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Minnesota | Brainerd Lakes Area
Mississippi River
Trommald to Lum 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
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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
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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 Trommald and take out at Lum Park on Rice Lake for a 13.6-mile Brainerd-lakes reach above Potlatch Dam. The app uses the DNR Brainerd interpreted site at Potlatch Dam because it is the same Map 5 corridor gauge just below the planned finish.
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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, Trommald Public Water Access SiteTrommald resolves as WAS02294 at river mile 1018.3; Lum Park / Rice Lake resolves as WAS00357 at river mile 1004.7.
Take-out
Rice Lake / Lum Park Public Water Access SiteLum Park is the required finish for this route. Potlatch Dam and the Brainerd gauge are just downstream; do not drift past the park into dam approach water.
Plan this segment
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Trommald resolves as WAS02294 at river mile 1018.3; Lum Park / Rice Lake resolves as WAS00357 at river mile 1004.7.
- Lum Park is the required finish for this route. Potlatch Dam and the Brainerd gauge are just downstream; do not drift past the park into dam approach water.
- Half-Moon campsite is mapped near river mile 1017.0, but campsite conditions and occupancy must be checked before assuming an overnight.
- The Brainerd gauge is slightly downstream of the route and below Rice Lake influence, so verify flow, wind, and lake approach conditions at Lum Park before launching.
Watch for
- French Rapids area current, shallow riffles, and rocky/gravel bars when the Brainerd site is in the low band.
- Wind and boat traffic on the Rice Lake / Lum Park approach.
- Floating wood, strainers, cold water, private banks, and limited mid-route exits.
- Potlatch Dam downstream of Lum Park; missing the planned take-out changes the risk profile immediately.
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 Brainerd, 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 | 1,800 cfs to 7,000 cfs |
| Low threshold | 908 cfs |
| High threshold | 10,000 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 Brainerd |
| 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.
- Map routeTrommald RM 1018.3 to Lum Park RM 1004.7
MN DNR Map 5 places Trommald, Half-Moon campsite, Little Rabbit Lake, French Rapids, Lum Park, and the Brainerd gauge/Potlatch Dam area in downstream order.
- Public access recordsWAS02294 to WAS00357
Minnesota public-water-access GIS resolves Trommald and Lum Park with coordinates, administrators, and Mississippi water-trail river-mile records.
- 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.
- Current gauge check960 cfs at 2026-07-22 20:30 CDT
The current MN DNR feed placed Brainerd in the official low band during this run, just above the scrapable floor.
- Camping and safety contextHalf-Moon campsite; Potlatch Dam downstream
MN DNR Map 5 maps Half-Moon watercraft campsite above French Rapids and the Potlatch Dam portage just below Lum Park.
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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Quick answers
Mississippi River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Mississippi River?
Paddle Today watches Mississippi River at Brainerd, MN and treats 1,800 cfs to 7,000 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 Mississippi River, Trommald Public Water Access Site and ends at Rice Lake / Lum Park Public Water Access Site, about About 13.6 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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