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Minnesota | Twin Cities
Mississippi River
Hidden Falls to Harriet Island
Check current paddling conditions for this Mississippi River 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
Launch at Hidden Falls and take out at Kelley's Landing on Harriet Island for MN DNR's 6.5-mile downstream Twin Cities Mississippi trip.
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
Hidden Falls Regional Park Mississippi River boat rampHidden Falls is the confirmed public boat-ramp put-in; use current park access and flood-closure information before launch.
Take-out
Kelley's Landing / Harriet IslandKelley's Landing is the Harriet Island-side take-out. Lambert's Landing is not the endpoint for this route.
Plan this segment
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Hidden Falls is the confirmed public boat-ramp put-in; use current park access and flood-closure information before launch.
- Kelley's Landing is the Harriet Island-side take-out. Lambert's Landing is not the endpoint for this route.
- Saint Paul public dock and park rules may limit docking, tie-up duration, and event-area use.
Watch for
- Swift current, commercial traffic, and large boat wakes through the metro Mississippi corridor.
- Changing water color and converging current near the Minnesota River confluence.
- Urban debris, bridge piers, wind exposure, and limited casual landing options between official access points.
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 | Mississippi River at St. Paul, 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 | 6,000 cfs to 30,000 cfs |
| Low threshold | 2,000 cfs |
| High threshold | 40,000 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. Paul |
| 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 bands2,000 / 6,000-30,000 / 40,000 cfs
MN DNR interprets the St. Paul reading as Scrapable below 2,000 cfs, Low from 2,000 to 6,000, Medium from 6,000 to 30,000, High from 30,000 to 40,000, and Very High above 40,000.
- Recommended trip6.5 river miles
MN DNR recommends Hidden Falls to Harriet Island as the Map 10 downstream Twin Cities Mississippi day trip.
- Route characterMetro big river
DNR Map 10 cautions that this segment can have deceptively swift current and large wakes from motorboats and barges, and it passes the Minnesota River confluence before downtown Saint Paul.
- Take-out selectionKelley's Landing at Harriet Island
Saint Paul identifies Kelley's Landing as part of Harriet Island Regional Park. Lambert's Landing is farther north and was not selected because the DNR route endpoint is Harriet Island.
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.
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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.
Quick answers
Mississippi River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Mississippi River?
Paddle Today watches Mississippi River at St. Paul, MN and treats 6,000 cfs to 30,000 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 Hidden Falls Regional Park Mississippi River boat ramp and ends at Kelley's Landing / Harriet Island, about 6.5 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
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Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.