed camping next to private property is not permitted, and private shoreland is common outside marked stops.
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Conditions
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Photos and recent reports
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Recent notes from paddlers
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Sources and methodology
Review source dates and published guidance below. We have not inspected this trip in person.
NotesPublished evidence and verification notes
These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.
- Official map routeCoffee Pot RM 1326.2 to Bear Den RM 1311.4, 14.8 miles
MN DNR Map 1 labels Coffee Pot Landing, Brownie watercraft campsite, Stumphges Rapids, Bear Den, and the wetland caution area on this headwaters corridor.
- Public access recordsWAS00730 to WAS02254
Minnesota public-water-access GIS resolves Coffee Pot Landing and Bear Den as DNR-administered public accesses with coordinates, launch data, directions, and river miles.
- Official DNR bands39.1 / 40.0-42.5 / 45.0 ft
MN DNR interprets the Wilton gauge as Scrapable below 39.1 ft, Low from 39.1 to 40.0, Medium from 40.0 to 42.5, High from 42.5 to 45.0, and Very High above 45.0.
- Gauge check during route review · 2026-07-2341.69 ft at 2026-07-23 01:30 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 safety rulesDesignated campsites only; riverbed camping next to private property not permitted
DNR Map 1 includes watercraft camping rules plus watercraft campsites at Coffee Pot and Brownie in this route area.
Verify it yourselfCheck the source links
Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
Other routes nearby
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