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Minnesota | Mississippi Headwaters
Mississippi RiverKnutson Dam Recreation Area to West Winnie Campground
Official MN DNR Map 2 day trip from Bimijiwan/Knutson Dam Recreation Area through Mississippi Meadows to the west shore of Lake Winnibigoshish, with dam, open-lake wind, and designated-campsite caveats.
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Route overview
Trip details
Access rules, camping and seasonal notes.
Permits, camping and season
Access and shuttle
Launch below Bimijiwan / Knutson Dam and paddle the official DNR day trip through Mississippi Meadows to West Winnie Campground. The route links quiet headwaters channel with big-lake edge exposure, so wind and dam context matter as much as gauge height.
Access map
Put-in
Mississippi River, Knutson Dam Public Water Access SiteKnutson Dam resolves in Minnesota public-water-access GIS as WAS02961 at DNR river mile 1258.1.
Take-out
Lake Winnibigoshish (W) Public Water Access Site / West Winnie CampgroundBig Fish access is an optional intermediate / bailout point, not the default take-out.
Road shuttle
Stage West Winnie first, then drive to Bimijiwan / Knutson Dam Recreation Area. Check the Days High Landing DNR gauge and the same-day wind forecast before launching because the finish includes a Lake Winnibigoshish shoreline leg.
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Mississippi River, Knutson Dam Public Water Access Site to Lake Winnibigoshish (W) Public Water Access Site / West Winnie Campground is about 11.8 mi. Use the planner to compare shorter access pairs.
Additional access notes
- West Winnie resolves in Minnesota public-water-access GIS as WAS00969 at river mile 1246.4 and is the planned finish.
More route and safety guidance
- The route touches Lake Winnibigoshish. DNR warns big lakes can be dangerous for small craft; stay near shore and avoid wind, waves, or poor visibility.
- Use only mapped public accesses and designated or otherwise legal campsites. Do not cross Cass Lake or Lake Winnibigoshish as a shortcut.
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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 day tripKnutson Dam to West Winnie, 11.8 mi
MN DNR Map 2 recommends putting in at Bimijiwan/Knutson Dam Recreation Area at river mile 1258.2 and taking out at West Winnie Campground at river mile 1246.4.
- Public access recordsKnutson Dam WAS02961 / West Winnie WAS00969
Minnesota public-water-access GIS resolves Knutson Dam, Big Fish, and Lake Winnibigoshish West with coordinates and river-mile records for the selected access chain.
- Official DNR bands1272.9 / 1273.8-1274.5 / 1275 ft
MN DNR interprets Days High Landing as Scrapable below 1272.9 ft, Low from 1272.9 to 1273.8, Medium from 1273.8 to 1274.5, High from 1274.5 to 1275, and Very High above 1275.
- Gauge check during route review · 2026-07-231273.49 ft at 2026-07-23 04:30 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.
- Safety and camping contextDams, big lakes, designated campsites
DNR warns about dams, large open water on Cass and Winnibigoshish, obstacles, private property, and camping only at designated campsites or with landowner permission.
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