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Minnesota | Brainerd Lakes Area
Mississippi RiverTrommald to Lum Park
Brainerd-area connector from Trommald to Lum Park, ending above the Potlatch Dam portage and using the Brainerd DNR interpreted gauge beside the take-out corridor.
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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 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.
Access map
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.
Road shuttle
Stage Lum Park in Brainerd first, then drive back to Trommald. This route intentionally stops above Potlatch Dam; do not continue downstream toward Kiwanis Park unless you have a separate current portage and dam plan.
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Mississippi River, Trommald Public Water Access Site to Rice Lake / Lum Park Public Water Access Site is about 13.6 mi. Use the planner to compare shorter access pairs.
Additional access notes
- 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.
More route and safety guidance
- Expect motorboat traffic, wind on wider water, low-water dragging, floating wood, and stronger current after rain.
- Use only named public accesses and designated campsites. Half-Moon is a watercraft campsite; riverbed camping next to private property is not permitted.
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Sources and methodology
Review source dates and published guidance below. We have not inspected this trip in person.
Why this scoreData reliability: checking
This rating reflects whether the gauge measures this part of the river, whether published water-level guidance is available, and how recently the data was updated.
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Data behind the scoreWater levels, published guidance and update times
These readings and published water-level limits help explain today’s score.
| Gauge site | Mississippi River at Brainerd, MN |
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| Preferred range | 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 |
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NotesPublished evidence and verification notes
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.
- Gauge check during route review · 2026-07-22960 cfs at 2026-07-22 20:30 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.
- 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.
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