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Minnesota | Brainerd Lakes Area
Mississippi RiverHighway 6 to Trommald
Official MN DNR / Mississippi Headwaters Board day route from the Highway 6 access to Trommald, filling the public-access gap above Brainerd with source-backed ramps and a downstream 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 Highway 6 and take out at Trommald for MN DNR / MHB recommended broad Mississippi water above Brainerd. Use the Brainerd DNR gauge as the official downstream corridor proxy and make visual checks at both ramps.
Access map
Put-in
Mississippi River, Hwy 6 Public Water Access SiteHighway 6 resolves as WAS00999 at river mile 1030.0, and Trommald resolves as WAS02294 at river mile 1018.3 in Minnesota public-water-access GIS.
Take-out
Mississippi River, Trommald Public Water Access SiteThe Brainerd gauge is downstream of the take-out and below the Pine River confluence, so it is a conservative corridor proxy rather than an exact put-in reading.
Road shuttle
Stage the take-out at Trommald, then drive back to the Highway 6 access north of Crosby. Inspect both ramps before leaving the shuttle vehicle because broad-river wind, high-water cleanup, and launch crowding can change same-day usability.
Additional access notes
- Finish at Trommald for this route. Do not drift toward Brainerd, French Rapids, Potlatch Dam, or any portage corridor without a separate plan.
More route and safety guidance
- DNR says this reach has no rapids, but current can become strong after rain and the broad channel is exposed to wind and motorboat wake.
- Use the signed public accesses and legal stops only; do not treat private banks or informal roads as bailout points.
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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.
- DNR recommended tripHighway 6 RM 1030 to Trommald RM 1018.3
MN DNR Map 5 recommends the 11.7-mile Highway 6 to Trommald day trip and describes it as broad Mississippi water with no rapids, Pine River confluence, and stronger current after rain.
- MHB signed excursionAbout 3 hr 45 min
The Mississippi Headwaters Board lists the Hwy 6 to Trommald Landing excursion with endpoint driving directions and a downloadable route map.
- Public access recordsWAS00999 to WAS02294
Minnesota public-water-access GIS resolves Mississippi River Hwy 6 and Trommald as DNR-administered public access sites with matching river miles and coordinates.
- Official DNR bands908 / 1,800-7,000 / 10,000 cfs
MN DNR interprets Brainerd as Scrapable below 908 cfs, Low from 908 to 1,800, Medium from 1,800 to 7,000, High from 7,000 to 10,000, and Very High above 10,000.
- Gauge check during route review · 2026-07-22952 cfs at 2026-07-22 14:30 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.
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Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
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