See all 7 routes on North Fork Crow River
Minnesota | Twin Cities Northwest Metro
North Fork Crow RiverRiverside County Park to Dayton
Long lower North Fork Crow run with enough mileage that level still matters even though the river is not especially technical. The Dayton end is well-supported, and the DNR ladder finally gives this corridor a real launchability band.
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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 Riverside County Park near Hanover and take out at the Dayton-area Crow/Mississippi access. This is a long lower-river shuttle day where level still matters because low water drags the pace down quickly.
Access map
Put-in
Riverside County Park carry-in accessThis route is long enough that shuttle timing, parking rules, and daylight matter more than on a quick half-day paddle.
Take-out
Mississippi/Crow rivers trailer accessUse posted rules at both landings rather than assuming old forum or trip-report parking details are still current.
Road shuttle
Standard two-car shuttle. Confirm any county-park or landing parking rules before leaving vehicles for a full day or overnight.
Additional access notes
- Much of the shoreland is private. Stop only at designated public sites, and do not camp on riverbed next to private property.
More route and safety guidance
- Plan this as the official 15.3-mile, 6-8-hour trip and leave enough daylight for a slower low-water pace or an obstruction delay.
- Much of the shoreland is private. Stop only at designated public sites and do not use riverbed next to private property for camping.
Plan this paddle
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Conditions
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Recent trend
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Gauge source
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Detailed weather
Weather
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Next 8 hours
Short-route forecast
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Plan ahead
Tomorrow and the weekend
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Photos and recent reports
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Paddler reports
Recent notes from paddlers
A few quick notes from people who were on this route recently.
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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 | North Fork Crow River nr Rockford, Farmington Ave |
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| Preferred range | 500 cfs to 1,500 cfs |
| Low threshold | 345 cfs |
| High threshold | 1,750 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 North Fork Crow River near Rockford |
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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.
- DNR bands345 / 500–1,500 / 1,750 cfs
MN DNR interprets the lower North Fork Crow gauge as Scrapable below 345 cfs, Low from 345 to 500, Medium from 500 to 1,500, High from 1,500 to 1,750, and Very High above 1,750.
- Trip length15.3 miles
This is a long lower-river day. Low water and fatigue matter more here than on a short metro paddle.
- Access confidenceVerified
Both Riverside County Park and the Dayton/Crow-Mississippi access are backed by DNR access-guide material and local manager pages.
- Primary cautionWood after rain
Treat storms and recent high water as a stronger caution signal than the gauge alone, especially on a long route with fewer quick exit options.
Verify it yourselfCheck the source links
Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
Other routes nearby
More on North Fork Crow River
All 7Nearby routes within 75 miles
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