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Minnesota | Mississippi Headwaters
Mississippi River
Schoolcraft State Park to Sylvan Municipal Park
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 Schoolcraft State Park and finish at Sylvan Bay for the full MN DNR 18.7-mile Schoolcraft-to-Sylvan one-way. The direct Days High Landing gauge is current but below the preferred medium band.
Plan a shorter segmentOptional
Access planner
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Peltier Lake to Long Lake is the full route. Shorter access pairs are useful when wind, time, or group energy changes the plan.
Prepare this trip
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Put-in
Mississippi River, Schoolcraft SPK Public Water Access SiteSchoolcraft State Park resolves as WAS01351 in Minnesota public-water-access GIS and is also shown by DNR Map 3 as a trailer access with campground and drinking water.
Take-out
Mississippi River, Sylvan Bay Public Water Access SiteSylvan Bay resolves as WAS00983 at DNR Map 3 river mile 1180.1 and is the planned finish before the downstream Blandin Paper Company Dam corridor.
Plan this segment
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Schoolcraft State Park resolves as WAS01351 in Minnesota public-water-access GIS and is also shown by DNR Map 3 as a trailer access with campground and drinking water.
- Sylvan Bay resolves as WAS00983 at DNR Map 3 river mile 1180.1 and is the planned finish before the downstream Blandin Paper Company Dam corridor.
- DNR Map 3 shows Pokegama Dam and the Blandin dam corridor near the Grand Rapids finish. Know the portage locations and do not drift past Sylvan without a separate dam plan.
Watch for
- Low-water riffles and shallow reservoir margins when Days High Landing is in the low or scrapable bands.
- Wind and motorboat exposure on reservoir/open-water sections, cold water, floating wood after storms, and long-day fatigue.
- Private banks and designated-campsite limits; #10 is an intermediate public access but is not the planned take-out for this card.
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 Days High Landing nr Deer River, MN |
| Gauge height | Checking |
| Discharge | 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 | 1273.80 ft to 1274.50 ft |
| Low threshold | 1272.90 ft |
| High threshold | 1275.00 ft |
| 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 Days High Landing |
| 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.
- Official route18.7 river miles
MN DNR recommended one-way materials list Schoolcraft State Park Trailer Access at river mile 1198.8 to Sylvan Municipal Park Trailer Access at river mile 1180.1.
- Map supportSchoolcraft RM 1199.5-1198.2 to Sylvan RM 1180.1
DNR Mississippi Map 3 places Schoolcraft State Park, Leaning Willow campsite, #10, #1, Pokegama Dam, Izaak Walton Park, Sylvan Municipal Park, and the downstream Blandin dam corridor in sequence.
- Public access recordsWAS01351 to WAS00983
Minnesota public-water-access GIS resolves Schoolcraft State Park and Sylvan Bay public access sites with Mississippi river-mile records and coordinates; #10 is a coordinate-backed intermediate bailout.
- Official DNR bands1,272.9 / 1,273.8-1,274.5 / 1,275 ft
MN DNR interprets Days High Landing as Scrapable below 1,272.9 ft, Low from 1,272.9 to 1,273.8, Medium from 1,273.8 to 1,274.5, High from 1,274.5 to 1,275, and Very High above 1,275.
- Current gauge check1,273.46 ft at 2026-07-23 17:30 CDT
The current MN DNR feed placed Days High Landing in the official low band during this run, below the preferred medium band.
- Camping and safety contextLeaning Willow watercraft campsite; designated sites only
DNR Map 3 identifies Leaning Willow as a watercraft campsite and warns that riverbed camping next to private property is not permitted.
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
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More routes to check next
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Quick answers
Mississippi River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Mississippi River?
Paddle Today watches Mississippi River at Days High Landing nr Deer River, MN and treats 1273.80 ft to 1274.50 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, Schoolcraft SPK Public Water Access Site and ends at Mississippi River, Sylvan Bay Public Water Access Site, about 18.7 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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