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North Dakota | Pembina Gorge

Pembina RiverVang Bridge / County 55 to Walhalla Riverside Park

Pembina Gorge run from the Vang / County 55 access down to the Walhalla Highway 32 / Riverside Park access corridor. County and city sources identify public canoe/kayak access, and American Whitewater ties the reach to the direct Walhalla USGS gauge.

Route location

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Plan this route

DistanceAbout 10.75 to 11 mi
DifficultyModerate
Typical timeAbout 3 hr to 5 hr for competent moving-water paddlers
ShuttleCar shuttle
The Sheyenne River meanders through a North Dakota prairie corridor.
River contextNorth Dakota river corridor context; not this route or current conditions; route imagery unavailable — not necessarily this exact reach.Photo by U.S. Geological Survey

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Route overview

Trip details

Access rules, camping, seasonal conditions and trip length.

Distance, difficulty, rules and camping
On-water distanceAbout 10.75 to 11 miVang Bridge / County 55 to Walhalla Riverside Park
DifficultymoderateAmerican Whitewater lists the reach as Class I but describes boulder-garden rapids, small ledges and drops, strainers, quicksand-like mud or sand, steep banks, and exposed rocks at low water. Paddle it as a filtered whitewater/swiftwater route, not as a casual flatwater float.
ShuttleCar shuttleStage the take-out at Walhalla Riverside Park or the adjacent Highway 32 / White Bridge access area before driving west to the Vang Bridge / County 55 put-in. Confirm current dock, path, parking, and park conditions before leaving vehicles because the put-in is a bridge-area carry and the take-out layout can shift with maintenance or river conditions.
PermitsNone notedNo route-specific private paddling permit is known. Use only signed or customary public access at Vang Bridge, Brickmine Bridge, White Bridge, and Riverside Park, follow North Dakota boating and PFD rules, and skip the run when the river is outside the American Whitewater range or local/state access is closed.
CampingOptions nearbyTreat this as a daylight Pembina Gorge day run. Riverside Park has city campground facilities, but do not camp or stop on private banks along the river unless a site is clearly public and open.
SeasonMay-AugND Parks and North Dakota Tourism frame Pembina Gorge paddling as condition-dependent and most common around May and June, while local outfitter-style use can continue into summer when water remains adequate. Check the gauge, recent rain, state-park notices, and local access status before committing to the shuttle.

Plan ahead

Tomorrow and the weekend

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Plan

Plan your trip

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

Route logistics

Access and shuttle

Launch at the Vang Bridge / County 55 access and take out at the Walhalla Highway 32 / Riverside Park access corridor for the main Pembina Gorge run. Use the direct USGS Walhalla gauge and American Whitewater range, with conservative caution for boulder gardens, strainers, muddy banks, and fast storm response.

Access map

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Start

Put-in

Vang Bridge / County 55 access
Open mapDirections to put-in

Pembina County and Walhalla/Rendezvous Region materials identify canoe and kayak access at Vang Bridge, Brickmine Bridge, White Bridge, and Riverside Park, but current dock placement, parking, and carry paths should be verified on arrival.

Finish

Take-out

Walhalla Riverside Park / White Bridge access
Open mapDirections to take-out

American Whitewater places the put-in near County 55 / 104th Street NE and describes a roadside carry to a rocky area. Do not block the bridge, road shoulder, field approaches, or private drives.

Road shuttle

Driving shuttle routeShuttle in Apple MapsOpenStreetMap
Access notes and hazards

Access caveats

  • Pembina County and Walhalla/Rendezvous Region materials identify canoe and kayak access at Vang Bridge, Brickmine Bridge, White Bridge, and Riverside Park, but current dock placement, parking, and carry paths should be verified on arrival.
  • American Whitewater places the put-in near County 55 / 104th Street NE and describes a roadside carry to a rocky area. Do not block the bridge, road shoulder, field approaches, or private drives.
  • The take-out coordinate is American Whitewater feature data for the County 32 / Walhalla access area; some paddlers continue slightly to Riverside Park. Use current signs and local access boundaries.
  • ND Parks says Pembina River paddling is only when water levels allow. Rental operations, park notices, and local river reports may stop before the gauge reaches the absolute low cutoff used here.
  • Because American Whitewater is the primary threshold source and the reach includes Class I-II boulder-garden hazards, the route is whitewater-filtered in PaddleTodayV2.

Watch for

  • Boulder gardens, small ledges or drops, shallow rocks, and scraping near the 300 cfs low end.
  • Strainers, overhanging trees, flood debris, blind bends, steep muddy banks, and limited escape options in parts of the gorge.
  • Quicksand-like mud or sand, unstable banks, and private property away from named access points.
  • Fast rises after rain, high or pushy water near and above the high runnable range, cold water, thunderstorms, wind, and bridge hazards.
  • Missing the intended Walhalla / Riverside Park take-out and drifting into an unplanned downstream reach.

Plan this paddle

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Conditions

Water levels, gauge history, and hourly forecast

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Gauge detail

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Gauge

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Route gallery

Photos

Check each caption: some photos show the surrounding area rather than this exact trip.

The Sheyenne River meanders through a North Dakota prairie corridor.
North Dakota river corridor context; not this route or current conditions; route imagery unavailable — not necessarily this exact reach.Photo by U.S. Geological Survey
USGS public domain; regional context only

Score & sources

Why this score

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Data status
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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.

Why
  • Checking data sources and update times.
Data behind the scoreWater levels, published guidance and update times

These readings and published water-level limits help explain today’s score.

Gauge sitePembina River at Walhalla, ND
DischargeChecking
Gauge heightChecking
24h trendChecking
24h changeChecking
Current bandChecking
Rain last 24hChecking
Rain last 72hChecking
Air tempChecking
Water tempChecking
WindChecking
GustsChecking
Rain timingChecking
Preferred range600 cfs to 1,400 cfs
Low threshold300 cfs
High threshold3,000 cfs
Evidence strength behind the rangeLocal route guidance
Gauge observedChecking
Paddle Today updatedChecking
Main source behind this scoreAmerican Whitewater Pembina gauge ranges
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.

  • Public access corridorVang Bridge to Riverside Park

    Pembina County and Walhalla/Rendezvous Region materials identify canoe and kayak access docks at Vang Bridge, Brickmine Bridge, White Bridge, and Riverside Park for Pembina River access.

    Source

  • State paddling context3.5 mi or 10.75 mi paddle

    The North Dakota Parks Pembina Gorge map says visitors can kayak or canoe the Pembina River when water levels allow and describes 3.5-mile and 10.75-mile paddle options.

    Source

  • Gauge check during route review · 2026-06-12USGS 05099600

    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.

    Source

  • Route-specific thresholds300-3,000 cfs runnable range

    American Whitewater ties the County 55-to-County 32 reach to the Walhalla gauge, with 300-800 cfs low runnable, 800-1,400 cfs medium runnable, 1,400-3,000 cfs high runnable, and over 3,000 cfs above recommended.

    Source

  • Endpoint coordinates48.9169, -98.056 to 48.91360599, -97.91712315

    American Whitewater feature data places the put-in at County 55 / 104th Street NE near Vang and the take-out near the Walhalla County 32 / Riverside Park access corridor.

    Source

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Keep exploring

More routes to check next

Compare another stretch on this river, or explore different rivers within 75 straight-line miles.

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Quick answers

Pembina River paddling FAQ

What water level is best for the Vang Bridge / County 55 to Walhalla Riverside Park route on the Pembina River?

Paddle Today watches Pembina River at Walhalla, ND and treats 600 cfs to 1,400 cfs as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.

Where does the Vang Bridge / County 55 to Walhalla Riverside Park route on the Pembina River start and end?

This route starts at Vang Bridge / County 55 access and ends at Walhalla Riverside Park / White Bridge access, about 10.75 to 11 mi on the water.

Is the Vang Bridge / County 55 to Walhalla Riverside Park route on the Pembina River suitable 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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