See all 7 routes on North Fork Crow River
Minnesota | Central Minnesota
North Fork Crow RiverWildlife County Park to Bill Anderson Memorial County Park
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.
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Route overview
Trip details
Access rules, camping and seasonal notes.
Permits, camping and season
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.
Access map
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.
Road shuttle
Stage Bill Anderson Park first, then return to Wildlife County Park. Inspect Albright's Mill if using it for a shorter trip, campsite, or bailout.
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Wildlife County Park carry-in access to Bill Anderson Park carry-in access is about 13.6 mi. Use the planner to compare shorter access pairs.
Additional access notes
- 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.
More route and safety guidance
- Expect overhanging trees, underwater branches, possible fences, and shallow bends when the Cokato gauge is below the official medium band.
- Use the named public county-park accesses and designated campsites only; do not treat farm banks as routine stops.
- Make a local visual check at Albright's Mill because the gauge is upstream and cannot show a fresh logjam, fence, or shallow bar on this split.
- Watch the County Road 5, Keats Avenue, County Road 6, and County Road 7 bridge areas for current, debris, and low-clearance surprises.
- Use the Wright County park accesses and designated campsites only; most banks between parks should be treated as private.
- Albright's Mill is the intermediate public access, campground, and shorter-trip option.
- Make a same-day wood and depth check even when the Cokato gauge is in the official medium band.
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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 Cokato, CSAH4 |
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| Rain last 24h | Checking |
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| Preferred range | 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 |
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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.
- 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.
- Gauge check during route review · 2026-07-24261 cfs at 2026-07-24 05:45 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 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.
- Gauge check during route review · 2026-07-24261 cfs at 2026-07-24 05:45 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 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.
Other routes nearby
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