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Minnesota | Mississippi Headwaters

Mississippi River

County Road 12 Dam to County Road 25

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Today

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Today's conditions

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Quick facts

On-water distance3.8 miCounty Road 12 Dam to County Road 25
DifficultymoderateThe mileage is short, but the route begins at a dam/portage boundary, includes Island Point Rapids Class I with no established portage, and requires a clean County Road 25 take-out before continuing downstream.
ShuttleCar shuttleStage County Road 25 first, then return to the County Road 12 access. Launch below the dam/portage boundary and confirm the short take-out before putting on.
PermitsNone notedNo route-specific paddling permit is known. Follow Minnesota boating/PFD rules, use MN DNR public accesses, and obey posted dam, portage, and campsite rules.
CampingDay tripIsland Point is a mapped watercraft campsite inside this short reach, but this should usually be treated as a short day trip. Use the campsite only if legal, available, and appropriate for a confirmed overnight plan.
SeasonMay-OctUse this as a short open-water-season trip when Stump Lake is in band and the dam portage/launch area is clearly usable. Low water exposes Island Point Rapids; high or rising water makes the dam boundary, bridge current, and wood less forgiving.

Plan

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Use this section once the route looks viable and you need to turn it into an actual trip plan.

Access plan

Access, shuttle, and map

Launch below the County Road 12 Dam and take out at County Road 25 for a compact Map 1 Mississippi headwaters route. The direct Stump Lake gauge is current and in medium, but dam discipline and Island Point Rapids scouting are the go/no-go details.

DirectionsApple MapsOpenStreetMap
Start

Put-in

Mississippi River, County Road 12 Public Water Access SiteOpen map

The put-in is at the County Road 12 Dam access and gauge. Do not launch upstream of the dam or treat the portage approach as casual water.

Finish

Take-out

Mississippi River, County Road 25 Public Water Access SiteOpen map

County Road 25 is the required take-out for this card. Missing it changes the route into a separate downstream lake/river transition plan.

Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.

Access caveats and watch for

Access caveats

  • The put-in is at the County Road 12 Dam access and gauge. Do not launch upstream of the dam or treat the portage approach as casual water.
  • County Road 25 is the required take-out for this card. Missing it changes the route into a separate downstream lake/river transition plan.
  • Both endpoints resolve as DNR-administered public accesses, but parking and landing condition should still be checked before leaving the shuttle vehicle.

Watch for

  • Dam-adjacent current and wrong-side launch choices at County Road 12.
  • Island Point Rapids Class I, shallow rock at low water, bridge current, fresh wood, cold water, and private banks.
  • High or rising Stump Lake readings, when the dam boundary and short take-out become less forgiving.

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Sources

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Read quality
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Why this scoreToday's data confidence is checking

Data confidence mostly comes down to three things: how direct the gauge is, how clear the range is, and how fresh the data is.

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OutlookTomorrow and weekend

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Data behind the scoreGauge, thresholds, and timing

These are the live readings and threshold notes behind today's score.

Gauge siteStump Lake near Bemidji, CSAH12
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Rain last 24hChecking
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Target band2.80 ft to 3.60 ft
Low threshold1.80 ft
High threshold5.00 ft
Data confidence behind the rangeOfficial data source
Gauge observedChecking
Paddle Today updatedChecking
Main source behind this scoreMN DNR river-level interpretation bands for Stump Lake near Bemidji
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Weather sourceChecking
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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 map routeCounty Road 12 Dam RM 1277.7 to County Road 25 RM 1273.9, 3.8 miles

    MN DNR Map 1 labels the County Road 12 Dam access, 125-yard right-bank portage, river-level gauge, Island Point campsite, Island Point Rapids Class I, and County Road 25 carry-in access.

    Source

  • Public access recordsWAS00096 to WAS00729

    Minnesota public-water-access GIS resolves County Road 12 and County Road 25 as DNR-administered public accesses with coordinates, launch data, parking, directions, and river miles.

    Source

  • Official DNR bands1.8 / 2.8-3.6 / 5.0 ft

    MN DNR interprets Stump Lake / County Road 12 as Scrapable below 1.8 ft, Low from 1.8 to 2.8, Medium from 2.8 to 3.6, High from 3.6 to 5.0, and Very High above 5.0.

    Source

  • Current gauge check2.99 ft at 2026-07-23 01:30 CDT

    The current MN DNR feed placed Stump Lake in the official medium band during this run.

    Source

  • Camping contextIsland Point watercraft campsite

    DNR Map 1 marks Island Point watercraft campsite inside this short reach; use only if legal, available, and appropriate for the trip plan.

    Source

Verify it yourselfCheck the source links

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Keep exploring

More routes to check next

Compare another stretch on this river, or jump to nearby options before you pick a plan.

More in Minnesota

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Nearby routes by distance

Crow Wing RiverHuntersville North to Mary Brown · about 49 mi awayModerate · 7.3 miCrow Wing RiverMary Brown to Cottingham County Park · about 54 mi awayModerate · 25.8 miCrow Wing RiverMary Brown to Frame's Landing · about 54 mi awayModerate · 10.9 miCrow Wing RiverMary Brown to Stigman's Mound · about 54 mi awayModerate · 9.6 mi

Quick answers

Mississippi River paddling FAQ

What water level is good for paddling Mississippi River?

Paddle Today watches Stump Lake near Bemidji, CSAH12 and treats 2.80 ft to 3.60 ft as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.

Where does this Mississippi River route start and end?

This route starts at Mississippi River, County Road 12 Public Water Access Site and ends at Mississippi River, County Road 25 Public Water Access Site, about 3.8 mi on the water.

Is this Mississippi 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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