See all 7 routes on North Fork Crow River
Minnesota | Central Minnesota
North Fork Crow River
Wildlife County Park to Bill Anderson Memorial 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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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
Checking preferred range.
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
Checking the next several hours.
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
Consolidated North Fork Crow route from Wildlife County Park to Bill Anderson Park, retaining Albright's Mill as an intermediate public access, campground, and shorter-trip option.
Plan a shorter segmentOptional
Access planner
Pick a shorter segment
This changes launch and take-out logistics, not today's river score.
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
Take the plan with you
Download the canonical route, add a calendar hold, or send a simple float plan to your group.
Put-in
Wildlife County Park carry-in accessWildlife County Park resolves to the Minnesota public-water-access record at river mile 68.9; DNR Map 1 also labels it as a carry-in access and permit-required campsite.
Take-out
Bill Anderson Park carry-in accessAlbright's Mill resolves to the public-water-access record at river mile 62.7 and is mapped by DNR as a carry-in access with drinking water and permit-required camping.
Plan this segment
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Wildlife County Park resolves to the Minnesota public-water-access record at river mile 68.9; DNR Map 1 also labels it as a carry-in access and permit-required campsite.
- Albright's Mill resolves to the public-water-access record at river mile 62.7 and is mapped by DNR as a carry-in access with drinking water and permit-required camping.
- The Cokato/CSAH 4 gauge sits between the endpoints, so it is a strong level signal, but it cannot show fresh strainers, fences, or landing mud.
- Albright's Mill is mapped by DNR as a carry-in access at river mile 62.7 with drinking water and permit-required camping.
- Bill Anderson Park resolves to the Minnesota public-water-access record at river mile 55.3 and DNR Map 1 identifies it as a carry-in access and watercraft campsite.
- The Cokato gauge is upstream of the put-in, so treat it as a same-corridor proxy and verify enough local water over shallow riffles before committing.
Watch for
- Low-water scraping or short carries when the Cokato gauge falls through the low band.
- Underwater branches, overhanging trees, and new strainers on tight bends.
- Possible low bridges or unlawful fences; avoid trespass and report blocked navigation through official channels.
- Shallow riffles and exposed gravel if the Cokato gauge is below medium.
- Fresh wood, overhanging branches, and fence-like obstructions in the narrow channel.
- Private banks between bridge crossings; do not count on informal exits.
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 | North Fork Crow River nr Cokato, CSAH4 |
| 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 | 300 cfs to 600 cfs |
| Low threshold | 241 cfs |
| High threshold | 800 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 Cokato |
| 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.
- Route shapeWildlife RM 68.9 to Albright's Mill RM 62.7
MN DNR Map 1 places Wildlife County Park, the Highway 4 / Cokato gauge, and Albright's Mill in downstream order, making this a 6.2-mile access-to-access connector.
- Public access recordsWAS01954 to WAS01743
Minnesota public-water-access GIS resolves Wildlife Park and Albright's Mill with official names, administrators, coordinates, and river-mile values.
- Official DNR bands241 / 300-600 / 800 cfs
MN DNR interprets the Cokato gauge 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.
- Current gauge check261 cfs at 2026-07-24 05:45 CDT
The current MN DNR feed placed Cokato in the official low band during this run, below the preferred medium range.
- Camping and hazardsEndpoint campsites; obstruction-prone bends
DNR Map 1 identifies permit campsites at Wildlife County Park and Albright's Mill and warns about underwater branches, overhanging trees, frequent obstacles, possible fences, and low-water issues on the upper North Fork Crow.
- Route shapeAlbright's Mill RM 62.7 to Bill Anderson RM 55.3
MN DNR Map 1 places Albright's Mill, County Road 6, and Bill Anderson Memorial County Park in downstream order, making this a 7.4-mile connector.
- Public access recordsWAS01743 to WAS02856
Minnesota public-water-access GIS resolves Albright's Mill and Bill Anderson Park with official names, administrators, coordinates, and river-mile values.
- Official DNR bands241 / 300-600 / 800 cfs
MN DNR interprets the Cokato gauge 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.
- Current gauge check261 cfs at 2026-07-24 05:45 CDT
The current MN DNR feed placed Cokato in the official low band during this run; this downstream split requires a visual depth check before launch.
- Camping and safety contextCounty park campsites; bridge and wood caveats
DNR Map 1 identifies Albright's Mill and Bill Anderson as campsite-capable county-park accesses and describes the North Fork's downed trees, underwater branches, overhanging trees, and possible fences.
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
See recent photos and notes from people on the route.
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More routes to check next
Compare another stretch on this river, or jump to nearby options before you pick a plan.
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 Wildlife County Park carry-in access and ends at Bill Anderson Park carry-in access, about About 13.6 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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Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.