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Minnesota | Mississippi Headwaters
Mississippi RiverWold's Ferry Crossing to Palisade
Missing Map 4 Mississippi connector from Wold's Ferry to Palisade, joining the Sandy Lake-to-Wold's and Palisade-to-Aitkin route family with public DNR accesses and conservative Aitkin-gauge scoring.
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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 Wold's Ferry and take out at Palisade on the upper Mississippi River. Compare the Aitkin gauge with DNR guidance; low water can expose shallows along this reach.
Access map
Put-in
Mississippi River, Wold's Ferry Crossing Public Water Access SiteWold's Ferry and Palisade are both DNR/public-access-backed endpoints already used by adjacent current route cards.
Take-out
Mississippi River, Palisade Public Water Access SiteThe Aitkin gauge is downstream of the selected split, so inspect depth, mud, and wood at Wold's Ferry before committing.
Road shuttle
Stage Palisade first, then drive back to Wold's Ferry Crossing. Confirm both Aitkin County landings and the downstream Aitkin gauge before launching.
Additional access notes
- Do not extend toward Aitkin's diversion-channel and dam context unless the downstream Aitkin route is separately planned.
More route and safety guidance
- Use only named public accesses or mapped legal campsites; DNR Map 4 warns against camping on private property or riverbeds adjacent to private property.
- Do not continue toward Aitkin's diversion-channel and dam context unless the downstream Aitkin route is separately planned.
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Conditions
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Photos and recent reports
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Paddler reports
Recent notes from paddlers
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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.
- Recommended corridorWold's Ferry to Aitkin Campground, 40.3 miles
MN DNR recommended-one-way materials list Wold's Ferry Crossing to Aitkin Campground as the Map 4 Mississippi section; this card fills the upstream public-access gap to Palisade.
- Map supportWold's Ferry RM 1096.0 to Palisade RM 1086.4
MN DNR Map 4 places Wold's Ferry, Big Sandy River confluence context, Palisade, Waldeck, Kimball, and Aitkin in downstream order.
- Public access recordsWold's Ferry WAS02563 and Palisade WAS01038
Existing DNR/public-access-backed route details in the current app resolve Wold's Ferry and Palisade with coordinates, public-access IDs, and river-mile context.
- Official DNR bands712.3 / 1,500-6,000 / 8,000 cfs
MN DNR interprets the Aitkin gauge as Scrapable below 712.3 cfs, Low from 712.3 to 1,500, Medium from 1,500 to 6,000, High from 6,000 to 8,000, and Very High above 8,000.
- Gauge check during route review · 2026-07-23638 cfs at 2026-07-23 19:30 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.
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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