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See all 7 routes on North Fork Crow River

Minnesota | Central Minnesota

North Fork Crow River

Betty T. Mason River Access to Wildlife County Park

Check current paddling conditions for this North Fork Crow River route, including water level, recent gauge trend, weather, and route details.

Route location

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Distance10.2 mi
DifficultyModerate
Typical timeAbout 3 hr 30 min to 5 hr
ShuttleCar shuttle
The Crow River flows under a railroad bridge in Rockford, Minnesota, with people sitting near the water at the landing.
River contextCrow River at Rockford river-level photo — not necessarily this exact reach.Photo by Jerry Huddleston via Wikimedia Commons

Need to know

Why this call
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Conditions

Gauge history and hourly forecast

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Gauge detail

Gauge history & hourly forecastDetailed view

Gauge

Recent trend

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Weather

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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

On-water distance10.2 miBetty T. Mason River Access to Wildlife County Park
DifficultymoderateThe rapids are not the issue; the commitment comes from tight bends, strainers, steep access, occasional fences, and the need to steer well through a narrow channel.
ShuttleCar shuttlePlan a simple two-car shuttle between the Wright County parks. Wildlife County Park also has a reservable canoe campsite if you are turning this into a longer North Fork plan.
PermitsNone notedNo route-specific paddling permit is known. Wildlife County Park backcountry canoe camping requires a reservation and fee if used.
CampingDay tripWildlife County Park offers a backcountry canoe campsite by reservation. Treat this route as a day trip unless that campsite is booked separately.
SeasonApr-OctLate spring through early fall is the realistic window. Summer can work when rain keeps the Cokato gauge up, but low water and wood make this upper reach work harder than the lower river.

Plan ahead

Upcoming outlook

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Plan

Plan your trip

Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.

Route logistics

Access and shuttle

Launch at Betty T. Mason County Park and take out at Wildlife County Park. This is a narrow upper North Fork Crow day where the gauge matters, but wood and tight bends still drive the practical decision.

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Prepare this trip

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Start

Put-in

Betty T. Mason County Park carry-in access
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Betty T. Mason is an improved but steep carry-in access, so scout the carry before unloading.

Finish

Take-out

Wildlife County Park carry-in access
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Both endpoints are Wright County public river accesses, but park hours and camping rules still apply.

Plan this segment

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Access caveats and watch for

Access caveats

  • Betty T. Mason is an improved but steep carry-in access, so scout the carry before unloading.
  • Both endpoints are Wright County public river accesses, but park hours and camping rules still apply.
  • Stay off private shoreland between the named accesses; Wildlife County Park camping requires a separate reservation.
  • This upper reach is more obstruction-prone than the lower North Fork Crow route already in the app.

Watch for

  • Underwater snags, overhanging trees, and strainers on sharp bends.
  • Possible unlawful fences across the river; DNR asks paddlers to report them.
  • Low-water scraping below the Cokato medium band and quick level changes after rain.

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.

The Crow River flows under a railroad bridge in Rockford, Minnesota, with people sitting near the water at the landing.
Crow River at Rockford river-level photo — not necessarily this exact reach.Photo by Jerry Huddleston via Wikimedia Commons
Wikimedia Commons: CC BY 2.0

Score & sources

Why this score

See the gauge, weather, and source notes behind today's call.

Read quality
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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.

Why
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Data behind the scoreGauge, thresholds, and timing

These are the live readings and threshold notes behind today's score.

Gauge siteNorth Fork Crow River nr Cokato, CSAH4
DischargeChecking
Gauge heightChecking
24h trendChecking
24h changeChecking
Current bandChecking
Rain last 24hChecking
Rain last 72hChecking
Air tempChecking
Water tempChecking
WindChecking
GustsChecking
Rain timingChecking
Target band300 cfs to 600 cfs
Low threshold241 cfs
High threshold800 cfs
Evidence strength behind the rangeOfficial data source
Gauge observedChecking
Paddle Today updatedChecking
Main source behind this scoreMN DNR river-level interpretation bands for North Fork Crow River near Cokato
Gauge sourceChecking
Weather sourceChecking
Rainfall sourceChecking
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.

  • DNR bands241 / 300-600 / 800 cfs

    MN DNR interprets the Cokato reading as Scrapable below 241 cfs, Low from 241 to 300, Medium from 300 to 600, High from 600 to 800, and Very High above 800.

    Source

  • Recommended trip10.2 river miles

    MN DNR recommends Betty T. Mason carry-in access to Wildlife County Park carry-in access as the Map 1 day trip on the North Fork Crow.

    Source

  • Access confidenceWright County river accesses

    Wright County identifies Betty T. Mason County Park and Wildlife County Park as public river-access sites on the North Fork Crow River.

    Source

  • Route characterNarrow bends and wood

    DNR describes this upper segment as shallow and obstruction-prone, with underwater branches, overhanging trees, and possible unlawful fences across the river.

    Source

  • Supplemental flow context500 cfs makes canoeing fairly easy

    DNR fisheries access guidance for Betty Mason says 500 cfs makes for fairly easy canoeing on this access-to-Wildlife County Park corridor.

    Source

Verify it yourselfCheck the source links

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Reports

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Keep exploring

More routes to check next

Compare another stretch on this river, or jump to nearby options before you pick a plan.

More in Minnesota

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More on North Fork Crow River

All 7
Bill Anderson Memorial County Park to Humphrey-Arends Memorial County ParkCentral MinnesotaModerate · 10.2 miForest City to KingstonCentral MinnesotaModerate · About 12.0 miHighway 4 to ManannahCentral MinnesotaModerate · About 5.7 miRiverside County Park to DaytonTwin Cities Northwest MetroModerate · 15.3 mi

Nearby routes by distance

Mississippi RiverClearwater to Snuffie's Landing · about 17 mi awayEasy · About 8.2 miMississippi RiverSnuffie's Landing to Montissippi County Park · about 19 mi awayEasy · About 6.7 miMississippi RiverMontissippi County Park to Norin Landing · about 20 mi awayEasy · About 7.8 miSauk RiverEagle Park to Miller Landing · about 21 mi awayEasy · 8.6 mi

Quick answers

North Fork Crow River paddling FAQ

What water level is good for paddling North Fork Crow River?

Paddle Today watches North Fork Crow River nr Cokato, CSAH4 and treats 300 cfs to 600 cfs as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.

Where does this North Fork Crow River route start and end?

This route starts at Betty T. Mason County Park carry-in access and ends at Wildlife County Park carry-in access, about 10.2 mi on the water.

Is this North Fork Crow 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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