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Minnesota | West Central Minnesota
Otter Tail RiverPhelps Mill County Park to West Red River Lake
Official longer Otter Tail day from Phelps Mill through West Lost Lake to West Red River Lake, using the Elizabeth DNR gauge and a known Phelps Mill endpoint image.
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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 from Phelps Mill County Park and take out at West Red River Lake for the official 11.8-mile Otter Tail River day trip. The Elizabeth gauge is downstream, so wind, lake conditions, and visual level checks remain part of the decision.
Access map
Put-in
Phelps Mill County Park carry-in accessMinnesota DNR lists Phelps Mill as a carry-in access with a natural surface and directs paddlers to portage across the park lawn and launch west of the parking area. Otter Tail County says there is no conventional boat-launch facility, so expect to hand-carry a boat to the river and check current park construction/closure notices.
Take-out
West Red River Lake Public Water Access SiteStay clear of the Phelps Mill dam and use only the DNR-described portage and landing; do not improvise an above-dam launch.
Road shuttle
Stage West Red River Lake first, then drive back to Phelps Mill County Park. This is the longer official Phelps Mill day; groups wanting the shorter outing should use the West Lost Lake card instead.
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Access planner
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Phelps Mill County Park carry-in access to West Red River Lake Public Water Access Site is about 11.8 mi. Use the planner to compare shorter access pairs.
Additional access notes
- West Lost Lake is the midpoint public access and shorter-route take-out; West Red River Lake resolves as WAS00822 near river mile 73.3 for the longer day.
- The Elizabeth gauge is downstream of this route, so it is a corridor indicator rather than a direct reading at West Red River Lake.
More route and safety guidance
- Wind and boat traffic on West Lost Lake and West Red River Lake can slow or strand paddlers even when the gauge looks favorable.
- Inspect culverts, bridges, vegetation, and low-headroom constrictions. DNR warns that some Otter Tail bridges and culverts can have fast current or little clearance.
- Elizabeth is downstream of the route and only a proxy for the lake-influenced reach. Confirm local wind, water, debris, and landing conditions at Phelps Mill, West Lost Lake, and West Red River Lake before committing to the full day.
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Conditions
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Gauge source
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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.
NotesPublished evidence and verification notes
These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.
- Official routePhelps Mill Park to West Red River Lake, 11.8 river miles
MN DNR lists Phelps Mill County Park carry-in access at river mile 85.0 to West Red River Lake trailer access at river mile 73.2 as a recommended day trip.
- Public access recordsWAS00559 to WAS00822
Minnesota public-water-access GIS resolves Phelps Mill and West Red River Lake with coordinates, administrators, and river-mile records; West Lost Lake WAS02421 is the official midpoint access.
- Official DNR bands100 / 300-700 / 1,200 cfs
MN DNR interprets the Elizabeth gauge as Scrapable below 100 cfs, Low from 100 to 300, Medium from 300 to 700, High from 700 to 1,200, and Very High above 1,200.
- Gauge check during route review · 2026-07-22324 cfs at 2026-07-22 19:00 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.
- HazardsDam/portage, bridges, obstructions, lake wind
DNR Otter Tail materials warn paddlers to review dam, culvert, bridge, obstruction, low-water, and windy-lake conditions before paddling this water trail.
- Image reuseWikimedia Commons Phelps Mill endpoint photo
The route reuses an existing rights-clean Commons Phelps Mill image already present in the local gallery for this exact longer-route folder.
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 Otter Tail River
All 4Nearby routes within 75 miles
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