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Minnesota | Grand Rapids Area
Mississippi River
County Road 72 to County Line Access
Check current paddling conditions for this Mississippi River route, including water level, recent gauge trend, weather, and route details.
Route snapshot
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Today
Get the answer fast, then scan the route.
Start with the verdict, current conditions, route plan, and quick facts before you commit to the drive.
Today's conditions
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
Best window today
Checking weather.
Today by hour
Short-route forecast
Checking the next several hours.
Quick facts
Plan
Dial in the shuttle, distance, and access.
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 at County Road 72 and take out at County Line for the 15.9-mile Map 3 connector above the existing Jacobson route. Use the upstream Grand Rapids DNR gauge as an official corridor check, then make the final call from local depth, wind, and debris.
Put-in
Mississippi River, Co Rd 72 Public Water Access SiteOpen mapCounty Road 72 resolves in Minnesota public-water-access GIS as WAS01345 at DNR river mile 1161.4.
Take-out
Mississippi River, County Line Public Water Access SiteOpen mapCounty Line resolves in Minnesota public-water-access GIS as WAS01336 at DNR river mile 1145.5.
Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- County Road 72 resolves in Minnesota public-water-access GIS as WAS01345 at DNR river mile 1161.4.
- County Line resolves in Minnesota public-water-access GIS as WAS01336 at DNR river mile 1145.5.
- The Grand Rapids gauge is upstream of this split. It is official same-corridor evidence, not a take-out reading.
Watch for
- Low-water riffles, exposed bars, floating debris, and slower current below Grand Rapids.
- Wind, cold water, and limited exits over a 15.9-mile day.
- Private banks and campsite assumptions; use mapped public accesses or designated campsites only.
Route gallery
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Photos help show what the access looks like and what the route actually feels like on the water.
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Sources
Check the data behind today's call.
Use this section when the page shows stale data, limited confidence, or a call you want to verify before driving.
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.
- Checking data confidence notes.
- Checking data confidence cautions.
OutlookTomorrow and weekend
This is a cautious early look. If the data is too thin, we leave it out.
Waiting on forecast.
Waiting on forecast.
Data behind the scoreGauge, thresholds, and timing
These are the live readings and threshold notes behind today's score.
| Gauge site | Mississippi River at Grand Rapids, 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 | 44 cfs to 1,410 cfs |
| Low threshold | 30 cfs |
| High threshold | 1,910 cfs |
| Data confidence 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 Grand Rapids |
| 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.
- DNR map sequenceCounty Road 72 to County Line
MN DNR Mississippi Map 3 places County Road 72 access, Split Hand Creek, Swimming Bear campsite, and County Line access in downstream order on the same map section.
- Public access recordsWAS01345 to WAS01336
Minnesota public-water-access GIS resolves Mississippi River, Co Rd 72 and Mississippi River, County Line with DNR access IDs, coordinates, public administrators, and matching river-mile records.
- Official DNR bands30 / 44-1410 / 1910 cfs
MN DNR interprets the Grand Rapids gauge as Scrapable below 30 cfs, Low from 30 to 44, Medium from 44 to 1410, High from 1410 to 1910, and Very High above 1910.
- Current gauge check251 cfs at 2026-07-16 11:45 PM
The current MN DNR feed placed the upstream Grand Rapids gauge in the official medium band during this run.
- Route character and camping supportFlat-water corridor with mapped watercraft camping
DNR Map 3 describes this section as flat to slow with no major rapids and marks watercraft-camping context including Swimming Bear, while DNR safety notes warn about private property, wind, obstacles, and changing conditions.
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
Photos, paddler notes, and updates.
See what others have shared, then add a condition report, upload photos, or flag anything that needs fixing.
Share your trip
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More routes to check next
Compare another stretch on this river, or jump to nearby options before you pick a plan.
Quick answers
Mississippi River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Mississippi River?
Paddle Today watches Mississippi River at Grand Rapids, MN and treats 44 cfs to 1,410 cfs 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, Co Rd 72 Public Water Access Site and ends at Mississippi River, County Line Public Water Access Site, about About 15.9 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.
Flag a change
See something outdated?
Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.